Dr Camilla Fitzsimons

    Adult and Community Education

    Lecturer

    Maynooth University School of Education
    1st
    115
    (01) 708 3951

    Biography

    My name is Camilla, I am from Dublin and I have been working in adult and community education since the 1990s.  I have worked with women's groups, residents groups and campaign groups all as part of wider community development and leadership initiatives.  My practice is influenced by feminist critical pedagogy and my research influence extends across the breadth of adult and community education where the emphasis is on equality, social justice and dialogic, democratic learning.  I have published extensively in adult and community education, with an emphasis on the neoliberalisation of grassroots community education.  I have also researched and written about broader feminist issues relating to equality, health and reproductive justice.  All of my work seeks to uncover asymmetries in power and privilege.  At Maynooth I work across a range of programmes at under-graduate and post-graduate level.  I am currently the Course Coordinator of the Higher Diploma in Further Education.  Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance in any way.  

    Research Interests


    consciousness-raising community education.  
    Feminism and women's rights. 
    reproductive justice. 
    group work and facilitation,
    neoliberalism.
    precarious employment and professionalisation within adult, community and further education.   
    all of my research interests are underpinned by a concern for inequality and social justice. 

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    Muslim women’s experience of pre and post natal care in Ireland; “A Mother is Born Too” PI Amal Women Association (The Islamic Foundation of Ireland) / Tender Aim of the research: To explore Muslim women’s experience of maternity care in Ireland from a human rights perspective and to identify barriers to access so as to make informed recommendations that might improve outcomes for mothers, babies and their families. Objectives: - Outline a human rights perspective in the context of accessing maternity services including pre and post natal care. - Explore European and international best practice. - Uncover the experiences of Muslim women in Ireland. - Make recommendations that inform maternity services. Research methodology: The research will be mixed-methods in nature and will be underpinned by a feminist research approach. What this means to us is that the people at the centre of the experience are the experts. Our role as researchers is to create conditions where these experiences can be shared in a way that is safe for participants to do so, and that enhances our understanding of the phenomenon. We are allies not experts who bring particular expertise and skills. 01-JUN-20 31-DEC-20 6504
    Closure of community education projects PI AONTAS / Tender This short desk research assesses the closures of community education projects in Ireland since 2008. 09-NOV-18 31-DEC-18 8320.62
    FinALE - funding community education in ireland Principal Investigator AONTAS / Government State Bodies 03-APR-18 28-NOV-18
    precarious professionality co-researcher / 01-DEC-17 31-JUL-18
    A Community Education response to anti-Muslim Racism (Islamophobia) in Ireland Coordinator and Researcher / Government State Bodies 01-NOV-15 03-SEP-17
    Integrating cultural diversity into Higher Education (HE4u2) Researcher / Government State Bodies 07-JUN-15 01-JUL-17
    Unlocking Freedom through Adult and Community Education Researcher / Government State Bodies 01-JUN-15 02-JUN-18

    Books

      Year Publication
    2021 Repealed: Ireland's Unfinished Fight for Reproductive Rights [Forthcoming].
    Camilla Fitzsimons (2021) Repealed: Ireland's Unfinished Fight for Reproductive Rights [Forthcoming]. London: Pluto Press. [Details]
    2017 Community education and neoliberalism: Philosophies, practices and policies in Ireland.
    Fitzsimons C. (2017) Community education and neoliberalism: Philosophies, practices and policies in Ireland. [DOI] [Details]

