New CPD module: 'Developing a Fund Raising Strategy for Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations’

13 Apr

A new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) module, 'Developing a Fund Raising Strategy for Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations', will run next month in UCC.  It is aimed at workers (paid and unpaid) in not-for-profit voluntary and community organisations and will be held over four mornings: Friday 18 May; Saturday 19 May; Friday 25 May; Saturday 26 May 2018.

The module will run from 9.00am-1.00pm each day in the O'Rahilly Building on the main UCC Campus.  The course is provided at a subsidised fee of €60.

The need for financial sustainability has meant that fundraising has become an ever increasing requirement of voluntary and community organisations in Ireland, while fundraising itself has become increasingly complex requiring a high level of sophistication and planning. 

This course provides such organisations with the necessary information and skills to develop a strategy for fund-raising. Organised around a series of workshops, it will help organisations to develop an understanding of both the theory of not-for-profit fundraising as well as necessary knowledge to develop a fundraising strategy in the Irish context and how to build a case for funding.

If you are involved in a local community or voluntary sector organisation and are interesting in attending, more information on how to apply is available at the following webpage: https://www.ucc.ie/en/cpd/options/appliedsocialstudies/cpd1634/ 

@IDEAChildRights Project @UCC receives Certificate of Recognition at PSYCHED @CorkHealthyCity Awards

29 Mar

The @IDEAChildRights project @UCC was delighted to receive its certificate of recognition at PSYCHED @CorkHealthyCity awards on 28 March 2018 for its work on self-care training for child protection professionals and its new SPARK self-care tool.

The IDEA project is a five country training project for child protection professionals on children's rights funded by the European Commission Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers. The project has a special focus on professionals in child welfare removals proceedings in courts or court-like bodies.

The project is led by Dr Kenneth Burns from the School of Applied Social Studies and Dr Conor O'Mahony from the School of Law in University College Cork (Ireland), with partners from the University of Tampere (Finland), University of Szeged (Hungary), University of Gothenburg (Sweden) and University of Tartu (Estonia).

HIGHER DIPLOMA IN SOCIAL POLICY STUDENTS VISIT GLASGOW

25 Jan

Higher Diploma in Social Policy students, along with two Applied Social Studies staff members, went on a study visit to Glasgow between the 8th and 13th January 2018. The purpose of the trip was to explore Glasgow's social policy and social services.  

'Critical Perspectives On and Beyond "Change" in Mental Health Services'

03 Nov

‘CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON AND BEYOND “CHANGE” IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES’

15 AND 16 NOVEMBER 2017

BROOKFIELD HEALTH SCIENCES COMPLEX

A Two-Day Conference organised by the School of Applied Social Studies and the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, in association with the Critical Voices Network Ireland.

The conference aims to explore and debate critical perspectives on and beyond:

• What do we understand by ‘better’ mental health services? 
• Do we need mental health services at all?  If so, what should they look like? If not, what other ways are there?
• The politics of changing mental health services

The National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference took place in University College Cork on 26 and 27 October 2017.

27 Oct

The National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference took place in University College Cork on 26 and 27 October 2017.

The theme of this year's conference was 'Future directions for child protection and welfare - where to and why?'

Keynote speakers at the conference included:

• Professor Brid Featherstone (Professor of Social Work at the University of Huddersfield)
• Shane Griffin (Care Leavers' Network Ireland)
• Professor Brian Taylor (Professor of Social Work at the University of Ulster; and Convener, European Social Work Research Association SiG on Decisions, Assessment and Risk)
• Dr Niall Muldoon (Ombudsman for Children)

Tricia Sheehy-Skeffington, Barrister at Law, addresses School of Applied Social Studies/ Threshold Seminar: “Licensees in the Private Renting: A Forgotten Sub-Sector?”

26 Oct

Ms Tricia Sheehy-Skeffington, Barrister at Law, addressed the School of Applied Social Studies/ Threshold Seminar entitled “Licensees in the Private Renting: A Forgotten Sub-Sector?”  The seminar was held on Thursday, 26^th October 2017 at UCC and was attended by representatives from a range of housing and social service and advocacy organisations. Ms Sheehy-Skeffington specialises in landlord and tenant law, and spoke about the legal and regulatory contexts of renting as a licensee.

Congratulations to our Graduates of 2017!

24 Oct

The School of Applied Social Studies would like to extend warm wishes to our students who graduated in UCC on Tuesday, 24th October 2017. 

“Pathways to Stability: Past and Present": Celebration of a successful research partnership between Churchfield Community Trust (CCT) and MSW students at UCC.

