The challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced by young adults with disabilities in Cork are documented in a recent study at University College Cork. Loretta Sweeney, a BA Social Work Graduate, collaborated with The National Learning Network in her final year research project supervised by Hillary Jenkinson, School of Applied Social Studies.

The significance of sports and their central role in the lives of asylum seekers in Direct Provision have been acknowledged in a recent study at University College Cork. Diekololaoluwa Amujo, a BA Applied Psychology Graduate, collaborated with Cricket Ireland in her final year research project supervised by Dr Angela Veale, School of Applied Psychology. The study explored the impact of cricket participation and a newly developed training programme called ‘Cricket Connects’ developed by Cricket Ireland.

A recent collaboration between a University College Cork Medicine student and Down Syndrome Cork explored the prevalence and impact of X-ray screening for Atlanto-Axial Instability (AAI) in children with Down syndrome across Ireland. Down syndrome athletes are often required to undergo pre-participation X-ray screening for AAI to help identify those at risk. However, the evidence for plain cervical spine X-ray as a form of screening is poor. 

Social Prescribing is a new approach to supporting population health and well-being that is based on the assumption that people’s health needs could be better addressed if their social, emotional and practical needs were met. It is an approach which involves linking healthcare service users with non-clinical sources of support in their local communities through Civil Society Organisations. A recent University College Cork study explored understandings of this approach in Cork amongst stakeholder groups involved in services using a social prescribing approach. The findings of this project have highlighted the potential for social prescribing as a new space for supporting health and well-being and has defined and documented key components of the social prescribing approach.

The importance of offering young people a space to discuss concerns and opinions surrounding mental health has been documented in a recent collaborative study in University College Cork. The research was undertaken in partnership with Youth Work Ireland, Cork and the Health Action Zone and informs the evaluation of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Programme, 'Mind Your Head' that has been running in Cork for over 10 years. 

Together with Gaisce, The President’s Award - Ireland’s national youth achievement award programme - a recent UCC Community-Academic Research Links (CARL) project explored the role of the youth mentor within a non-formal learning environment. Some 90% of the teacher PALs surveyed reported that they believed that they ‘made a difference’ to the lives of their Award students and 52% of them have been volunteering for more than 10 years. 

A recent community academic research partnership is informing practical ways to support health outcomes for older people by enhancing care pathways for audiology services and aftercare. The research will be used by Friendly Call Cork to focus efforts on supporting older people in the aftercare stages of accessing and managing hearing aids and audiology services over time. Hearing loss can be a factor for wider health outcomes such as decline in cognitive function and lonliness and it is anticipated that targetted supports willl have wide health and wellbeing benefits.

SECAD Partnership CLG provides rural development and social inclusion supports to empower local communities to create a more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive society. They recently partnered with final year Geography student Matthew Williamson to examine how the organisation has changed, transforming traditional systems of local development and governance to create more integrated approaches that enable communities to set their own economic and social development agendas.

A recent study on the impact that community crime and violence have on the welfare of children growing up in high crime communities has recently been completed by a University College Cork student. Laura Walsh, a MA of Social Work graduate, collaborated in a CARL project with professionals and community members located in the Moneymore housing estate in Drogheda Co. Louth.

A recent University College Cork study on the role of NICHE, Niche Health Project Cork, highlights how wider policy changes has impacted on community development over the last 20 years. The qualitative study combines a review of the literature with 10 semi-structured interviews documenting the thoughts and experiences of people who have worked at NICHE.

A 4^th year Ecology student at University College Cork, in partnership with Youghal Tidy Towns, has recently completed a study into the factors that effect Ballyvergan Marsh. Keith Dineen, supervised by Dr Simon Harrison from the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, spent six months in the area working on the project.

A recent University College Cork study identified the positive impact of volunteering on the life experiences of people who have migrated to Ireland. The research identified how volunteering made people ‘feel productive’ and gave them a ‘sense of fulfilment’. Research participants reported how volunteering allowed them to engage with their local community and build lasting relationships, which in turn positively affected their mental health.

A recent UCC Community-Academic Research Links (CARL) project explored the benefits and barriers/challenges that employers experience in hiring and maintaining employment of people with an intellectual disability. A Master of Social Work student, Emma Callaghan, undertook the research under the supervision of Fiona O’Gorman, School of Applied Social Studies.

A recent University College Cork study on the experiences of Older Gay Men in Cork highlighted that older gay men in Cork are optimistic about ageing.

