Dr. Ann Collins is an experienced lecturer, training facilitator, curriculum designer, assessment specialist, life coach and advocate for skills based learning. Her experiences spans across many countries including Ireland, Bahrain and the UAE. With a passion for female empowerment, Dr. Ann advocates for the pivotal roles of mentoring and coaching in professional growth in all domains of higher education from students to educational leaders. Ann is passionate about empowering students to thrive in an increasingly unscripted world by helping them to develop a range of key transversal skills that are relevant for future employment.

Ann has consulted with universities and audited existing courses to embed skills based learning into curriculums and designing skills based curriculums and assessment strategies for higher education. As a LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator, she understands the importance of play in education and consults and offers training on the importance of play in higher education to enhance creativity and to foster transversal skills among students as well as educators. Lego and other forms of play offer a multisensory means of investigating complex issues to which there is no single or straightforward answer and provides a memorable learning experience for both students and faculty.

Drawing from her extensive academic background, Dr. Ann’s research delves into the intricacies of the Middle Eastern labor market and the crucial alignment of life goals with early career aspirations, enriching Emiratization initiatives. Her academic insight and interest in positive psychology lends a distinctive perspective to her facilitation approach which is characterized by hands-on experiential learning, prioritizing skill refinement to bolster trainees’ employability. Her commitment to fostering individual growth underscores every session, empowering participants to excel and thrive in their professional journeys. Dr. Ann endeavors to inspire creativity and innovative thinking among her participants through the use of various methodologies and prides herself in providing memorable learning experiences.