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2020 'Nothing about us without us Nigerian and Irish women working together'
    Akinborewa, V., Fitzsimons, C. and Obasi, P (2020) 'Nothing about us without us Nigerian and Irish women working together' In: I am a man of peace, writings inspired by the Maynooth University Ken Saro-Wiwa Collective. Canada: Daraja Press. [Details]
    2018 'Difference and Inclusion in Higher Education: Integrating cultural diversity in lifelong learning'
    FINN, Josephine; FITZSIMONS, Camilla; GRUMMELL, Bernie and NOONE, Maggie (2018) 'Difference and Inclusion in Higher Education: Integrating cultural diversity in lifelong learning' In: Katharina Resch, Elke Gornik and Nino Tomaschek (eds). Die Lifelong Learning Universität der Zukunft. Institutionelle Standpunkte aus der wissenschaftlichen Weiterbildung. Munster/ New York: Waxmann. [Details]
    2014 'Worlds Apart? The disunity of FET policy directives and Community-based Education for social change'
    Camilla Fitzsimons (2014) 'Worlds Apart? The disunity of FET policy directives and Community-based Education for social change' In: Murray, M., Grummell, B. and Ryan, A (eds). Further Education and Training, history politics and practice. Kildare, Ireland: MACE publications. [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2020 'Precarious professionality: graduate outcomes and experiences from an Initial Teacher (Further) Education programme in Ireland'
    O’Neill J.;Fitzsimons C. (2020) 'Precarious professionality: graduate outcomes and experiences from an Initial Teacher (Further) Education programme in Ireland'. Research in Post-Compulsory Education, 25 (1):1-22 [DOI] [Details]
    2019 'Funding community education in Ireland: Making the case for a needs-based approach'
    Magrath C.J.;Fitzsimons C. (2019) 'Funding community education in Ireland: Making the case for a needs-based approach'. Journal of Social Science Education, 18 (4):38-50 [DOI] [Details]
    2019 'Working as a white adult educator, using our own life stories to explore asymmetries of power and privilege'
    Fitzsimons C. (2019) 'Working as a white adult educator, using our own life stories to explore asymmetries of power and privilege'. Studies in the Education of Adults, [DOI] [full-text] [Details]
    2017 'Rhetoric and reality: The Irish experience of Quality Assurance'
    Fitzsmons, C. (2017) 'Rhetoric and reality: The Irish experience of Quality Assurance'. The Adult Learner, [Details]
    2017 'Adult education responses to the ‘othering’ of Muslim identity: Perspectives from Ireland'
    Fitzsimons, C. (2017) 'Adult education responses to the ‘othering’ of Muslim identity: Perspectives from Ireland'. 23 (2):263-280 [DOI] [Details]
    2013 'Swimming in the Swamp, inquiry into accreditation, community development, and social change'
    Fitzsimons, C. and Dorman, P. (2013) 'Swimming in the Swamp, inquiry into accreditation, community development, and social change'. The Adult Learner, [full-text] [Details]
    2012 'Social Change Community Education – Where are we now?’'
    Camilla Fitzsimons (2012) 'Social Change Community Education – Where are we now?’'. Volume 1 (4) [full-text] [Details]
    2010 'Professionalism in Community Work and its implications for Radical Community Education’'
    Camilla Fitzsimons (2010) 'Professionalism in Community Work and its implications for Radical Community Education’'. The Adult Learner, :53-71 [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2019 Adult education and curriculum tensions.
    Fitzsimons, C. & O'Neill, J. (2019) Adult education and curriculum tensions. [Oral Presentation], EuroACS 2019 conference: curriculum origins, trajectories and practices, Maynooth University [Details]
    2019 Being an adult educator in our contemporary world.
    Fitzsimons, C and O'Neill, J. (2019) Being an adult educator in our contemporary world. [Oral Presentation], Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research on the Education of Adults, Nottingham, UK [Details]
    2016 ESREA 8th Triennial European Research Conference.
    Fitzsimons, C. & O'Neill, J. (2016) ESREA 8th Triennial European Research Conference. [Other], Creative explorations of adult educators’ values, challenges and hope, Maynooth University [Details]
    2018 ESREA network on Interrogating Transformative Processes in Learning and Education Conference on “Contemporary Dilemmas and Learning for Transformation”.
    Camilla Fitzsimons (2018) ESREA network on Interrogating Transformative Processes in Learning and Education Conference on “Contemporary Dilemmas and Learning for Transformation”. [Oral Presentation], Adult Education and White Privilege - Untangling Dilemma of Power and Privilege, Milan, Italy, University of Milano-Bicocca [Details]
    2016 This workshop supported adult educators to explore the values and principles important to their work and to contextalise these within the challenges of neoliberal policy.
    Camilla Fitzsimons and Jerry O'Neill (2016) This workshop supported adult educators to explore the values and principles important to their work and to contextalise these within the challenges of neoliberal policy. [Oral Presentation], Values Challenges and Hope for Adult Educators, ESREA 8th Triennial European Research Conference, Imagining Diverse Futures for Adult Education [Details]
    2016 Introductory analysis of the challenges of cross-European research to determine the experiences of migrants within Higher Education.
    Fitzsimons, C, Grummell, B and Finn, J. (2016) Introductory analysis of the challenges of cross-European research to determine the experiences of migrants within Higher Education. [Oral Presentation], The Challenges of Researching Inclusive Learning in Higher Education across Europe: HE4u2 project, ESREA 8th Triennial European Research Conference, Imagining Diverse Futures for Adult Education [Details]

    Published Reports

      Year Publication
    2018 Precarious professionality: A review of the experiences and employment status of graduates of the Higher Diploma in Further Education at Maynooth University’s Department of Adult and Community Education (2013-2017).
    O'Neill, J. and Fitzsimons, C. (2018) Precarious professionality: A review of the experiences and employment status of graduates of the Higher Diploma in Further Education at Maynooth University’s Department of Adult and Community Education (2013-2017). Executive Briefing. Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland, http://eprints.maynoothuniversity.ie/10205/. [full-text] [Details]
    2017 HE4u2 survey findings – Integrating cultural diversity in higher education.
    Fitzsimons, C., Grummell, B. and Noone, M. (2017) HE4u2 survey findings – Integrating cultural diversity in higher education. EUCEN, http:/he4u2.eucen. eu/outputs. [full-text] [Details]
    2010 Supporting the Recreational Needs of Young Travellers in Bray and Surrounding Areas.
    Camilla Fitzsimons and Sarah Connors (2010) Supporting the Recreational Needs of Young Travellers in Bray and Surrounding Areas. Bray Traveller Action Group, Wicklow, Ireland. [Details]
    2008 Assessing the need for a Network of Educators in Ballymun and Surrounding Areas.
    Camilla Fitzsimons (2008) Assessing the need for a Network of Educators in Ballymun and Surrounding Areas. Ballymun Partnership, Dublin, Ireland. [Details]

