Dr Marie Ryan

Dr Marie Ryan is an applied economist with 15 years of experience in higher education, research, and policy development. She was awarded the prestigious President's Individual Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, UCC, 2023. Her research portfolio spans 55+ academic works in health economics, education innovation, and entrepreneurship, with particular focus on well-being and policy, supported by significant competitive funding.

Dr Ryan's current research focuses on three complementary areas: healthcare workforce dynamics and wellbeing, with recent publications in Radiography (2025) and Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences (2025); policy development, notably through her work in Cities (2024, IF: 6.0) and Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy; and AI integration in higher education, pioneering approaches to maintain academic integrity while leveraging emerging technologies. She leads a competitive SATLE-funded initiative on ethical AI integration. She is PI applicant on a digital inclusion and regional policy analytics (RADIUS) project and is a Co-PI applicant on HRB and Horizon healthcare grants. Her research has also been featured on Advance HE, QQI and HEA National Forum websites, extending impact beyond traditional academic channels. Her international research network spans three continents through active supervision of PhD and Master's students from Saudi Arabia, France, and China.

Dr Ryan's international experience includes five years of teaching in Middle Eastern institutions including DCU@PNU Riyadh and Alasala Colleges in Saudi Arabia. She has secured over €1 million in competitive funding and conducted numerous economic analyses for public bodies including Cork City Council's Local Economic and Community Plan. Her collaborative Health Impact Assessment work has influenced Cork City planning decisions affecting 295,000 residents. Acknowledged in media coverage (Irish Examiner, 2024) her work led to an invitation as keynote speaker at Prince Mohammad University (2024), Saudi Arabia.

As Program Director overseeing approximately 500 students across two major undergraduate programs, she has doubled Erasmus exchange capacity at Deusto University and drives an innovative peer-assisted learning program. She established the Mná buddy system supporting over 130 participants and serves on key committees including CUBS Athena Swan and the University Social Research Ethics Committee. She contributes to academic excellence as a reviewer for high-impact journals including Review of Educational Research (IF: 8.3), and the All-Ireland Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, among others. She has presented at the European Learning & Teaching Forums and European Health Conferences.