“While we know from other research that Older Gay Men experience increased levels of loneliness and isolation compared to their straight counterparts; the findings from this research are positive as they suggest that those men who have access to dedicated LGBT+ community services like The Gay Project experience much lower levels of loneliness and isolation” says Michael O Donnell of The Gay Project.

A community group created to empower Irish girls and young women, recently collaborated with University College Cork to research adolescent girls’ experiences of using social media. The Shona Project (https://shona.ie/) named after her sister, was founded by Tammy Darcy to give young women a platform to share their own stories and celebrate the achievements of powerful, successful and inspiring women from Ireland and all over the world.

The Rainbow Club Cork Centre for Autism and a University College Cork Master of Applied Psychology student recently collaborated in a Community Academic Research Links (CARL) research project to investigate the supports provided to over 400 children with autism through the Rainbow Club’s services. Paddy Lynch, a Masters in Psychology student in UCC, undertook a small study as part of his placement experience with the Rainbow Club, under the supervision of Dr Sharon Lambert. The study identified a number of social and personal benefits that children acquire from participation in the Rainbow Club, and identified a strong sense of community that allows children and families to thrive.  

Cricket Ireland partner with Community Academic Research Links  in support of refugees and asylum seekers. The experience of refugees and asylum seekers engaging in sport is of deep interest to Cricket Ireland, the National Governing Body for the Sport on the island of Ireland. In a novel undertaking, they are collaborating with Community Academic Research Links in University College Cork to bring a research lens to investigate what they know to be true – that sports changes lives!

NEWS: Three CARL-projects with CUBS-students have resulted in the creation of apps for tourism and wildlife purposes.

NEWS: Our congratulations to the Douglas Matters research partnership - community group, UCC graduates and supervisor on being shortlisted for the Education Award in the Research category at The Education Award Gala in Dublin on Thursday 21st February. 

NEWS: The CARL community-academic research partnership and projects with the Eating Disorder Centre Cork raise awareness about eating disorders and helps connect people with specialist support. This week the research partners came together to promote the value of this type of research and as part of the wider effort to raise awareness during Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2019 #EDAW2019. 

Eight Students in the UCC Masters in Social Work Programme participated in Community Based Research (CBR) partnerships facilitated by Community Academic Research Links (CARL) this academic year. The students shared their research findings with a large audience of peers, staff, family members and representatives from the community groups.

Together, SECAD and UCC, recently attended a consultation session or ‘think-in’ with Campus Engage and Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s) in Dublin. SECAD was represented by William O’Halloran and UCC by Anna Kingston from CARL.

On April 11^th 2018, Dr Anna Kingston from Community Academic Research Links (CARL) represented UCC at a workshop in Bratislava on Service-Learning and Community Engagement in Higher Education Institutions. It was organised by the Utrecht Network www.utrecht-network.org, a representative European-wide network of universities cooperating in the area of internationalisation. It aims to encourage exchange of good practices and implementing educational policies. It has 32 members in 27 countries and has been networking for over 30 years.

On May 3^rd 2018 Professor Corey Dolgon from Stonehill College Massachusetts came to UCC to present on the basics of designing a Community Based Learning (CBL) course. UCC staff were joined by colleagues from Trinity College Dublin and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. Over the course of two workshops Professor Dolgon explored the pedagogy and social justice underpinnings of community based learning, which is an experiential learning approach that fosters collaboration between universities and the community as an integral part of a course or module. This involves active learning embedded in the curriculum, with global and local citizenship as a core value and outcome. Professor Dolgon is an internationally known community engagement educator and Fulbright Scholar. His prior teaching appointments include Harvard University, where he was a visiting professor from 2000-2003, and Clark University. His latest book is Kill It to Save It: An Autopsy of Capitalism's Triumph over Democracy, Policy Press (2017). 

Professor Dolgon’s Presentation can be accessed here:Pedagogies of Hope

Students awarded for outstanding community engagement projects

This week marked a particular milestone in UCC with the celebration of the 50^th student-community CARL project. The celebration brought together community representatives, academic staff and students past and present. Its focus was to grow the network of community organisations that CARL (and UCC) partners with, and highlight the significance of these projects to date.  

The new UCC President Professor Patrick O’Shea (Twitter @osheaUCC) participated in an information session about UCC’s community engagement activities on May 24^th. CARL-staff and committee members hosted the session which gave the President a flavour of how community based research undertaken by UCC students can bring about changes in the lives of people in wider society. Brenda Barry from Friendly Call Cork explained the benefits of a recent CARL research collaboration with BSocSc Social Science student Paul Lehane. Both Paul and his academic supervisor Dr Fiona Dukelow emphasised the importance for UCC to engage in real life research projects as part of learning and teaching at third level. CARL invites community groups to propose research topics which are then undertaken by UCC-students. President O’Shea was impressed by this initiative and pledged his continued support for the University’s engagement with community groups. 

