Michael Kenny

Adult and Community Education, ALL Institute

Lecturer

Maynooth University School of Education
1st
113
(01) 7083590

Biography

I am and Adult and Community Educator with a particular interest in engaged participation. My upbringing is farming and rural within a West of Ireland migrant family. My higher education is agricultural science degree (BAgrSc 1980), rural development masters (MAgrSc 1990), and higher diploma in higher education (HDHE1998). My experience is youth work, community work in Ireland and Africa (Africa 7 years), and extensive engagement with formal, non-formal and voluntary rural and urban organisations.
I am course director of the post-graduate Higher Diploma in Further Education (HDFE, https://goo.gl/bZGjiJ) with Dr Camilla Fitzsimons. I teach curriculum development and teaching methodologies with Camilla and Josephine Finn. I teach Introduction to programmes, community development, rural development and project management on the BA Evening degree (https://goo.gl/u3ZpCc).
I am principal investigator on two Erasmus+ European programmes: MICRO (Enhancing Competitiveness of Microenterprises in Rural Areas, http://www.microsmetraining.eu/) and CREATE (Competitive Regions Employability of Adults through Education, http://www.projectcreate.eu/index.php).
I am an innovator in E-Learning and democratic teaching methods with adults, progressive in grounded research, and active in seeking policy and practice change. I am a EdD doctoral student with Bristol University (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/education/study/doctoral/eddbristol/)
I am a parent, a foster parent and husband. I am active in Tidy-Towns, local music/dance and heritage, a board member of Concern Worldwide (https://www.concern.net/ and https://goo.gl/WnzLxT) in Ireland and Concern UK (https://www.concern.org.uk/contact), a board member of Irish Rural Link (http://www.irishrurallink.ie/), and both a member and national twinning officer with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society (https://www.svp.ie/what-we-do/twinning.aspx).

Research Interests

E-Learning; Adult Learning; Communitty Education; Community Development; Sustainable Development; Rural Development.

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
2002 'Local Government, Local Development and Citizen Participation: Lessons from Ireland'
J. Meldon, M. Kenny and J. Walsh (2002) 'Local Government, Local Development and Citizen Participation: Lessons from Ireland' In: Local Government, Local Development and Citizen Participation. Charleroi: ULB Igeat. [IR Link] [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
2014 'Making Conferences Human Places of Learning'
Michael Kenny (2014) 'Making Conferences Human Places of Learning'. The Adult Learner, :86-95 [Details]
2014 'Informed Policy-Making: The Contribution of Comparative Research in Education'
Michael Kenny (2014) 'Informed Policy-Making: The Contribution of Comparative Research in Education'. Quaderni di economia del lavoro, 102 [IR Link] [Details]

