Dr Hilary Tierney

    Applied Social Studies, ALL Institute

    Associate Professor

    Laraghbryan House
    4.3
    (01) 708 6489

    Biography

    I joined the Department of Applied Social Studies in MU after many years as a community work and youth work practitioner in a variety of roles and contexts. I contribute across the Department’s programmes in the areas of youth work theory, policy and practice, supervision, professional skills development and research theory and practice.

    My practice and research interests converge in a specific interest in reflective practice, professional supervision, informal education, ethics and values in professional practice and the professional formation of gender conscious practitioners.

    I am particularly interested in the potential of informal social education to develop young people's critical capacities as local and global citizens who are committed to equality, social justice and human rights.

    The Department's mission to 'promote human rights, social justice and equality, nationally and internationally, through excellence and innovation in education, research and public engagement that contribute to the development of the social professions and applied social sciences' is both a 'guiding principle' and a 'call to action' in all aspects of my work within the university and my wider engagement with the field of community work and youth work, nationally and internationally.

    Research Interests

    My approach to research is rooted in the values, principles and practice of community work and youth work. I draw on narrative and feminist approaches that seek to engage in research with and alongside participants as co-producers of knowledge.  I am committed to research that is engaged, collaborative, participatory and social justice focused that contributes to real world impacts in the field of  youth work and community work. I am co-Director of the Centre for Youth Research and Development [CYRD] at the Department of Applied Social Studies and a member of the Advisory Group for the Pool of European Youth Researchers {PEYR]. My research interests include, though are are not limited to:

    Professional Practice
    Youth Work
    Young People
    Global Youth Work
    Community Work
    Global Youth Work
    Human Rights in Practice
    Sustainable Development

    Research Projects

    Title Role Description Start date End date Amount
    MIYO (MEASURING IMPACT OF YOUTH ORGANISATIONS) PI 01/04/2022 01/04/2024 85000
    Exploring the experiences of ethnic minoroty young people. (2021-23) Co-PI with Maurice Devlin 20000
    Mapping Recogniton Models of Youth Workers Expert Advisor Council of Europe Project to map models of recognition of youth workers.
    Volunteer Led Youth Work - Research team member on Collaborative study with UCC. IRC funded & supported by DCYA. 2012 Research Team Member 36000
    International Youth Work [Léargas, NYCI and CYRD] Co-PI Léargas, NYCI and CYRD are producing open source interactive elearning curriculum resources in International Youth Work for youthworkandyou.org. The module is designed to enhance participants understanding of international youth work within the context of European programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. It will be launched in Spring 2021. 20/11/2019 30/06/2021
    Youth Work eLearning Partnership [YWeLP] PI youthworkandyou.org was developed by the Youth Work eLearning Partnership [YWeLP], an Erasmus+ funded KA2 strategic partnership across five countries (Ireland, Finland, Estonia, Northern Ireland and Australia) during the period 2017-19. The project is co-ordinated by the Centre for Youth Research and Development [CYRD] in the Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University with partners in Humak University of Applied Sciences in Finland, Talllinn University in Estonia, Ulster University in Northern Ireland and Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia. YWeLP has created, designed and hosts youthworkandyou.org which provides digital curriculum materials on five contemporary youth work themes. 01/02/2017 31/08/2019 206330
    Action Research Project – reflective practice in youth work with Kildare Youth Services (Co-PI) 2010 Co-PI 20000
    Young People and Youth Workers Attitudes to Global Justice Issues (Co-PI) 2009-10 Co-PI 10000

    Book Chapter

    Year Publication
    2023 Ciara Bradley, Sinead McMahon, Hilary Tierney (2023) 'Research for Practice in the Social Professions' In: Research for Social Justice. London : Bristol Policy Press.
    2021 Dempsey, M., & Tierney, H. (2021) 'Ethical Challenges in Educational Research during the Pandemic Implications for interviewing in the online environment' In: Education Matters - Ireland's Education Yearbook 2020. Dublin : Education Matters. [Link]
    2019 Janice Feighery, Barbara Nea and Hilary Tierney (2019) 'STEAMING AHEAD: TOWARDS EMBEDDING STEAM IN IRISH YOUTH WORK' In: Maker Activities in Youth Work. Helsinki, Finland : Verke. [Link]
    2020 Cooper, T.; Brooker, M.R.; Tierney, H.; Sutcliffe, J. (2020) 'Digital technologies and youth work: Opportunities and challenges for models and theory' In: Youth Work In A Digital Society. [Link] [DOI]