23 Oct

The completion of a very successful research partnership between Churchfield Community Trust (CCT) and three Masters of Social Work (MSW) students was celebrated in UCC on 23 October 2017.  Orla Fogarty, Lisa O’Connell, and Katie Morrissey undertook their final MSW dissertations as CARL projects (the Community Academic Research Links initiative), where the CCT set the research agenda.

Upcoming Seminar: Licensees in Private Rented Accommodation: the Forgotten Sub-Sector?

17 Oct

Thursday October 26th 2017, 10.30am-1.00pm

CACSSS Seminar Room (G27, O’Rahilly Building), University College Cork

*All welcome*

School of Applied Social Studies and Doctorate of Social Science Seminar: "Investing in the right to a home: housing, HAPS and hubs."

28 Sep

School of Applied Social Studies and Doctorate of Social Science Seminar

 ‘Investing in the right to a home: housing, HAPS and hubs’

Dr Mary P. Murphy (Maynooth University)

 Thursday 5^th October 2017, 11.30-1.00pm

 CACSSS Seminar Room, O’Rahilly Building ORB G27

Launch of "Learning Over Time: How Professionals Learn, Know and Use Knowledge" in UCC.

20 Sep

The launch of Learning Over Time: How Professionals Learn, Know and Use Knowledge took place on Wednesday, 20^th September 2017 in the Aula Maxima in UCC. This publication, edited by Dr Nona Lyons and Dr Carmel Halton (Applied Social Studies), takes up a provocative question: “What do people learn and know from engaging in studies or from an experience of change and transition?”, and answers this through a series of case studies in diverse disciplinary domains.

Launch of the Travellers of North Cork Accommodation Rights Charter at UCC

20 Jun

The School of Applied Social Studies sponsored the launch of the Travellers North Cork Accommodation Rights Charter & Human Rights Monitoring Process at UCC on Wednesday, 24 May 2017. 

Applied Social Studies student project highlighted at community engagement meeting with UCC President

25 May

On Wednesday, 24th May 2017, the President of UCC, Professor Patrick O'Shea, met with staff and students involved in CARL (Community-Academic Research Links) and Campus Engage to discuss community engaged research.

A Thinkery on Water, Anti-Privatisation Struggles and the Commons

12 May

Date: Friday, 23 June 2017

Time: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Location: G27, O'Rahilly Building, UCC

Expressed in slogans such as “water is a human right”, “water is life”, “we are water” and “defend the sacred”, throughout the globe a revolution is taking place as people organise to resist the privatisation of water. In a spirit of shared struggle against privatisation (in its many forms), this Thinkery will explore differences in approach and attitude in anti-privatisation struggles mobilized around water in Ireland, Italy, Spain and Standing Rock in the USA.

For many, the privatisation of water is a contemporary enclosure of the commons, a continuation of a process of converting everything into property that began centuries ago with land enclosures. But the understanding and use of “the commons” varies in different anti-privatisation struggles. For some, to regard water as a commons is to see it as a publicly-owned and managed resource, whereas for others it is a new way of living and governing, a way of people relating to each other and the natural world. Some talk of a commons of humankind, whereas for others commons are part and parcel of local territorial communities.

Launch of The Irish Welfare State in the Twenty-First Century: Challenges and Change

31 Mar

The Irish Welfare State in the Twenty-First Century: Challenges and Change, edited by Mary P Murphy and Fiona Dukelow (Palgrave, 2016), was launched by Helen Johnston of the National Economic and Social Council at the Mansion House, Dublin, on 29^th March 2017.

School of Applied Social Studies Seminar: The Welfare of Tomás Ó Hallissy

29 Mar

SCHOOL OF APPLIED SOCIAL STUDIES SEMINAR

“Good enough” ethnography?

A screening and discussion of Duncan Campbell’s

The Welfare of Tomás Ó Hallissy

with

Nancy Scheper-Hughes, University of California, Berkeley

and 

Sarah Glennie, Irish Museum of Modern Art

Monday, 3 April 2017: 4-6pm

Film and Screen Media Auditorium, Kane Building B10 (Basement), UCC

Consultation report by Applied Social Studies staff informs new Action Plan on School Age Childcare

09 Mar

The new Action Plan on School Age Childcare was jointly launched by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Education and Skills on Monday, 6th March 2017 in Dublin (see more information here).

This strategic Action Plan was informed by a report of consultations with children undertaken by Dr Deirdre Horgan, Dr Shirley Martin and Dr Jacqui O'Riordan from the School of Applied Social Studies in UCC.

ISS21 Symposium on Community, Voluntary and Co-operative organisations in England with Dr Mike Aiken: 21 March 2017

28 Feb

The new faces of community, voluntary and co-operative organisations in England:

Are contracts and markets transforming their character and what are the implications for Ireland?