Conference Publications

  Year Publication
2014 Is comparative education another form of colonialism?
Michelle Kinsella and Michael Kenny (2014) Is comparative education another form of colonialism? DSA Ireland Annual Conference 2014: Bridging the Gap - Translating Development Research into Practice [IR Link] [Details]
2014 Who Prepares the Teachers? The Irish Experience
Rose Dolan and Michael Kenny (2014) Who Prepares the Teachers? The Irish Experience the WERA (World Education Research Association) Focal Meeting, as part of the Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) 39th Annual Conference [IR Link] [Details]
2010 Borders, boundaries and identities: The argument for local input into designing curricula
Kenny Michael (2010) Borders, boundaries and identities: The argument for local input into designing curricula Proceedings Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2010 [Details]
2010 Knowledge workers; A Growing Vulnerable Sector in the Post-Modern Economy
Kenny Michael, McGlinn Liam (2010) Knowledge workers; A Growing Vulnerable Sector in the Post-Modern Economy Proceedings All Ireland Society for Higher Education (AISHE) 2010 Conference: Designing & Delivering Curricula for the Future [Details]
2010 Rediscovering Rural Ireland: The Case for Prioritising Rural Interventions to Return Resilience to Rural Communities
Michael Kenny and Mary O'Shaughnessey and Seamus Boland (2010) Rediscovering Rural Ireland: The Case for Prioritising Rural Interventions to Return Resilience to Rural Communities 2nd Annual Irish Rural Studies Symposium , pp.1-11 [IR Link] [Details]
2010 Educating for climate change: developing students' understanding of the local impacts of climate change
McAvinia Claire, Grummell Bernie, Reid Kellyann, Murphy Conor, Rickard Angela, Kenny Michael (2010) Educating for climate change: developing students' understanding of the local impacts of climate change Proceedings Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2010 [Details]
2010 Watching Precious Milk Spill Down a Drain: The Challenge of Re-engaging Aging Knowledge Workers (AKW) for the betterment of Rural Society
Kenny Michael (2010) Watching Precious Milk Spill Down a Drain: The Challenge of Re-engaging Aging Knowledge Workers (AKW) for the betterment of Rural Society Proceedings 2010 Irish Rural Studies Symposium [Details]
2010 Watching the sun setting over the horizon: The challenge of re-engaging Aging Knowledge Workers (AKWs)
Kenny, Michael (2010) Watching the sun setting over the horizon: The challenge of re-engaging Aging Knowledge Workers (AKWs) [Details]
2010 Rediscovering Rural Ireland: The Case for Prioritising Rural Interventions to Return Resiliance to Rural Communities
Kenny Michael, Shaughnessey Mary, Boland Seamus (2010) Rediscovering Rural Ireland: The Case for Prioritising Rural Interventions to Return Resiliance to Rural Communities Proceedings 2010 Irish Rural Studies Symposium [IR Link] [Details]
2010 Enhancing Knowledge Workers' Adult Learning Solutions (EKWALS): Presentation of a Grundtvig Project
Kenny Michael (2010) Enhancing Knowledge Workers' Adult Learning Solutions (EKWALS): Presentation of a Grundtvig Project Proceedings All Ireland Society for Higher Education (AISHE) 2010 Conference: Designing & Delivering Curricula for the Future [Details]
2010 Where Are All the Flowers Gone: Can Higher Education Re-Seed Rural Development
Kenny Michael, Mulhall Lilly, Shaughnessey Mary, Kelley Hugh (2010) Where Are All the Flowers Gone: Can Higher Education Re-Seed Rural Development Proceedings 2010 Irish Rural Studies Symposium [Details]
2009 Attachment Theory, Foster Parents and Diversity Tolerance
Kenny, M and Fleming, T (2009) Attachment Theory, Foster Parents and Diversity Tolerance [IR Link] [Details]
2009 Give us the Tools and We'll Finish the Job; Practice issues in service learning
Kenny, M and Kenny, A (2009) Give us the Tools and We'll Finish the Job; Practice issues in service learning [Details]
2009 Attachment Theory, Foster Parents and Diversity Tolerance
Michael Kenny and Ted Fleming (2009) Attachment Theory, Foster Parents and Diversity Tolerance IFCO Conference [Details]
2009 Unleash the Power Within: Presenting Dyslexia as a Complex Intelligence Type
Kenny, A, McLoughlin, M and Kenny, M (2009) Unleash the Power Within: Presenting Dyslexia as a Complex Intelligence Type Unleash the Power Within: Presenting Dyslexia as a Complex Intelligence Type [IR Link] [Details]
2009 The influence of the Complexity of Attachment in Adult & Higher Education Learning
Kenny, M and Fleming, T (2009) The influence of the Complexity of Attachment in Adult & Higher Education Learning [IR Link] [Details]
2009 The influence of the Complexity of Attachment in Adult \& Higher Education Learning
Michael Kenny and Ted Fleming (2009) The influence of the Complexity of Attachment in Adult \& Higher Education Learning AISHE Conference 2009 Valuing Complexity: Celebrating Diverse Approaches to Teaching \& Learning in Higher Education [Details]
2009 Action Research: A learning tool that engages complexity
Kenny, M. and Hynes, R. (2009) Action Research: A learning tool that engages complexity AISHE Conference 2009 Valuing Complexity: Celebrating Diverse Approaches to Teaching & Learning in Higher Education [IR Link] [Details]
2008 After the Celtic Tiger
Kenny, M., McDonnell, A. and McCabe, F. (2008) After the Celtic Tiger Irish Social Science Platform Conference [IR Link] [Details]
2006 Growing an E-Learning Programme for Rural Adults: A Case Study
Michael Kenny (2006) Growing an E-Learning Programme for Rural Adults: A Case Study AISHE - All Ireland Society for Higher Education conference 2006 [IR Link] [Details]
2006 Growing an E-Learning Programme for Rural Adults: A Case Study
Kenny, M. (2006) Growing an E-Learning Programme for Rural Adults: A Case Study AISHE - All Ireland Society for Higher Education conference [IR Link] [Details]
1997 Rural Ireland: Waiting for a lift?
Kenny, M. (1997) Rural Ireland: Waiting for a lift? Conference Report: Rural Ireland [IR Link] [Details]
1997 Participation in Development: The Question, Challenges and Issues
Kenny, M. (1997) Participation in Development: The Question, Challenges and Issues [IR Link] [Details]
1997 Rural Ireland: Waiting for a lift?
Michael Kenny (1997) Rural Ireland: Waiting for a lift? Conference Report: Rural Ireland [Details]