    Peer Reviewed Journal

    Year Publication
    2023 Bradley, C. Gorman, J. Tierney, H (2023) '“A journey, not a destination”: Emerging Professional Identities of Community Work & Youth Work Students'. Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, (Special Issue). [Link]
    2011 Hilary Tierney (2011) 'Mapping Fieldwork and SupervisionPractice in the Social Professions (Part 1)'. YOUTH STUDIES IRELAND, 6 (1):18-33. [Link]
    2011 Hilary Tierney (2011) 'Mapping Fieldwork and Supervision Practice in the Social Professions (Part 2)'. YOUTH STUDIES IRELAND, 6 (2):21-35. [Link]

    Other Journal

    Year Publication
    2013 Mary Robb, Caroline Jones and Hilary Tierney (2013) 'The Evidence Conversation [Working Group on Evidence in Youth Work]' Irish Youth Work Scene, (77) :10-11. [Link]
    2010 Hilary Tierney (2010) 'Promoting Development Education in Youth Work Training - Research Review' Policy and Practice - A Development Education Review, (10) :135-138. [Link]
    2000 M. Devlin and H. Tierney (2000) 'Youthcert: Promoting Certification and Accreditation of Community-based Youth Work Training' Irish Youthwork Scene, 29 . [Full-Text]
    1997 Hilary Tierney (1997) 'Community Employment & Youth Work: Some consequences & Issues' Irish Youth Work Scene, (18) :3-4. [Link]

    Conference Publication

    Year Publication
    2011 Hilary Tierney (2011) How do we know it is working? Outcomes in Youth Work . In: Gail Neil eds. Talking the Walk [Link]

