Our Research

1. Research on Widening Participation in Education, Employment and Community

The Department of Adult and Community Education fosters critically inclusive and transformative approaches to living which support greater inclusion and social justice. This includes developing key initiatives in adult guidance and counselling, recovery education, disability and independent living, crisis pregnancy and CPD for greater cultural and ethnic inclusion.

Projects

Project Links and details

Social Inclusion and Common Values: the contribution in the field of Education and Training (SMILE) (2020-2023)
Investigators: Camilla Fitzsimons, Bernie Grummell
Research Body/Funders/Partners: European Commission Smile Website: http://smile.eucen.eu/

Disciplines Inquiring into Societal Challenges (DISCs) (2019 -2020)
Investigator: Bernie Grummell
Research Body/Funders/Partners: The DISCs project is a collaborative study conducted in partnership between students and staff from University College Cork, Dublin City University, and Maynooth University. Funder: T he National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Educatio n

CREATE: Competitive Regions and Employability of Adults Through Education (2017-2019)
Investigator: Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Co-funded by the Erasmus+Programme, http://www.erasmusplus.ie/ CREATE Website: http://www.projectcreate.eu/project.php

DIVERSITY Including Migrants through Organisational Development Programme Planning in Adult Education (2019 - 2021)
Investigator:  Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Erasmus + Plus http://www.erasmusplus.ie/  DIVERSITY Website: https://www.aewb-nds.de/themen/eu-programme/diversity/

CREATE: Competitive Regions and Employability of Adults Through Education (2019)
Investigator: Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Co-funded by the Erasmus+Programme, http://www.erasmusplus.ie/ CREATE Website: http://www.projectcreate.eu/project.php

DELSA - Digital Empowerment for Up-Skilling Adults (2018- KA204-038771)

Investigator: Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: http://www.digitaldelsa.eu/index.php, Erasmus + Plus http://www.erasmusplus.ie/
Learning Materials http://www.digitaldelsa.eu/training.php

HE4U2: Integrating Cultural Diversity in Higher Education (2016-2018)

HE4U2: Integrating Cultural Diversity in Higher Education innovative approaches to researching and developing inclusive pedagogy

Investigators/Contacts: Bernie Grummell, Josephine Finn, Camilla Fitzimons ,Maggie Noone
Research Body/Funders/Partners: http://he4u2.eucen.eu/

MICRO: Enhancing Competitiveness of Microenterprises in Rural Areas (2016-18)

Investigator: Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Micro, http://www.microsmetraining.eu/index.php , Erasmus + Plus http://www.erasmusplus.ie/

Return to Learning Certificate - Review (2016-2017)

Investigators/Contacts: Camilla Fitzimons, Jerry O’Neill
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Maynooth Access Programme https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/access-office

Unlocking Freedom through Adult Education Project Introduction (2015 - 2018)

Investigators/Contacts: Bernie Grummell, Josephine Finn, Camilla Fitzsimons, Laura Burke, Michael Gannon, Mark Smith
Report: Facilitation Inclusive Learning Report:

EMPLOY: Enhancing the Employability of Non-Traditional Students in HE (2015-2017)

EMPLOY is a European project which promotes the enhancement of the employability of students in higher education from a non-traditional background to identify best practices, policies and guidelines.

Investigators: Fergal Finnegan, Jerry O'Neill
Research Body/Funders/Partners: http://employ.dsw.edu.pl/language/en/ British Council https://www.britishcouncil.org/

DIMA - Adult Education Strategies (2015-2017)

Focuses on developing a practical and innovative toolkit for developing, implementing and monitoring Adult Education strategies, policies and practices.

Investigator: Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Erasmus + Plus http://www.erasmusplus.ie/ https://dima-project.eu/index.php/en/

Further Education teachers’ experience of assessment frameworks (2015-2016)

Investigator: Fergal Finnegan

REGIONAL: Comparative analysis of Adult Learning policy formulation (2014-2015)

Investigator: Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: http://www.regionalproject.eu/index.php, https://www.welcomeurope.com/european-funds/llp-grundtvig-612+512.html#tab=onglet_details

TEN: Transformative Engagement Network (2012-2015)

Investigators/Contacts: Bernie Grummell, Anne Ryan, Conor Murphy, Martin Downes, Maggie Noone
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Masters Research Overview ICARUS Blog

DIALOGUE (Opportunities for Dialogue between Researchers, Practitioners and Policy Makers (2010 – 2013)

Investigators/Contacts: Josephine Finn, Fergal Finnegan, Maeve O’Brien,
Research Report: AdultEducation_EUCEN_PolicyReportDoc.