    Book Review

      Year Publication
    2020 Book review Community Work and Adult Education in Staveley.
    Fitzsimons, C (2020) Book review Community Work and Adult Education in Staveley. Book Review [Details]
    2019 Mapping out the research field of adult education and learning.
    Camilla Fitzsimons (2019) Mapping out the research field of adult education and learning. UK: Book Review [DOI] [full-text] [Details]

    Editorial

      Year Publication
    2019 Participation in non-formal education and community education implications for civic and political capital.
    Caramelo J.;Fitzsimons C.;Menezes I. (2019) Participation in non-formal education and community education implications for civic and political capital. Editorial [DOI] [Details]

    Research Paper

      Year Publication
    2017 HE4u2 survey findings – Integrating cultural diversity in higher education.
    Fitzsimons, C., Grummell, B. & Noone, M (2017) HE4u2 survey findings – Integrating cultural diversity in higher education. Barcelona: Research Paper [Details]

    Report

      Year Publication
    2018 A review of the experiences and employment status of graduates of the Higher Diploma in Further Education at Maynooth University’s Department of Adult and Community Education (2013-2017).
    O'Neill, J. & Fitzsimons, C. (2018) A review of the experiences and employment status of graduates of the Higher Diploma in Further Education at Maynooth University’s Department of Adult and Community Education (2013-2017). Report [Details]
    2017 Review of Maynooth University's Return to Learning Certificate 1992-2016.
    magrath, C and Fitzsimons, C (2017) Review of Maynooth University's Return to Learning Certificate 1992-2016. Report [Details]
    2017 The Foundation Certificates: a summary review of Maynooth University’s Foundation Certificate Programme from 2002-2014.
    Fitzsimons, C. & O'Neill, J. (2017) The Foundation Certificates: a summary review of Maynooth University’s Foundation Certificate Programme from 2002-2014. Maynooth University: Report [Details]

    Curriculum design / Support materials

      Year Publication
    2018 Facilitating Inclusive Learning: A Continuous Professional Development Programme (CPD) for staff working with adults with diverse learning abilities in adult, further and community education.
    Burke, L., Finn, J., Fitzsimons, C., Gannon, M., Grummell, B., O’Neill, J., Smith, M. (2018) Facilitating Inclusive Learning: A Continuous Professional Development Programme (CPD) for staff working with adults with diverse learning abilities in adult, further and community education. Maynooth University: Curriculum design / Support materials [Details]
    2017 Creating Intercultural Environments: Guidelines for Staff within Higher Education Institutions.
    Fitzsimons, C, Grummell, B. and Finn, J. (2017) Creating Intercultural Environments: Guidelines for Staff within Higher Education Institutions. Curriculum design / Support materials [Details]
    2015 The Irish Debt Crisis, what happened? Workshop template for Community Education Settings.
    Crowley, S., Fitzsimons, C. and O'Brien, T. (2015) The Irish Debt Crisis, what happened? Workshop template for Community Education Settings. Curriculum design / Support materials [Details]
    2015 Women's Reproduction and Rights.
    Fitzsimons, C and Connolly, B. (2015) Women's Reproduction and Rights. Curriculum design / Support materials [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2014 PhD Adult and Community Education Maynooth University

    Outreach Activities

      Description

    Board of Directors. Partners is a community education organisation working from principles of social justice and equality. Our approach to education is participatory, experiential and hands-on. Link

    Steering Committee member. The Spectacle of Defiance & Hope is a broadly based Creative Resistance movement founded in 2010 by the Community, Youth & Voluntary Sector. Link

    Board of Directors DDCI wants, - a fair and just society for everyone. - financial system that serves the needs of all people, rather than just some people, and which does not take the planet for granted. - We critically engage people to understand the structural causes of global inequality and power relations. We aim to empower people in Ireland to take informed action for greater economic justice globally. Tackling inequality and achieving a fairer society requires critiquing power structures in our society and globally - highlighting the causes of inequality, rather than the symptoms. Link

    Teaching Interests

     I co-coordinate the Higher Diploma in Further Education.  This is a professional post-graduate programme that enables successful graduates to register via route 3 with The Teaching Council of Ireland. 
    My teaching interests are group work and facilitation, group dynamics, power and inequality, feminist-based critical pedagogy, reproductive justice.  

    External Collaborators

      Name Role / Description Country
    Three Pillars collective sharing expertise, influencing policy direction. IRELAND
    Journal of Social Science Education Guest Editor on special edition PORTUGAL
    Partners, Training for Transformation civil society partnership IRELAND
    Social and Health Project (SHEP) civil society partnership IRELAND