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
2016 Conference Presentaion.
Michael Kenny, Justin Rami and Anne Walsh (2016) Conference Presentaion. [Oral Presentation], ESREA Imagining diverse futures for adult education: questions of power and resources of creativity, Maynooth University, Ireland , 08-SEP-16 - 11-SEP-16 [Details]
2016 Conference Presetnation based on outcome of the FET2HE regional Network.
Dr Justin Rami (DCU), Rory O’Sullivan (CDETB), Michael Kenny (Maynooth University), Caitriona Murphy (SOLAS), Dr Christy Duffy (LWETB), Andrina Wafer (QQI) (2016) Conference Presetnation based on outcome of the FET2HE regional Network. [Oral Presentation], Education as a Public Good, National University of Ireland, Galway, and the Raddison Blu Hotel, Galway City , 31-MAR-16 - 02-APR-16 [Details]
2014 teaching Council of Ireland Feilte 2014.
(2014) teaching Council of Ireland Feilte 2014. [Oral Presentation], A model relationship in further education training, Dublin [Details]
2014 International Mediation and Restorative Practices Conference.
(2014) International Mediation and Restorative Practices Conference. [Oral Presentation], Enhancing Community Ownership of Policing, Maynooth University [Details]
2014 CHALLENGES AND CHANGE IN ADULT AND FURTHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE.
(2014) CHALLENGES AND CHANGE IN ADULT AND FURTHER EDUCATION CONFERENCE. [Oral Presentation], Technology and blended learning, Maynooth University [Details]
2013 Youthreach: A New Chapter Area Conference.
(2013) Youthreach: A New Chapter Area Conference. [Oral Presentation], “What canThomas Khun tell us about Learning?”, City North Hotel Gormanstown [Details]
2013 Research Challenges & Opportunities in Global Health.
Bernie Grummell & Michael Kenny (2013) Research Challenges & Opportunities in Global Health. [Oral Presentation], The Contribution of education to global health research initiatives, DCU [Details]
2009 Rethinking the Country Conference: The Transition from Dependency to Resiliance.
(2009) Rethinking the Country Conference: The Transition from Dependency to Resiliance. [Oral Presentation], The Role of Community Education, Tipperary Institute, Thurles, County Tipperary [Details]
2009 Rural Science Association Annual Conference 2009.
(2009) Rural Science Association Annual Conference 2009. [Oral Presentation], Education for Rural Development, Tipperary Institute, Thurles, North Tipperary [Details]
2009 Rural Science Assoication Annual Conference 2009.
(2009) Rural Science Assoication Annual Conference 2009. [Oral Presentation], Education for Rural Development, Tipperary Institute, Thurles, County Tipperary [Details]
2009 Rethinking the Country Conference; The Transition from Dependency to Resilience.
(2009) Rethinking the Country Conference; The Transition from Dependency to Resilience. [Oral Presentation], The Role of Community Education, Tipperary Institute, Thurles, North Tipperary [Details]
2006 7th Annual Irish Educational Technology Users’ Con.
(2006) 7th Annual Irish Educational Technology Users’ Con. [Oral Presentation], The BSc Rural Development Distance Learning Degree, Sligo Institute of Technology [Details]
2001 Ceiliuradh Thiobraid Arann 2001 - Tipperary Rural Development Institute.
(2001) Ceiliuradh Thiobraid Arann 2001 - Tipperary Rural Development Institute. Thurles, Co. Tipperary , 11-JAN-01 - 11-JAN-01 [Details]
2001 National Conference - Challenging Attitudes: The Role of the Older Volunteer in the New Millennium o.
(2001) National Conference - Challenging Attitudes: The Role of the Older Volunteer in the New Millennium o. Summerhill, Co. Meath , 11-JAN-01 [Details]
2001 National Conference - Local Government Initiatives for Developing Countries organised.
(2001) National Conference - Local Government Initiatives for Developing Countries organised. Ballina, Tipperary , 10-JAN-01 - 10-JAN-01 [Details]
2001 Presentation to staff of the OAK Partnership.
(2001) Presentation to staff of the OAK Partnership. Edenderry, Co. Offaly , 06-JAN-01 - 06-JAN-01 [Details]