A symposium for students, practitioners and researchers

Date: Tuesday, 21st March 2017

Time: 2.00 - 4.10pm

Venue: Seminar Room, G27, Ground Floor, O’Rahilly Building, University College Cork

Tea and coffee provided from 1.40pm

Respond! Housing Association Conference 2017: Responding to Social Isolation Through Technology

06 Feb

The School of Applied Social Studies, in association with Respond! Housing Association, ISS21 and the Irish Research Council, is hosting a conference entitled Responding to Social Isolation Through Technology.

CACSSS RQR Showcase - Celebrating Excellence

23 Jan

The CACSSS Research Spotlight Series aims to highlight positive comments and examples of research excellence from the RQR reports from all Units in the College on a rolling week-by-week basis.

This week is the turn of Applied Social Studies! 

The panel of reviewers praised the School of Applied Social Studies for its excellent research-related activities and its excellent and exciting postgraduate research environment.

Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc): Applications Open for September 2017

14 Dec

The Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc) run by the School of Applied Social Studies at UCC is a successful four-year, advanced programme which provides the opportunity for experienced professionals based in public sector, community/ voluntary, international non-government and private sector organisations to work on complex issues that are of direct relevance to their professional practice and organisational contexts.  As an alternative to the traditional PhD, the DSocSc provides a more structured learning environment which combines taught modules and research.  Participants complete taught modules in the first two years of the programme in the areas of social research methods, social theory, and social policy debates and processes, and complete a 60,000 word thesis in Years 3 and 4.  Taught modules in Years 1 and 2 are structured around four five-day workshops in UCC, making it ideal for those who may be living at a distance from UCC.

Celebrating the 50th Student-Community project in UCC

14 Dec

Monday, 5th December 2016 marked a particular milestone in UCC with the celebration of the 50^th student-community project facilitated through the Community-Academic Research Links (CARL) initiative. 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.

A keynote address was made by Madge Fogarty from Postnatal Depression Ireland who highlighted the benefits and impact of engaging in these collaborative endeavours.

Three awards were presented to students for Outstanding Community Engagement projects:

• The first to Monica Coll and Siobhan Sully for their work with “Home Share Clare” looking at alternatives to institutional respite services for families.
• The second project was completed by Applied Social Studies graduate, Hazel McDermott, in partnership with the Eating Disorder Centre Cork. Hazel’s project involved surveying GPs and professionals to gain greater insight into their understanding of eating disorders. 
• The third project was completed by 6 students undertaking an MSc Corporate Finance in partnership with Carrigaline Lion’s Youth Centre.

Congratulations to Dr Kenneth Burns, School of Applied Social Studies, who has won “CARL Supervisor of the Year 2016”.

14 Dec

Dr Kenneth Burns, School of Applied Social Studies, has won the “CARL Supervisor of the Year 2016” award at the celebration of the 50^th student-community project facilitated through the Community-Academic Research Links (CARL) initiative.

The award recognises the contribution and support of staff for CARL projects. Dr Burns is a founding member of CARL and has supervised the greatest number of CARL projects to date; he is supervising three projects this year. Dr Burns is a tireless advocate for CARL and constantly challenges the CARL team, students and community partners to innovate and go further with their ideas. 

Congratulations to our Higher Diploma in Social Policy Graduates 2016!

13 Dec

Congratulations to our Higher Diploma in Social Policy Graduates 2016 who received their parchments on Monday, 28th November 2016.

The parchment ceremony took place in the Student Centre, Áras na Mac Léinn.

The School of Applied Social Studies has been awarded a grant through the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

09 Dec

The School of Applied Social Studies is delighted to have been awarded a grant through the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education’s ‘Teaching & Learning Enhancement Fund 2016’ for its project entitled “Transforming Personal and Professional Digital Capacities in Teaching and Learning Contexts: A Collaboration between Social Policy Educators, Students, and Learning Technologists”. This project is led by Dr Eileen Hogan in the School of Applied Social Studies in collaboration with the UCC Office of the Vice-President for Teaching & Learning (OVPTL), and in partnership with six Partner Institutions, including: Institute of Technology Tralee, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Waterford Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Carlow and Cork Institute of Technology.

CARL@50 - Celebrating our 50th student-community project

05 Dec

Community Academic Research Links (CARL) is celebrating an important milestone on 5^th December 2016 with the beginning of its 50th student-community project. CARL is based in University College Cork and provides research support to non-profit community or voluntary groups, usually free of charge.

The focus of the CARL@50 event is to grow the network of community organisations that CARL (and UCC) partners with; to celebrate reaching this milestone; and to highlight the significance of these projects to date. The event will include a keynote address from Madge Fogarty from Postnatal Depression Ireland to highlight the benefits and impact of these collaborative endeavours. Three awards for Outstanding Community Engagement projects will also be presented to students whose projects were deemed exceptional by the selection committee. 