    Conference Contribution

    Year Publication
    2023 Hilary Tierney (2023) EaT SNAC German National Agency for Youth The Promise, the Ask and What is Required in Youuth Work Education and Training Milan, Italy, 19/10/2023-19/10/2023.
    2023 Hilary Tierney (2023) Latvian National E+ Agency for International Programs for Youth Getting Curious - accessing online curriculum resources for youth work education and training Riga, Latvia (online), 18/10/2023-18/10/2023.
    2023 Hilary Tierney (2023) Transferstelle zur Ausgestaltung der European Youth Work Agenda in Deutschland geplante Fachtagung Focus on Youth Work in Ireland Dortmund (Online), 06/10/2023-06/10/2023. [Link]
    2022 HILARY TIERNEY (2022) NATIONAL CLIMATE JUSTICE CONFERENCE FUTURE GENERATIONS NYCI DUBLIN, 23/11/2022-23/11/2022.
    2022 HILARY TIERNEY (2022) Expert meeting on higher education in youth work Networking Erasmus Youth + KA2 Dr Hilary Tierney HELSIINKI, 19/09/2022-23/09/2022.
    2022 HILARY TIERNEY (2022) VISIBLE VALUE strengthening the implementation of the European Youth Work Agenda in Eastern and Southeast Europe SARAJEVO, 14/11/2022-17/11/2022.
    2021 Ciara Bradley, Hilary Tierney, Jamie Gorman (2021) What's The Story? Narrative in Youth Work and Youth Studies - Maynooth, Ireland (Virtual) “A journey, not a destination”: Emerging professional narratives of Community and Youth workers  Maynooth, Ireland (Virtual), .
    2021 Ciara Bradley, Hilary Tierney, Jamie Gorman (2021) World Community Development Conference 2021 - Nairobi, Kenya (Virtual) “A journey, not a destination”: Emerging professional narratives of Community Workers  Nairobi, Kenya (Virtual), .
    2021 Dempsey, M., & Tierney, H. (2021) Ethical Challenges in Educational Research during the Pandemic Implications for interviewing in the online environment Education Matters Virtual Summit 2021 On-line, 06/05/2021-.
    2020 Hilary Tierney (2020) Competence frameworks for education and training of youth workers: Context and Considerations 3rd European Youth Work Convention Bonn, Germany, .
    2019 Hilary Tierney (2019) The Art of Supervising for Effective Practice Critical Conversations: Practicing and Supervising Reflectively and Ethically in the Social Professions UCC, Cork, .
    2018 Hilary Tierney (2018) ‘Hope is the better story: learning to “question everything” and “pick the battles you can win” in community work and youth worker’s practice narratives’ 4th International Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference Narrating Neo-Liberalism in an Irish Context Sligo IT, .
    2018 Hilary Tierney (2018) Expert Working grouo on Youth Work Education Systems for formal and non-formal education and validation of youth work education and training – the case of Ireland Brussels, .
    2018 Tim Corney and Hilary Tierney (2018) Ethics and Young People's Welfare Crosscurrents: Steering a course for youth work as a growth profession in the Commonwealth and in Europe . 3rd Commonwealth Conference on Youth Work Malta, .
    2017 Hilary Tierney (2017) Long and Winding Road: Professionalisation and Irish Youth Work Estonian Youth Workers Association 25th Anniversary Conference Tallinn University, Estonia, .
    2017 Hilary Tierney (2017) Designing learning and reflection for youth workers -TED-talk Expert Seminar Youth Work - Time to Show Off! SALTO Training & Cooperation Resource Centre De Glind, Netherlands, .
    2016 Hilary Tierney (2016) Time to Move - Youth Mobility Mobility and its benefits - https://soundcloud.com/l-argas-communications/hilary-tierney-speech-mobility-and-its-benefits-time-to-move-2016 Dublin Castle, .
    2016 Hilary Tierney and Brian Melaugh (2016) Hanging out in the gap – exercising professional judgement in an era of ‘organisational professionalism' Devolved, Diverse and Interdependent: Making Professional Connections [TAG-PALCYW] University of Ulster, .
    2016 Hilary Tierney (2016) British Irish Symposium on Youth Affairs A century and more of youth work Dublin, .
    2016 Hilary Tierney (2016) RPL in the Community and Youth Sector: Challenges & Opportunities RPL Practitioners Network [QQI] Limerick, .
    2015 Grace O’Grady (Education) Angela Rickard, (Education) Therese Hegarty (Froebel) Hilary Tierney (Applied Social Studies)David McCormack (Adult Education) Eva Lindroos (English) (2015) A Field in the Making. The Second Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference A Field in the Making. For the second Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference (INIC) we draw on the 'field' as metaphor for text/context Maynooth University, .
    2015 Maurice Devlin and Hilary Tierney (2015) Youth on the Move? - 3rd Maynooth International Youth Studies Conference In what ways, and to what extent, is transformation or “movement” evident in the individual and collective lives of young people, in services, policies and professional practices for/with youth, or even in the concept of youth and its relation to other generations? What is changing within the field of youth studies itself? Maynooth University, .