Enhancing Knowledge Workers Adult Learning Solutions (EKWALS) Project (2009 - 2011)

Investigator: Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: http://www.ekwalslearningsolutions.com/index.php

2. Research to Support Transformative Learning, Democracy and Engaged Citizenship

Adult education as a field of practice is strongly orientated to democratic and active citizenship, and the Department of Adult and Community Education has a long history of analysing how education and its institutions contribute to reproduction and possibilities of power in society. This is focused on a commitment towards progressive change, equality and a desire to produce research and education that is relevant to communities, movements and practitioners.

Project

Project Details

Researching the Experiences of Muslim Women in Irish Maternity Settings (June 2020-March 2021)
This research explored Muslim women’s experience of maternity care in Ireland from a human rights perspective. It drew from the experiences and insights of over 100 women who identify as Muslim, culturally as well as through their faith who have engaged with Irish maternity services at some stage in the last 3 years. The research uncovered many positives but also barriers to respectful, holistic access. It also draws from the insights of 38 professional healthcare workers (e.g., midwives, public health nurses, and obstetricians). They too help identify gaps in provision. The research makes recommendations so as to improve outcomes for mothers, babies, and their families. The research was commissioned by Amal Women’s Association. Amal is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to advance the human rights, health, safety, participation, and dignity of Muslim and non-Muslim women in Ireland. Its findings will be published later in 2021.

Investigators: Camilla Fitzsimons, Lilian Nwanze, Philomena Obasi, Basma Hassan.
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission /Amal Women’s Association.

Inclusion in Adult Literacy Services (2020 - 2023)

The Centre for Research in Adult Learning and Education (CRALE), Maynooth University is currently engaged in research funded by SOLAS to support the Further Education and Training Strategy 2020-2024. This research involves comparative analysis to identify the cross-cutting themes of recent research projects with SOLAS, ETBI and NALA about inclusion in the adult literacy services in Ireland and to prepare briefing papers and consultations with SOLAS and key stakeholders in the sector.

Lead Investigator: Bernie Grummell
Research Body/Funders/Partners: (SOLAS-ETBI-NALA, 2020 - 2023)

NALA Social Inclusion for people with Intellectual Disabilities in Adult Literacy (2019-2020)
The aim of this research is to support adult literacy services in using:
the ‘Guidelines on the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in adult literacy services’ (2018).
We worked with SOLAS, ETBI and NALA to capture learning in order to inform relevant developments across the Further Education and Training (FET) sector.

Investigator/Contacts: Bernie Grummell, Conor Magrath, Meliosa Bracken
Research Body/Funders/Partners: (SOLAS-ETBI-NALA)

The Centre for Studies in Irish Protestantism (2020) - A Journey in Self-Belief

Investigators/Contacts: Tony Walsh, Earl Storey
Research Body/Funders/Partners: Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation

Wellness and mental health in the workplace (2019)

The Department of Adult and Community Education fosters critically reflexive and transformative approaches to living which support greater inclusion and social justice and wellbeing. This includes developing key initiatives in adult guidance and counselling, recovery education, disability and independent living, crisis pregnancy and CPD for greater cultural and ethnic inclusion.

Investigators/Contacts: David Mc Cormack, Mary Ryan

Embracing Diversity (2017-2018)
Eamines experiences of diversity, and supporting mutual understanding and dialogue between People of African Descent (PAD) and service providers in the Dublin 15 area

Investigators/Contacts: Anne Ryan, Margaret Noone
Research Body/Funders/Partners: IHREC, www.ihrec.ie/

Fourth Meeting of the Citizens' Assembly on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (2017)

Contact: Mary Ryan
Report: https://ptfs-oireachtas.s3.amazonaws.com/DriveH/AWData/Library3/CAdoclaid290617A_110031.pdf

Political Citizenship and Participation - This research explores how the nature of political engagement and citizenship has been transformed in recent times.