Applied Social Studies staff receive award for Postgraduate Course of the Year 2017

30 Nov

The Masters in Youth Work with Community Arts and Sports Studies wins Postgraduate Course of the Year 2017 (Arts and Humanities) at the gradireland Awards in association with the HEA.

The Masters in Youth Work with Community Arts and Sports Studies wins Postgraduate Course of the Year 2017 (Arts and Humanities) at the gradireland Awards in association with the HEA!

25 Nov

Congratulations to Eileen Hogan and Pat Leahy from the School of Applied Social Studies who won the Posgraduate Course of the Year 2017 (Arts and Humanities) at the gradireland Awards in Dublin yesterday. The award was given for the UCC Masters in Youth Work with Community Arts and Sports Studies.

Symposium: 'The Left and the EU - Ireland After Brexit’.

23 Nov

'The Left and the EU: Ireland After Brexit’.

Date and Time: Monday, 5^th December 2016 – 2:00-5:00pm

 Venue: CACSSS Research Seminar Room, ORB G27, UCC.

Speakers:

• Anthony Coughlan, National Platform for EU Research and Information Centre/Associate Professor Emeritus, TCD;
• Karen Devine, Lecturer, DCU;
• Tom O'Connor, Lecturer, CIT;

NEW PUBLICATION: 'Child Welfare Removals by the State: A Cross-Country Analysis of Decision-Making Systems', edited by Kenneth Burns, Tarja Pösö, and Marit Skivenes (Oxford University Press).

23 Nov

Child Welfare Removals by the State addresses a most important and under-researched legal proceeding: when the State intervenes in the private family sphere to remove children at risk to a place of safety, adoption, or other form of out-of-home care. An approach that is intrusive, contested, and very much a last resort, states’ interventions in the family are decided within legal and political orders and traditions that constitute a country’s policies, welfare state model, child protection system, and children’s position in a society. However, the literature has lacked a cross-country analysis of the different models of decision-making in a European context.

Moving Towards Implementation of Adoption as a Care Option in Ireland: Seminar on Thursday, 10th November 2016 in UCC.

04 Nov

Following on from a very successful two-part seminar run in 2015 entitled Reimagining Adoption as a Viable Care Option in Ireland, the UNESCO Child and Family Resource Centre, NUI Galway, and the School of Applied Social Studies, UCC, jointly-host the following seminar:

MOVING TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION OF ADOPTION AS A CARE OPTION IN IRELAND

Date: Thursday, 10th November 2016

Time: 11:00am-3:00pm

Venue: CACSSS Seminar Room, O'Rahilly Building, UCC

 
Speakers:

Noreen Leahy, Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Angela Harrington, Adoptive Parent
Jacqueline Barron, Adopted Person
Professor Caroline McGregor, NUIG
Dr Simone McCaughren, UCC

Screening of the award-winning documentary Atlantic: 15 November 2016

02 Nov

School of Applied Social Studies
Seminar Series

Screening of the award-winning documentary Atlantic, followed by a discussion with film-maker Risteard Ó Domhnaill

4-6 pm on Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Venue: Kane G18

Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actor Brendan Gleeson, Atlantic follows the fortunes of three small fishing communities – in Ireland, Norway and Newfoundland – as they struggle to maintain their way of life in the face of mounting economic and ecological challenges.  As the oil majors drive deeper into their fragile seas, and the world’s largest fishing companies push fish stocks to the brink, coastal communities and the resources they rely on are fast approaching a point of no return.

Filmed in some of the most remote and breathtaking locations in the North Atlantic, and at close quarters with some of the sea’s most captivating characters, Atlantic brings to the fore three very intimate stories from the global resource debate.  It explores how modern day communities must learn from the past, in order to secure a brighter future.

Master of Social Work graduate 2016 wins international essay competition

01 Nov

Master of Social Work graduate 2016, Evan Burke, wins the GroupWork journal international student groupwork essay competition.

Master Class Hosted by the ISS21 Mental Health and Disability Research Cluster: 11 November 2016

28 Oct

MASTER CLASS HOSTED BY THE ISS21 MENTAL HEALTH AND DISABILITY RESEARCH CLUSTER

FROM MENTAL HEALTH 'RECOVERY' TO RECOVERING OUR STORIES:

CHALLENGING THE NARRATIVE

Kathryn Church and Danielle Landry, School of Disability Studies,

Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada

Friday 11 November 2016 from 10 am to 12.30 pm

CACSSS Seminar Room, O’Rahilly Building (ORB, G27)

University College Cork

 ALL WELCOME

‘Critical Perspectives On and Beyond Activism and Acts of Resistance': Two-Day Conference in UCC on 9 and 10 November 2016

28 Oct

‘CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON AND BEYOND ACTIVISM AND ACTS OF RESISTANCE'

9 AND 10 NOVEMBER 2016

 A Two-Day Conference organised by the School of Applied Social Studies and the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, in association with the Critical Voices Network Ireland.