    2014 Maurice Devlin (2014) Marking 30 years of youth policy The 30th anniversary of the Costello report coincides with the new National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, launched recently Maynooth University, .
    2014 Hilary Tierney (2014) Testing Times and Illuminating Journeys. Crystallising Narratives and Conceptualising Metaphors in Narrative Inquiry 1st Irish Conference on Narrative Inquiry Researching and Writing Irish Storyscapes Sligo Education Centre, Institute of Technology, 10 April 2014, .
    2014 Hilary Tierney and Cathryn Carpenter (2014) Models of Practice in Youth Work Education Improving the Effectiveness of Youth Work through High-Quality Youth Work Education Tallinn University, Estonia, .
    2014 Hilary Tierney (2014) Case Study 3: the Development of Competence Standards for the validation of practice in Youth Work QQI Peer Learning Activity: EU Commission EQF Advisory Group Limerick, ireland, .
    2013 Hilary Tierney and Maurice Devln [Organisers and Convenors] (2013) Professional Education and Training for Youth Work - An International Forum First International Youth Work Educators' Forum. 25th‐27th June 2013 Maynooth University, .
    2013 Hilary Tierney [Organiser and Convenor] (2013) TAG-PACYW Annual Conference 2013 ‘All in this Together? Connecting cultures, communities and young people’ The annual conference of the Professional Association of Lecturers in Community and Youth Work Maynooth University, .
    2013 Hilary Tierney (2013) ‘Testing times and illuminating journeys' FieldworkSupervisors Practice Narratives ‘All in this Together? Connecting cultures, communities and young people’ The annual conference of the Professional Association of Lecturers in Community and Youth Work Maynooth University, .
    2012 Hilary Tierney (2012) What’s 17,000km between friends? Youth Work In ireland and Australia Youth Affairs Council of Victoria [YACVIC] CONNECT FOR youth conferenceConference June 2012 Melbourne, Australia, .
    2019 Hilary Tierney (2019) Strengthening the potential of youth work in Eastern Europe Peer learning event on support to youth work development in Eastern Europe Tbilisi, Georgia, .
    2019 Hilary Tierney (2019) Bridges and ladders: stories from the ‘coalface’ to the ‘ivory tower’ and back XIV International Tool Fair - Youth Work 'Know-How' https://educationaltoolsportal.eu/en/articles/international_tool_fair_xiv Rovaniemi, Finland, .
    2019 Hilary Tierney and Anne Molloy (2019) European Academy of Youth Work Better Together Higher Education and NFE in partnership in youth work education in Ireland Slovenia, .
    2016 Maurice Devlin and Hilary Tierney (2016) Youth Work and Inequality: Discourse and Practice 3RD ISA FORUM 'THE FUTURES WE WANT:GLOBAL SOCIOLOGY AND THE STRUGGLES FOR A BETTER WORLD' 10-14 JULY 2016 Vienna, Austria, .
    2016 Hilary Tierney, Ciara Bradley (2016) 3rd Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference 10-11 March 2016 'Stories 'r Us' ‘Knowing Well and Knowing Responsibly’ – Navigating Unreliability in Narrative Inquiry NUI Galway, .
    2015 Hilary Tierney (2015) Rebels with a Cause A Field in the MakingThe Second Irish Narrative Inquiry Conference Maynooth University, .
    2014 Hilary Tierney (2014) Times Times and Illuminating Journeys Crystallising Narratives and Conceptualising Metaphors in Narrative Inquiry Troubling Narratives: Identity Matters. The Institute for Research in Citizenship and Applied Human Sciences, University of Huddersfield 19-20 June 2014 University of Huddersfield, .
    2014 Hilary Tierney (2014) Round Table on Development Education and Global Youth Work NYCI Revisiting ‘Standpoints’: Attitudes to Global Justice Among Young People and Youth Workers in Ireland https://www.youth.ie/articles/roundtable-on-development-education-global-youth-work-youth/ Dublin Castle, .
    2014 Hilary Tierney (2014) ‘Standpoints’: Attitudes to Global Justice Among Young People and Youth Workers in Ireland XVIII ISA World Congress of Sociology. Facing an Unequal World: Challenges for Sociology Yokohama, Japan, .
    2013 Hilary Tierney (2013) Practising Practice - Reflections on Fieldwork Supervisors Practice Narratives Commonwealth Conference on Education and Training of Youth Workers (CCETYW) Pretoria, South Africa, .
    2013 Hilary Tierney (2013) ‘Oh yeah that’s awful, that’s terrible. Somebody should do something about it Global Justice through Global Citizenship European Conference Brussels, Belgium, .
    2011 Hilary Tierney (2011) National Youth Council Conference, November, 2011 ‘Talking the Walk’ articulating youth work’s purpose DKIT, Dundalk, .