Published Reports

  Year Publication
2010 Review of Stepladder Training Programme within the CAIRDEAS Project Stepping Forward Confidently.
Kenny, Michael (2010) Review of Stepladder Training Programme within the CAIRDEAS Project Stepping Forward Confidently. Cairdeas, Clondalkin Co Dublin. [Details]
2009 Family, Youth and Community Support Measure; End of Programme Review 2000 - 2006.
Kenny, M. Duffy, C. Dooley, H. and Nugent, M. (2009) Family, Youth and Community Support Measure; End of Programme Review 2000 - 2006. Department of Adult & Community Education, NUI Maynooth, Edenderry Co Offaly. [IR Link] [Details]
2009 Services for the Unemployed: End of Programme Review 2000 ? 2006.
Michael Kenny and Clair Duffy (2009) Services for the Unemployed: End of Programme Review 2000 ? 2006. OAK Partnership, Edenderry Co Offaly. [Details]
2009 Case Study 1: IRD Kiltimagh Ltd.1988 - 2008. 'Against the Tide'.
Kenny, M. and Kelly, J. (2009) Case Study 1: IRD Kiltimagh Ltd.1988 - 2008. 'Against the Tide'. NUI Maynooth, IRD Kiltimagh Co Mayo. [IR Link] [Details]
2002 Development Education in Ireland. Challenges and Opportunities for the Future.
Michael Kenny and Siobhan O'Malley (2002) Development Education in Ireland. Challenges and Opportunities for the Future. Dochas Dublin, Dublin. [Details]
2001 Rural Regeneration through Universal and Equitable Public Service Delivery.
Kenny, M. (2001) Rural Regeneration through Universal and Equitable Public Service Delivery. The Stationery Office, Dublin, Dublin. [IR Link] [Details]
1994 Stage 1: Integrated Development Framework for the North East Border Region.
Kenny, M., Martin, J., McGeeney, A., Woods, J. and Farrell, M. (1994) Stage 1: Integrated Development Framework for the North East Border Region. INTERREG, Dundalk/Newry. [IR Link] [Details]

ANET/COS

  Year Publication
2008 After the Celtic Tiger?, Irish Social Science Platform Conference.
Michael Kenny and Alice McDonnell and Fintan McCabe (2008) After the Celtic Tiger?, Irish Social Science Platform Conference. ANET/COS [Details]

Conference Paper

  Year Publication
2010 Rediscovering rural society: The case for prioritising social interventions to strengthen rural communities.
Kenny, Michael, Mary O'Shaughnessey and Seamus Boland (2010) Rediscovering rural society: The case for prioritising social interventions to strengthen rural communities. Conference Paper [Details]
2010 Giving recognition where due: The challenge of designing an appropriate teacher recognition methodology for further and continuing education teachers.
Murtagh, Luke, Anne Ryan, Michael Kenny and Brid Connolly (2010) Giving recognition where due: The challenge of designing an appropriate teacher recognition methodology for further and continuing education teachers. Conference Paper [Details]

Technical Publication

  Year Publication
2009 Services for the Unemployed: End of Programme Review 2000 - 2006.
Kenny, M. and Duffy, C. (2009) Services for the Unemployed: End of Programme Review 2000 - 2006. Technical Publication [IR Link] [Details]
2006 Adult & Community Education: A Voice and a Response.
Kenny, M. and A. Ryan (2006) Adult & Community Education: A Voice and a Response. Technical Publication [Details]
2006 Rural Transport & Rural Isolation: A Case Study on the Impact of Rural Transport Provision on Older People in one Rural Area.
Kenny, M. and McKenna, M. (2006) Rural Transport & Rural Isolation: A Case Study on the Impact of Rural Transport Provision on Older People in one Rural Area. Technical Publication [IR Link] [Details]
2004 Socio-Economic Research Level II.
Kenny, M. (2004) Socio-Economic Research Level II. Technical Publication [Details]
2003 Module 4: Community and Rural Development through Groups, January 2003.
Kenny, M. (2003) Module 4: Community and Rural Development through Groups, January 2003. Technical Publication [IR Link] [Details]
2002 Development Education in Ireland. Challenges and Opportunities for the Future.
Kenny, M. and O'Malley, S. (2002) Development Education in Ireland. Challenges and Opportunities for the Future. Technical Publication [IR Link] [Details]