This conference, now in its eighth year, is unique as it is free for all participants and it involves people from diverse backgrounds (self-experience, survivors, professionals, academics, carers) presenting, discussing and debating critical and creative perspectives on and beyond the dominant bio-medical approach. The 2010 conference saw the launch of the Critical Voices Network Ireland (CVNI), a network of people interested in considering and developing responses to human distress, which are creative, enabling, respectful and firmly grounded in human rights.

Congratulations to our Graduates of 2016!

26 Oct

The School of Applied Social Studies would like to extend warm wishes to all our students who graduated in 2016. 

UNIVERSITY STAFF AWARDS CEREMONY 2016: Award for Research Team of the Year goes to Applied Social Studies Staff

10 Oct

Congratulations to Dr Kenneth Burns, Caroline Shore (Applied Social Studies) and Dr Conor O’Mahony, Dr Aisling Parkes (Law) who won the Research Team of the Year Award, in conjunction with ISS21, at the UCC Staff Awards Ceremony 2016 on 6th October! Click here to find out more about the research study and to access some of the study outputs.

The award was for the research undertaken on Child Care Proceedings in the District Court. Dr Burns was the Principal Investigator.

UNIVERSITY STAFF AWARDS CEREMONY 2016: Team Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning goes to Applied Social Studies Staff

10 Oct

Congratulations to Dr Kenneth Burns, Dr Ruth Hally (Applied Social Studies) and Dr Catherine O’Mahony (CIRTL) who won the Team Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the UCC Staff Awards Ceremony 2016 on 6th October!

'Healthy Lifestyles Have Your Say': Including the views of children and young people in the new national Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016-2025.

03 Oct

On Thursday 22^nd of September 2016, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone TD, launched a report on a consultation with children and young people ‘Healthy Lifestyles Have Your Say: A Consultation with Children and Young People’. This formed part of a national consultation process with stakeholders for the new National Obesity Policy ‘A Healthy Weight for Ireland: Obesity Policy and Action Plan 2016 – 2025' which was launched on the same day. The consultation report was commissioned by the Department of Health and conducted by the Citizen Participation Unit, Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA).  Two consultations were held – one with 34 young people aged 13 to 17 years, from Comhairle na nÓg, and one with 48 primary school children between the ages of eight and 12 years. As part of the consultation process, a team from the School of Applied Social Studies in University College Cork (UCC) worked closely with the Citizen Participation Unit of the DCYA.  Dr Shirley Martin, Dr Deirdre Horgan and Dr Margaret Scanlon observed and recorded consultations; analysed consultation data/results; and prepared the final report for publication.

Workshop on The Body, Self and Other with Margrit Shildrick

21 Sep

9.30am–1.00pm, Friday, 21st October 2016

Mary Ryan Seminar Room, ORB G27

Through a discussion of Margrit Shildrick’s recent research into heart transplantation, this workshop will explore radical new ways of thinking about and researching embodiment emerging from Bodies Studies and Critical Disability Studies. Participants will be invited to discuss if and how this research pushes them to reassess or reconfirm some of their own and their discipline’s assumptions. Articles by Margrit that will be used to spark discussion are ‘Staying alive: Affect, identity and anxiety in organ transplantation’ (Body & Society, 2015 http://bod.sagepub.com/content/21/3/20.full.pdf+html) and ‘“Why should our bodies end at the skin”: Embodiment, boundaries, and somatechnics’ (Hypatia, 2015 http://0onlinelibrary.wiley.com.library.ucc.ie/doi/10.1111/hypa.12114/epdf).

Participation will be limited to 20 people. If you would like to attend please book a place by emailing Órla O’Donovan at o.odonovan@ucc.ie.

Closing date for the MSocSc Voluntary & Community Sector Management: Friday 5th August 2016

19 May

MSocSc Voluntary and Community Sector Management at University College Cork

The closing date for applications for the Masters in Voluntary and Community Sector Management is this Friday, 5th August 2016. 

The MSocSc in Voluntary and Community Sector Management is a part-time postgraduate degree taught over two years.  It has been running at University College Cork since 2008.  It is particularly geared towards mature students with an interest in a career in the voluntary and community sector.  Students attend the University one day per week. 

 ‌

The Social Work Awards 2016: Dr Carmel Halton from UCC's School of Applied Social Studies wins Researcher of the Year!

20 Jun

Congratulations to Dr Carmel Halton who was jointly awarded 'Researcher of the Year' at the Social Work Awards 2016 held in Dublin last Friday, 17th June 2016.