    Published Report

    Year Publication
    2010 Maurice Devlin and Hilary Tierney (2010) Standpoints: Attitudes of young people & youth workers to development & global justice issues. NYCI, . [Link]
    2004 Hilary Tierney (2004) Community Development Consultancy Course (CDCC): Evaluation Report. Aontas, .

    Consultancy

    Year Publication
    2004 Hilary Tierney (2004) Exploring the potential to create all island linkages among community work education and training interests. [Consultancy]

    Electronic Publication

    Year Publication
    2021 Cleary, M.; Cullen, JM.; Furlong, N.; Janning, P. and Tierney, H. (2021) International Youth Work Unit 3: Funding, Strategy, Process. [Electronic Publication] [Link]
    2021 Cleary, M.; Cullen, JM.; Furlong, N.; Janning, P. and Tierney, H. (2021) (2021) International Youth Work Unit 2: Connecting, Learning, Participating. [Electronic Publication] [Link]
    2021 Cleary, M.; Cullen, JM.; Furlong, N.; Janning, P. and Tierney, H. (2021) International Youth Work Unit 1: What is International Youth Work? A European Programmes Perspective. [Electronic Publication] [Link]
    2019 Tierney, Hilary, Devlin, Maurice and Reynolds, Saoirse (2019) Communicating Youth Work Unit 1 - Uniqueness, Benefits and Outcomes. [Electronic Publication] [Link]
    2019 Tierney, Hilary, Devlin, Maurice and Reynolds, Saoirse (2019) Communicating Youth Work Unit 2 - Beyond Activities, What Youth Workers Do. [Electronic Publication] [Link]
    2019 Tierney, Hilary, Devlin, Maurice and Reynolds, Saoirse (2019) Communicating Youth Work Unit 3 - Getting the word out. [Electronic Publication] [Link]

    Guest Lectures

    Year Publication
    2019 Hilary Tierney (2019) The long and winding road - youth work and professionalisation in Ireland. ECU Perth, WA. [Guest Lectures] [Link]

    Invited Lectures

    Year Publication
    2019 Hilary Tierney (2019) Professional Youth Work Education and Training in MU: Intercultural Competence. [Invited Lectures] [Link]

    Video recording / TV

    Year Publication
    2018 Hilary Tierney (2018) A quick tour of Irish Youth Work. Helsinki, Finland: [Video recording / TV] [Link]

    Workshops

    Year Publication
    2014 Hilary Tierney and Alison Farrell (2014) Promoting and Sharing Your Youth Work Practice: A workshop to support youth work practitioner writing. [Workshops] [Link]

    Podcast

    Year Publication
    2020 Hilary Tierney, Antti Korhonen and Ekaterina Sherer (2020) Youth workers: values and ethics. EU-CoE youth partnership MOOC Essentials of Youth Work. [Podcast] [Link]

    Webinar

    Year Publication
    2020 Jessica Dunne, Alice Mary Higgins, Adam Lambe, Grace McManus, Dermot O'Brien, Cate O'Connor, Hilary Tierney (2020) How can the youth sector activate its power to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) NYCI One world week 2020. [Webinar] [Link]
    2020 Axel Stammberger, Yuliya Stankevich ahd Hilary Tierney (2020) Current debates and the future of youth work. EU-CoE youth partnership MOOC Essentials of Youth Work. [Webinar] [Link]
    2020 HIlary Tierney and Noral Furlong (2020) Léargas Webinar Wednesdays: What Do You Need to Know about Non-formal Education in Erasmus+ Projects?. [Webinar] [Link]
    Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2023) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

    Professional Associations

    Description Function From / To
    Sociological Association of Ireland [Member of Pedagogy of Sociology Study Group] Member -
    International Association for Community Development [IACD] Member -
    TAG-PALCYW Professional Association Lecturers in CYW Member -
    International Sciological Association RC34 sub-committee Sociology of Youth member -

    Honors and Awards

    Date Title Awarding Body
    01/05/2022 MU Teaching Award to CYW Team Maynooth University
    01/01/2013 CTL Fellowship - Research for Practice (with Ciara Bradley) Maynooth University
    01/01/2010 CTL Fellowship - Learning Outcomes Project Handbook Maynooth University