Investigators/Contacts: Michael Murray

Inclusive Learning Initiative - Facilitate inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities

Investigators/Contacts: Josephine Finn, Saranne Magennis, Laura Burke
Report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k_roTK2OCumq_4XfacFtNA0e8kjQL4G_/view
Research Body/Funders/Partners: KARE, St John of God Services, Camphill and Stewarts’ Hospital

Adult Education - Palestine The Wall - Maynooth University

Lifelong Learning in Palestine - supporting Lifelong Learning provision in formal and informal networks across the West Bank and Gaza

Investigators/Contacts: Josephine Finn, Tony Walsh, Anne Ryan, Bernie Grummell, Michael Kenny
Research Body/Funders/Partners: European Commission TEMPUS Lifelong Learning

Transformative Narrative Inquiry

Investigators/Contacts: David Mc Cormack

3. Postgraduate Research Repository

PhD in Adult and Community Education

Doctorate in Higher and Adult Education Students and Research Projects

The Structured PhD Programme in Adult and Community Education is designed to facilitate students to make an original contribution to the knowledge base in the field of adult and community education through research, in order to develop and strengthen it. PhD students come from diverse backgrounds in adult, higher, further and community education.

The Doctorate in Higher and Adult Education (DHAE) brings together experienced professionals in teaching and management roles from diverse environments and disciplines. The programme supports educational practitioners and managers to develop their research capacities and to critically reflect on their professional practices within a course that promotes transformation, critical thinking and democracy.

The following are samples of some of our research thesis, please visit this link to our Research Archive eLibrary

PhD/DHAE

Researcher	Title	Link

Noonan, Gina (2020)	‘Restor(y)ing their position in the spotlight, please welcome back on stage… Postgraduate Students who teach… or Graduate Teaching Assistants... or Teaching Postgrads… or…’.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/13543/
Darby, Fionnuala (2020)	Belonging on Campus: An exploratory study of the continuities, the contradictions and the consequences for Black and Minority Ethnic students in higher education.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/13535/
Watson, Chanel Louise (2020)	PRESCRIPTION FOR CARE? An exploration of the experiences of nurse and midwife prescribers in the maternity setting.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/13615/
Homan, Eoin (2020)	The Engineer in Society: an exploration of the treatment of ethics in engineering education and practice.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/13534/
Madden, Siobhan (2017)	The mermaids dive for freedom: Voices of feminist community activists plunging through neoliberal times	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/12115/
Hegarty, Ann (2017)	Masculinity, fathers and family literacy: Glimpses behind the ‘hard-man’ front.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/8778/
Condon, John (2017)	The Experience of Migrant Students in an Irish Second Level School.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/8853/
Dillon, Eilish (2017)	How Critical is Talk? Discourses of Development Education among Facilitators in Ireland.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/9558/
De Brún, Christa (2016)	Teaching for Thinking: an action research inquiry into the Pedagogical potential of modern literature to foster critical thinking and facilitate critical consciousness in third level students.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/7558/
Fitzsimons, Camilla (2015)	Re-Kindling Community Education in Neoliberal times.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/6420/
Harvey, Gerry (2015)	The Evolving Model of School Self-Evaluation in Ireland: How a Person’s Perception of Purpose and Power Determines Practice.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/6423/

Masters

Researcher	Title	Link


Conlon, Sharon (2019)	A Search for Authenticity: An Adopted Adult’s Autoethnographic Account of the Search for Authenticity: Through an Adult Education Lens.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/12341/
Nelson, Dawn Margaret (2019)	A Reflexive Inquiry into Grief Support Needs for Healthcare Assistants in Residential Care settings. Masters thesis, National University of Ireland Maynooth.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/12342/
McHale, Mairead (2018)	Who Cares? Exploring the inequalities of the role of special needs assistants and positioning of care in education.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/12236/

Connolly, Ann (2017)	Exploring how the experience of tutors and the use of visual images and web-based technology enhance critical reflection in adult learners.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/9579/
Burke, Laura (2017)	Fostering Inclusion; Challenging the Illusion Critically Reflective Educational Stories: Facilitated by students and graduates with different learning abilities on a Fully Inclusive Higher Education Initiative in Ireland.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/12234/
Sinnott, Christina (2017)	Giving a voice to lone mothers: Investigating the impact of neoliberal policies on accessing and participating in further education.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/9593/
Curran, Ian (2017)	The experience of coercion and forced education in a labour market activation context.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/9603/
Dalton, Patrice (2017)	Ability not disability: A transformative exploration of student experiences in higher education.	http://mural.maynoothuniversity.ie/9628/

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Maynooth University Department of Adult and Community Education

Welcome to CRALE, the Centre for Research in Adult Learning and Education

Research Publication from the Department of Adult and Community Education

The aim of the Centre for Research in Adult Learning and Education (CRALE) is to enhance the educational experiences of disadvantaged communities.