M.Soc.Sc. (Social Policy) - Tom Bogue Postgraduate Scholarship, €6,000 fees

20 Jun

The School of Applied Social Studies invites applications for a €6,000 fees scholarship in honour of Tom Bogue for a student on the M.Soc.Sc. (Social Policy) programme (CKE62). 

The Tom Bogue Postgraduate Scholarship will be awarded to a student entering the M.Soc.Sc. (Social Policy) in September 2016. The award will cover the cost of the course fees and is offered generously by the Cork Branch of IMPACT Trade Union in memory of Tom Bogue.

Excellence Scholarship: Masters in Youth Work with Community Arts and Sports Studies

17 May

The School of Applied Social Studies invites applications for a €3,000 fees scholarship for a student on the Masters in Youth Work with Community Arts and Sports Studies programme (CKD20/CKD04).  Scholarship applicants must be either current students on the Masters in Youth Work with Community Arts and Sports Studies programme (i.e. entering Year 2) or must have applied for the programme for the 2016/17 academic year. 

A WEED IS A PLANT OUT OF PLACE: Opening of International Art Exhibition at Lismore Castle, 3 April 2016

05 May

Earlier this month, Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota opened this year’s international art exhibition 'A Weed Is A Plant Out Of Place' at Lismore Castle.  The exhibition is curated by Allegra Pesenti, a native of Milan, and features the work of 16 international and Irish artists such as Anna Atkins, Harry Callahan, Pierpaolo Campanini, Mat Collishaw, Dorothy Cross, Latifa Echakhch, Susan Hartnett, Michael Landy, Mateo Lopez, Maria Sibylla Merian, Adrian Paci, Luisa Rabbia, Jeanne Silverthorne, Philip Taafe, Emma Tennant, Michael John Whelan and Pae White.  The undercurrent themes of the exhibition relate to topics of migration, dispossession, displacement and resettlement. 

Social Work in Ireland: Changes and Continuities - Book Launch in Dublin

22 Apr

Staff from the School of Applied Social Studies attended the book launch of Social Work in Ireland: Changes and Continuities in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, on Wednesday 20th April 2016.  The book was edited by Professor Alastair Christie (UCC), Professor Brid Featherstone (Open University), Dr Suzanne Quin (University College Dublin) and Dr Trish Walsh (Trinity College Dublin).  

Social Work in Ireland: Changes and Continuities brings together a wide range of academics and professionals to provide a comprehensive analysis of social work in Ireland. It addresses questions such as: 'How is social work responding to rapidly changing social, cultural and economic factors in Ireland?’,  'How will the new relationship between the state/NGO/private sectors impact on the provision of social services?’ and 'How does, and will, social work respond to the needs of specific user groups?’ In addressing these questions, the book explores key areas of practice, including child welfare, domestic violence, mental health, social work with migrants, substance misuse, probation services, and social work with older people and people with disabilities.

IASW Practitioner Research Special Interest Group: First National Conference in UCC

04 Mar

IASW Practitioner Research Special Interest Group

First National Conference

‘Translating Practice Wisdom to Research - Building Social Work Research Capacity’

Keynote Speaker: Elaine Sharland, Professor of Social Work Research, University of Sussex

Date: Friday April 22nd 2016

Venue: Room G05, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, UCC

Booking is now open for the above conference:

Time: 9:30am (registration); 10:30am (event) 

Price: €15 members/€30 non-members (Price includes lunch & refreshments)

Bookings: Please check the event pages at www.iasw.ie for updates and to book your place.  Booking can only be done via the website.

Conference organised by the Practitioner Research SIG.

A Conference on Traveller Accommodation: Tuesday 12th April 2016 in UCC

06 Apr

You are cordially invited

to

A Conference on Traveller Accommodation

In response to the Traveller accommodation crisis experienced by Travellers across the Cork and Kerry region, as well as by Travellers on a national level

Tuesday 12^th April 2016 from 10am to 3pm

De Vere Hall, University College Cork, College Road, Cork

Opening address by Professor Alastair Christie, Head of the School of Applied Social Studies

Chaired by Bridget Quilligan, Project Coordinator of Kerry Travellers & Former CEO of ITM

RSVP: by Friday 8^th April 2016 to Ms. Ciara Ridge at 021 450 3786 or tvgciara@gmail.com

Social Work staff attend 6th European Social Work Research Conference in Lisbon.

06 Apr

Carmel Halton and Mary Hurley, from the Masters of Social Work team in the School of Applied Social Studies, represented CACSSS and UCC at the 6th European Social Work Research Conference which took place in Lisbon, Portugal, from 30 March -1 April 2016.

Carmel gave a paper entitled Learning from Social workers: Experiences of Engaging in Reflection on a new MA Programme.