    Committees

    Committee Function From / To
    QQI Standards Revision and Development in Youth Work and Community Work with NSETS/AIEB Chair 01/09/2023 - 30/09/2024
    County Kildare Leader Partnernership [CKLP] Board Member & Member Social Inclusion sub-committee 2014-17 Board Member 2013-17 and 2022-24 -
    EaT SNAC Education and Training for Youth Work in FE and HE (Erasmus+) Steering Group Member 01/12/2021 - 30/12/2025
    MU Teaching and Learning Committee [2014-17] Member -
    Pool of European Youth Researchers [PEYR] -Expert Advisory Group Member Expert Advisory Group Member -
    European Academy on Youth Work Advisory Board Member Member -
    Europe Goes Local Working Group [Léargas] Member -
    Academic Council Member 07/05/2019 -
    MU Social Research Ethics Sub-Committee Chair 03/03/2017 -
    Youth 2030 Consortium Partnership [NYCI, Trocaire, Concern, CYRD at MU]. Funded by Irish Aid. Consortium Partner [2018-21] -
    3rd European Youth Work Convention - Irish Delegation Member Irish Delegation Member 07/12/2020 - 10/12/2020
    ’Time to show off’ Youth Work Ed & Training Expert Group [Transnational Co-operation Activity] Member of Expert Group [2019-21] -
    FSS Teaching and Learning Committee (Chair 2014-17) Chair -
    Expert Group in Education and Training for European Youth Work [Léargas] Member -
    STEAM in Youth Work Expert Advisory Group [NYCI] Member -
    QQI Consultative Forum [2016-17] Member representing NSETS and AIEB -

    Consultancy

    Client Description
    EU-CoE Youth Partnerhsip [2019- Essentials of Youth Work MOOC. Curriculum development and delivery team member. The MOOC Essentials of youth work sets out to: 1. Make youth work known to a wide audience and draw attention to its social value 2. Provide an overview of youth work practices and policies across Europe 3. Present current developments in this field, including at European level.
    Youth Work Ireland Tipperary [YWIT] Collaborating with Camara Ireland to offer NUI Certificate in Digital Creativity in Youth Settings to support the development of YWIT as a 'digitally enhanced youth service'. 2020-2022
    County Kildare LEADER Partnership [CKLP] Provision of certified Youth Work & Community Work Education programme in Co. Kildare
    JUGEND für Europa/SALTO T&C RC [2019-] EU programme ‘Erasmus+’, Time to show off! • to contribute with expertise and ideas to the further shaping of the modules • to critically review and give feedback to the proposal developed by the writers group
    EU-CoE youth partnership, SALTO Training and Cooperation and Léargas [2020-21] In the framework of the follow-up of the Council Conclusions on education and training of youth workers and the European Youth Work Agenda, a consortium of National Agencies and National Authorities, in cooperation with the EU-CoE youth partnership and SALTO Training and Cooperation, have decided to organise a Peer Learning Activity (PLA) on the topic of Education and Training of Youth Workers.

    Teaching Interests

    As an educator of professional community workers and youth workers, I am committed to engaging students in experiential learning that integrates theory and practice in a process of reflective inquiry across the following themes:

    Youth Work Theory and Practice
    - Global Youth Work 
    - Digital Youth Work
     - Informal and Non-formal Learning

    Professional Practice
    - Professionalism and Professionalisation
    - Values and Ethics
    - Professional Identity
    - Reflective Practice
    - Supervision

    Research Skills
     -Narrative and Participatory Approaches
    - Reflexivity
    - Writing Skills
    - Relational Ethics

    I have co-ordinated and taught across the BSocSc and MSocSc Community and Youth Work programmes over the years.  I teach youth work, professional development and research at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.

    In 2020-21 co-ordinate the DSocSc programme and act as Academic Director on the NUI Certificates in Youth Work Studies, Digital Creativity in Youth Settings and Global Youth Work and Development Education which are offered in collaboration with sectoral partners CKLP, Camara Ireland and NYCI respectively.