Community engagement is becoming an increasingly important part of higher education and CARL is now expanding across the University, and has recently recruited two new part‐time staff, Courtney Collins and William O'Halloran, who will work with Dr Anna Kingston to support CARL's various activities. Currently, CARL staff are working with students and staff from the School of Medicine and the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences (BEES) to encourage more research projects in these disciplines.

A recent CARL workshop on "Autism & Young People: Researching with the Community" showcased the CLASP tool, a hand-held digital anxiety management device, which local UCC researchers, community workers and parents are interested in exploring the use of as an anxiety management tool for people with high-functioning autism or Asperger Syndrome.

UCC President Dr Michael Murphy has publicly signed the 10-point ‘Campus Engage Charter on Civic and Community Engagement’ at a landmark event in Dublin Castle.

The database of available research projects suggested by community groups and civil society organisation has been updated on the website (February 2014).

Click here for notes on student eligibility.

Click below link to view this year's projects

Available Projects 2013/2014 (265kB)

Invitation to lecture by Paul Manners on the public engagement role of Higher Education Institutions ...

The Vice-President for External Relations and Community-Academic Research Links (CARL) would like to invite you to a public lecture with Paul Manners on Friday 10th May from 12.30-2pm in the Council Room, University College Cork. A light lunch will be provided.

Our active research projects for 2012/13

Are you a member of a community group, voluntary organisation, resident’s association, NGO? Do you need a small piece of research done, but don’t have enough money or resources to carry it out at this time? CARL may be able to help.

Your University - Your Research: Linking Higher Education research with community groups through innovative projects ...‌

How many people in the community feel that they can connect with what is going on inside the walls of our third level institutions? What happens to all these projects that students pursue in order to obtain their degrees and advance their careers? Do they gather dust in the archives never to be looked at again? Does the research really matter to anyone else except the student? 

A year on: UCC Science Shop pilot as example of civically engaged  ...

Participating students from Science Shop projects in 2010/11 (L-R): Michael Quirke, Monica Coll, Siobhan Scully, Mary Ryan, Master of Social Work (MSW) students ... 

Four recent pilot Science Shop projects in UCC have successfully shown that on-going university activities can exemplify civic mindedness and engage academia with the wider community.

 Local communities linking with University researchers to find solutions ...

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What services are required in a rapidly growing suburb of Cork to answer the needs of its residents? What is the level of pollution coming from nearby industry and what are the potential health implications?

Master of Social Work student presents her study findings to Minister Kathleen Lynch ...

Teresa Cronin, Master of Social Work student (2012), gave a short presentation of her project on Post Natal Depression on Friday 28th September in Cork University Hospital. The title of the study was: Postnatal Depression: Prevalence, Peer Social Support and Policy (Ireland and International Literature Review)

Dr Henk Mulder, University of Groningen...

The UCC Science Shop is a step closer to becoming a reality.

A Science Shop is a centre that facilitates scientific research on behalf of community and voluntary groups. Typically, a community group approaches the Science Shop with an issue or a problem. The University researcher or student then undertakes research on their behalf.

Lunchtime seminar on the key challenges and opportunities faced by Higher Education Institutions as they strive to fulfil their third mission, i.e. civil engagement: (L-R) Catherine O’Mahony (CARL), Anna Kingston (CARL), Béatrice Korc  (University of Lyon), and Melodié Faury (Univeristy of Lyon)

"While the University supports the development of researchers, there is little effort to make them aware of, or engage them in, society’s 'grand challenges'".

This was the argument made by Béatrice Korc, Director of “Science et Society” Department of the University of Lyon, who is engaged in pioneering work in France to develop cultural bridges between research and society. Béatrice and her colleague Melodié Faury shared their experiences of how they are re-directing and re-focussing postgraduate students’ ideas of what research is and of their role as researchers.

A UCC driven pilot-project is breaking down barriers and building bridges between students and community groups. Meet CARL (Community-Academic Research Links).

Lunchtime seminar on how to bridge the divide between the University and the broader community  (L-R): Dr Paul Manners, Director of the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement, Dr Anna Kingston, CARL Coordinator at UCC and Trevor Holmes, Vice-President for External Relations, UCC.

The concept of the university moving out into the community and the community moving into the university was under discussion in UCC recently.

Congratulations to Michael Quirke, MSW graduate (2011)...