Working Paper

  Year Publication
2006 Introductory Module Unit 2: Study Skills for Adults Returning to Learning.
McCormack, D. and Kenny, M. (2006) Introductory Module Unit 2: Study Skills for Adults Returning to Learning. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]
2004 Project Planning & Development.
Kenny, M. (2004) Project Planning & Development. Working Paper [Details]
2003 Identifying the Role of the Older Volunteer in the Community Development Process.
Kenny, M. (2003) Identifying the Role of the Older Volunteer in the Community Development Process. Working Paper [Details]
2003 Module 21: Social & Economic Aspects of Policy & Planning.
Kenny, M. (2003) Module 21: Social & Economic Aspects of Policy & Planning. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]
2003 Module 19: Community Education & Development.
Kenny, M. (2003) Module 19: Community Education & Development. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]
2003 Module 11: Gender Equality & Social Exclusion Issues in Rural Development.
Kenny, M. (2003) Module 11: Gender Equality & Social Exclusion Issues in Rural Development. Working Paper [IR Link] [Details]

Conference Hosted

  Year Publication
2010 Influencing the Social and Economic Agenda in Ireland : The Impact and Role of NUIM Research.
Michael Kenny, Chandana Mathur, Gregory Connor, Seamus Taylor, Brian Melaugh, Helen Fallon (2010) Influencing the Social and Economic Agenda in Ireland : The Impact and Role of NUIM Research. Conference Hosted [Details]
2009 The Gathering 2009.
Mr. Michael Kenny (2009) The Gathering 2009. Conference Hosted [Details]
2008 Social Exclusion & Gender Equality Issues in Rural development.
Mr Michael Kenny (2008) Social Exclusion & Gender Equality Issues in Rural development. Conference Hosted [Details]
2006 Contemporary Issues in community.
Mr. Michael Kenny (2006) Contemporary Issues in community. Conference Hosted [Details]

Committees

  Committee Function From / To
Maynooth University Green Campus Committee Member 2014 /
Concern Worldwide Board member/Sub-Committee Chairperson 2014 /
Meath/Louth Education and Training Board Member 2014 / 2015
Board Irish Rural Link Board member/Treasurer 2012 /
Faculty of Social Science Representative Representative of the Faculty of Social Science Representative on the Faculty of Science and Engineering 2014 /
Trim Policing Forum Vice Chairperson 2014 / 2015
County Meath Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) Member 2014 / 2014
Clondalkin Policing Forum Chairperson 2011 / 2014

Outreach Activities

  Description

Co-organiser with Summerhill Active Retirement Group of National Conference - Challenging Attitudes: The Role of the Older Volunteer in the New Millennium funded by the National Committee on Volunteering for the International Year of the Volunteer

Interviewed on Local radio on my experience of visiting Concern emergency and development programmes in Malawi Southern Africa Link

Public representative on a Local Town Governance Authority responsible to reserved budget and policy functions.

Regular contributor to Midlands Radio 103, LMFM (Louth Meath) and CKR (Kildare) for current affairs related to local and educational development

Other Activities

  Description

Member of a consortium working to the Department of Agriculture and Food to govern the delivery of the National Rural Development Network 2016-2020. Attend meeting and events, make governance and policy decisions, attend to developments.

Established by Government in 2012 and chaired by a Minister of State the National Co-ordinating Committee for Unfinished Housing Estates is made up of three stakeholder agencies and a rural independent voice systematically tackled the proliferation of unfinished and unoccupied housing estates nationally but predominantly in the midlands and North-West. I attend as a member and representative of the Rural Community Voice through Irish Rural Link and Maynooth University

Participant in the Professional Development Framework from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning pilot.

Professional Associations

  Association Function From / To
Teaching Council of Ireland Member 06-JUN-12 /
AONTAS Executive Board member 14-MAY-14 /

Teaching Interests

Higher Diploma in Further Education, BA Degree in Community Studies, Diploma and Degree in Rural Development by Distance Learning