Mary gave a workshop entitled Social Work Action and a Community Anti-Incinerator Campaign: some ideas and reflections for Social Work education.

Certificate in Contemporary Living (CCL) information evening: 6th April 2016

16 Mar

The Certificate in Contemporary Living (CCL) will be holding an information evening for those interested in applying for the coming academic year, 2016/17, on April 6th 2016 at 7-8:30 pm in Room G.27 of the O'Rahilly building, UCC.

The Certificate in Contemporary Living seeks to support individuals with intellectual disabilities in developing core skills required for participation in contemporary society and to do so in a way which promotes lifelong learning and inclusion in a third level environment.

Moving towards Implementation of Adoption as a Care Option in Ireland

14 Mar

Following on from a very successful two-part seminar run in 2015 entitled “Reimagining Adoption as a Viable Care Option in Ireland”

‘Moving towards Implementation of Adoption as a Care Option in Ireland’

Thursday 7th April 2016

Lecture Theatre LCI-G018 NUI Galway

11am-3pm

Speakers: 

Dr. Dominic McSherry, Queens University Belfast

‘Comparing outcomes from long-term foster care and adoption: Does the gold standard hold up or is it fool’s gold?’

Mairie Cregan, University College Cork

'Children of the Twilight Zone - adopting children from long-term foster care: no easy answers'

Priscilla McLoughlin Independent Practitioner and former Director of BAAF (NI)

New competition for the recruitment of Probation Officers 2016

04 Mar

The Probation Service is pleased to announce that a new competition for the role of Probation Officer in the Probation Service has been advertised. The competition, which is being run by the Public Appointments Service, has a closing date for receipt of completed applications of 18^th March 2016.

Professor David Taylor attends the Doctor of Social Science Symposium 2016

23 Feb

The School of Applied Social Studies held the Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc) Symposium in University College Cork on 5^th February, 2016.

David Taylor, Professor of Social Theory and Social Policy at the Univeristy of Brighton, and DSocSc external examiner, gave a presentation entitled Happiness is not enough: a relational theory of wellbeing, which examined some of the conceptual and methodological issues involved in understanding wellbeing and social policy.

CACSSS Master Class: ‘Neoliberal Cultures – the space for Critique and Resistance’ - 15th April 2016

19 Feb

 CACSSS Master Class

Jointly organised by School of Applied Social Studies and CACSSS Graduate School

‘Neoliberal Cultures – the space for Critique and Resistance’

Friday April 15^th, 2016

CACSSS Seminar Room, O’Rahilly Building (ORB, G27), University College Cork

All Welcome!

NB: Re PG7004 Master Class module: Post graduate students who are registered for this module and wish to formally participate in this Master Class contact the CACSSS Graduate School for more information: Graduateschool.cacsss@ucc.ie

School of Applied Social Studies running UCC’s first ever inter-disciplinary module on community-based research

21 Jan

The School of Applied Social Studies, through the EnRRICH project team, is running UCC’s first ever inter-disciplinary module on community-based research this semester, with the support of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences.  This module is also linked to CARL, the Community-Academic Research Links, which is an initiative in UCC that provides independent research support to Civil Society Organisations.

Advertised to all PhD students last semester, the module will be working in partnership with the Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig on delivering the module, partly in UCC and partly on the grounds of the local community group.  The module will seek to support the design of future Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) studies either undertaken by the service and residents/users themselves or in collaboration with CARL.

Higher Diploma in Social Policy Study Visit to Glasgow - January 2016

19 Jan

The Higher Diploma in Social Policy class 2015-16 travelled to Glasgow on Monday 5^th January 2016 for their annual study visit.  Staff and students spent a busy and productive week visiting a variety of agencies and settings.

Lord Mayor’s reception at City Hall Cork to celebrate 20 years of the Youth and Community Work Degree Programme in University College Cork.

11 Dec

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Chris O'Leary, held a reception at the City Hall Cork on Tuesday 8^th December 2015 to celebrate 20 years of the Youth and Community Work Degree Programme in the School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork.

Lord Mayor’s reception at City Hall Cork on Tuesday 8th December 2015 to celebrate 20 years of the BSocSc (Youth and Community Work) Degree Programme.

08 Dec

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Chris O’Leary, will host a reception in the Council Chamber of Cork City Hall at 6.30 pm on Tuesday 8^th December 2015 to celebrate 20 years of the BSocSc (Youth and Community Work) degree programme in the School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork.

Screening of the Feature Film ‘MILK’ by Noemí Weis in UCC

03 Dec

Cuidiú Cork, in collaboration with the School of Applied Social Studies and the MA in Women’s Studies, held a screening of the feature film MILK by Noemí Weis in University College Cork on Wednesday 25th November 2015 at 7.30pm.

