Our B.A (Early Years and Childhood Studies) students presented their capstone research on Tuesday 31^st March 2026 at the annual EYCS Student Conference. 

SPRING 3.0 promotes wellbeing and mental health for children, adolescents, and caregivers in southeastern Turkey, focusing on recovery following the earthquake and the Syrian war, using play and sport to build inclusive, resilient communities. Supported by five partners from academia, the NGO sector, public health networks and social sport foundations (Mercy Without Limits Turkey, The International Platform on Sport and Development, Fútbol Más Spain, University College Cork and EuroHealthNet), the initiative empowers professionals, coaches, and organizations to act as agents of social transformation.

Spring 3.0 poster

Dr Seanin Hoy with her supervisor, Dr. Steve O' Brien, School of Education, University College Cork, on the occasion of her Phd conferring.  Her Doctral study is entitled 'The Critical state of Global Citizenship Education (GCE) in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Ireland’.

The research Project is called 'Fractured': Exploring Global Justice Through Film and Pop-Up Library Exhibition is a creative partnership between UCC students and staff, Cork City Library, and Cork Community Media Hub. Through workshops in filmmaking and global justice, students and staff will explore political, economic, environmental, and social justice themes. Their short films will feature in a pop-up, interactive space co-created with the public to spark dialogue, reflection, and shared learning. Hosted in both university and library settings, the project also contributes to research by exploring how creative, public-facing methods can deepen understanding of global justice and support inclusive, community-based education for transformative change. The exhibition will take place during the first week of May 2026.

https://www.researchireland.ie/news/new-foundations-community-research/

Four researchers from University College Cork travelled to Copenhagen to present findings from the #IceheartsEurope project at MOVE Congress 2025, reaching 900 participants from 62 countries across the sport, education, policy and health sectors.

The group was led by Professor Fiona Chambers from UCC's School of Education, who delivered a keynote presentation on the project. Running for nearly three years and led by the International Sport and Culture Association, it provided long-term, sport-based mentoring support to more than 2,200 disadvantaged children across five European countries. The Icehearts model, originally developed in Finland in 1996, pairs children at risk of social exclusion with a dedicated mentor for up to twelve years. Icehearts Europe adapts and scales this Finnish model for new European contexts to improve the mental health and wellbeing of disadvantaged children and young people.

As part of our commitment to deepen community engagement under Barr na gCnoc — the partnership connecting our teaching and research efforts to local schools — the School of Education at University College Cork welcomed over 100 primary pupils to the Mardyke arena at the beginning of December 2025 to showcase their new use of Irish developed in tandem with fundamental movement skill development in physical education.

It was great to bring many of our School of Education Cohort and Structured PhD students together for a Coffee Morning on Saturday.

We followed this with a creative and enjoyable session led by Prof. Nicola Ingram, who explored the exciting possibilities of using visual research methods in education research.

A big thank you to all of the students who shared their experiences and engaged so fully throughout the day!

A prize-giving award ceremony for the Bachelor of Science Education programme took place in the Eureka Centre, Kane Building on Tuesday 11th November 2025.

This year’s recipient Ms. Martyna Byrdziak achieved the top marks on the Science Education programme.

The Declan Kennedy medal for Academic Excellence was presented to Ms. Byrdziak together with the annual Perpetual Trophy.

Well done to Martyna for this commendable achievement!

The School of Education B.Ed Gaeilge Awards ceremony took place on Wednesday 5th November 2025 at 2pm in SHTEPPS, The HUB. The recipients and the awards are as follows:

1) Stephanie Doyle - Gradam Bharr Feabhais Acadúil 2025

2) Ellen O' Connor - Gradam Ildánaí 2025

Stephanie and Ellen were presented with these awards for exemplifying the highest standards of academic achievement and all-round exemplary practice in the post-primary school classroom.

The students were joined by their families, the director of the B.Ed Gaeilge programme Dr. TJ Ó Ceallaigh, the B.Ed Gaeilge team, representatives from Roinn na Nua-Ghaeilge, The School of Languages, the School of Education Manager Dr. Tara Singleton and the Head of School Prof. Nicola Ingram.

A proud celebration for the programme’s second cohort of graduates!

To celebrate National Science Week, we are pleased to invite UCC staff and their children to the annual Chemistry Magic show in Kane G01 on 14/11/25 at 6pm until 7pm. We hope to stimulate an interest in science in our younger guests through the demonstrations in the Magic Show!