With over 25 years’ experience, Nicky Dowling joined The Institute of Education in September 2023, as a teacher of French & German. She is also Tutor for 5th Years, where she supports students throughout the academic year, helping them settle into senior cycle.
After graduating from University College Dublin with an honors degree in French and German, Nicky completed her P.G.C.E. at The University of Manchester in 1998, graduating top of her year with the highest grade in the program.
Passionate about the positive impact education can have on young people, Nicky has dedicated her career to building students’ confidence, ambition, and love of learning. Early in her career, she founded a school tour company promoting modern language learning in Ireland, which grew into one of the country’s leading educational tour providers.
In 2015, she returned to full-time teaching in Dublin, teaching French and German to senior cycle students, whilst also acting as Year Head for 5th and 6th Years.
Nicky has also contributed extensively to teacher education, including roles with Hibernia College and Trinity College Dublin. She was Lead Tutor in Teaching Methodologies for Modern Languages with Hibernia College, where she developed teaching resources, delivered seminars to student teachers, and lectured in French and German subject mastery. She has also acted as School Placement Tutor with Trinity College Dublin, where she visited and assessed trainee language teachers during their school placements.