As part of UCC’s Barr na gCnoc initiative, a community partnership led by Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha that connects UCC’s research and teaching missions with local engagement, members of the School of Education are leading an innovative project on the teaching of Physical Education (PE) through Irish in DEIS primary schools.

The project, which involves 6th class learners in three schools local to UCC, builds on the success of the Gaeilge Stretch programme delivered to 5th class pupils last year. Working in collaboration with Aonad Lán-Ghaeilge in Gaelcholáiste Mhic Shuibhne and local primary partners, the team - Dr Craig Neville, Dr Conor Philpott, Dr Diarmuid Lester, and Tomás Dowling from the School of Education - are exploring how Irish can be used as a medium for learning as well as a subject in its own right.

At the heart of the project is Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), an educational approach in which subject content is taught through a second or additional language. CLIL helps learners use language authentically and purposefully—in this case, using Irish to talk, move, and learn through PE. Rather than treating Irish as an isolated subject, the approach embeds it in meaningful contexts, encouraging fluency, confidence, and motivation while promoting bilingual and pluriliterate development.

Prof. Nicola Ingram, Dr. Camelia Bran and Ms. Julia Collins recently participated in the annual SCoTENS conference. The theme this year explored 'A New Era for Professionalism: Teacher Identity, Authenticity, and Agency'

Prof. Nicola Ingram said 'It was a great pleasure to attend SCoTENS in my first year as a committee member as it provided an opportunity to gain insight into research and collaborations on this shared island. The highlight of the conference for me was chairing one of the doctoral workshops and engaging with emerging work on teacher education in both jurisdictions. It was particularly gratifying that out of the 12 doctoral students who gained places on the doctoral workshop three were from the School of Education at UCC (Julia Collins, Genevieve Collins and Marc Barry). For me this was testimony to the high quality research culture in the school'

At the 2025 ScoTENS Conference, Dr Camelia Nadia Bran and partners from St. Mary’s Unviersty College BELFAST presented the outcomes of the Exploring Knowledge and Awareness of Reasonable Accommodations (EKARA) project — a collaborative initiative financed by ScoTENS (2023–2025).

Using a mixed-methods approach that included a literature review, survey, focus groups, and workshops for student teachers, the research mapped participants’ knowledge, understanding, and lived experiences of reasonable accommodations.

A key output of the project, the EKARA Toolkit, provides an open-access collection of practical and reflective resources—such as guidance materials, case studies, and interactive vignettes—that model best practices for inclusive placement support. Designed as a catalyst for dialogue and professional reflection, the Toolkit encourages collaboration and shared responsibility among stakeholders involved in supporting student teachers with diverse needs.

Please feel free to access it here:

First module of landmark Postgraduate Diploma concludes with exceptional student feedback.

October 22nd marked an exciting milestone for the School of Education/ACE Postgraduate Diploma in Coaching in Education at University College Cork, Ireland's first university accredited Coaching in Education programme, as students completed the inaugural module of this pioneering new programme.

Participants reported exceptionally high levels of satisfaction, reflecting the programme’s powerful blend of theory, reflection, and practice. This marks an incredible start for a historic initiative designed to open the doors of education, at all levels from early years to higher education, to the transformational potential of coaching in education.

‘We’re thrilled with the energy, insight, and professionalism of our first cohort’ said Programme and Academic Director Dr Joe Moynihan. ‘Their engagement shows how deeply coaching can enrich teaching, leadership, and learning across Ireland’s education system.’

The Business Studies Teachers’ Association of Ireland (BSTAI) held its National Conference in Mullingar on Saturday, 11 October 2025. At this prestigious event, Gráinne Cahalane, a PME alumna of the School of Education, who will formally graduate from the programme next month, was presented with the John O’Connor Award for Excellence in Business Studies Teaching 2025.

Patricia Murray, a School of Education M.Ed. graduate supervised by Dr. João Costa, presented her M.Ed. research at the prestigious 21st Biennial International Study Association for Teachers and Teaching, held at the University of Glasgow (Scotland) from 30 June to 4 July.

Patricia had the amazing opportunity to experience her first international scientific conference while also chairing the respective session where she presented. Her research on "An exploration of stakeholders’ experiences of key benefits and challenges of multi-grade teaching and learning in one Irish primary school" was very well received and serves as a great example of the high-quality and impactful research that M.Ed. students develop during their time in UCC's School of Education.

We are delighted to celebrate Professor Kathy Hall, former Professor of Education at UCC, on being honoured with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI). This prestigious award recognizes Professor Hall’s outstanding contributions to education in Ireland and internationally. Throughout her distinguished career, she has been a leading figure in the fields of literacy, teaching and learning, teacher education, and educational policy. Her research has significantly influenced educational practices and policies, and she has mentored numerous educators and researchers.  The ESAI Lifetime Achievement Award is a testament to Professor Hall’s enduring commitment to advancing educational research and practice. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to her on this well-deserved recognition.

On Friday May 16th 2025 a report entitled Bonus Territory: The Shifting Landscape of Higher Level Senior Cycle Mathematics (2010-2024) was launched in Mary Immaculate College, Thurles. The report, which was written by School of Education’s Mark Prendergast, along with Dr Páraic Treacy (MIC) and Dr Niamh O’Meara (UL), examines the bonus points initiative from the perspective of students and teachers and looks at the impact that it has had on the uptake of higher level mathematics and students’ mathematical ability.

Join us for Pizza and an open discussion at our NAT Student Workshop: Challenges and Barriers Facing ITE Students. This is an opportunity to share experiences of becoming a teacher and to identify obstacles, barriers and challenges that student teachers face, and to propose solutions and areas for improvement to better address the needs of student teachers. All are welcome!

Thursday, 3rd April 3.00pm-5.30pm

The Áine Hyland Room, G12, The Hub, UCC.