Through an intimate and artistic lens, MILK brings a universal perspective on the politics, commercialiSation and controversies surrounding birth and infant feeding over the canvas of stunningly beautiful visuals and poignant voices from around the globe. Inspiring, informative, provocative and sensitive, MILK celebrates bringing a new life into this world with a strong call to action and reflection. Overall MILK investigates the overarching themes surrounding the commercialization of infant feeding and its effects on child mortality, as well as the challenges it presents to adequate health worker training and the judgement placed on women, regardless of how they choose to feed their babies.  MILK follows stories of mothers from different cultures on a world journey spanning 11 countries, as it reveals the universal issues and challenges facing motherhood and birth today.

Director /Producer/Writer – Noemí Weis

School of Applied Social Studies Publications Launch

26 Nov

The School of Applied Social Studies held a publications launch in the UCC Staff Common Room on Wednesday 25th November 2015 to celebrate the launch of four new books authored and edited by various staff from the school:

• Christie, A., Featherstone, B., Quin, S. and Walsh, T. (eds.) (2015) Social Work in Ireland: Challenges and Continuities, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.
• Edwards, C. and Imrie, R. (2015) The Short Guide to Urban Policy, Bristol, Policy Press.
• Forde, C. and Lynch, D. (2015) Social Work and Community Development: A Critical Practice Perspective, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan.
• Powell, F. and Scanlon, M. (2015) Dark Secrets of Childhood: Media Power, Child Abuse and Public Scandals, Bristol, Policy Press.

Responding to Isolation and Loneliness: Housing and Community Perspectives - Conference on 26th November 2015

04 Nov

Respond! Housing Association will hold a conference in the Respond! Conference Centre, St John's College, Waterford, on Thursday 26th November 2015.

The aim of the conference, entitled Responding to Isolation and Loneliness: Housing and Community Perspectives, is to discuss strategies, supports and interventions to address social isolation and loneliness amonst social housing tenants and other vulnerable tenants.

Congratulations to all our Graduates of 2015!

04 Nov

The School of Applied Social Studies would like to extend warm wishes to all our students who graduated last week - well done on all your hard work over the course of your degree. 

UCC hosts conference on the talking therapy industry: 11th and 12th November 2015

10 Nov

‘Talking’ therapies have become increasingly central in dealing with all aspects of human life, a trend now generally referred to as the ‘therapy industry’. This conference, now in its seventh year, aims to explore and debate critical perspectives on the value of talking therapies, the politics of the therapy industry and ways beyond therapies to support people in distress.

Critical Perspectives Conference 2015 - updated information

03 Nov

The 7th Annual Critical Perspectives Conference is taking place in UCC on 11th and 12th November 2015.

For those of you uable to attend the conference, you may be interested in watching the keynote lectures which are being streamed live.

Please use the following link: https://ucc.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Sessions/List.aspx#status=%5B2%2C5%5D

Launch of New Report - A Home for Life: the housing and support needs of older tenants (October 2015)

03 Nov

Staff from the School of Applied Social Studies, UCC, were in Dublin last week for the launch of a new research report, A Home for Life: the housing and support needs of Clúid’s older tenants.

Clúid Housing (Clúid) is a not-for-profit organisation, leading the way in delivering high quality, affordable homes to people in housing need all over Ireland.

Just for Dads: School of Applied Social Studies helps design innovative 10-week programme aimed at supporting fathers and those with fathering roles

27 Oct

Just for Dads is an innovative 10-week programme aimed at supporting fathers and those with fathering roles (e.g. grandfathers, stepfathers) in exploring and strengthening their relationships with their children. The programme has been designed by a team of professionals from the Springboard Family Support Project in Knocknaheeney, Cork (under the auspices of TUSLA), and the School of Applied Social Studies at University College Cork.

Dark Secrets of Childhood: Media power, child abuse and public scandals - new book by Professor Fred Powell and Dr Margaret Scanlon

27 Oct

Over the last few decades, public opinion has been traumatised by revelations of child abuse on a mass scale. It has become the major human rights story of the 21st century in Western society. This ground-breaking book explores the relationship between the media, child abuse and shifting adult-child power relations which, in Western countries, has spawned an ever-expanding range of laws, policies and procedures introduced to address the ‘explosion’ of interest in the issue of child abuse. Allegations of child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy in Ireland – and its ‘cover-up’ by Church authorities – have given rise to one of the greatest institutional scandals of modern history. Through in-depth analysis of 20 years of media representation of the issue, the book draws significant insights on the media’s influence and its impact on civil society.

‘CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON AND BEYOND THE THERAPY INDUSTRY’: 7th Annual Conference, 11-12 November 2015 in University College Cork

08 Oct

‘CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON AND BEYOND THE THERAPY INDUSTRY’: 7th ANNUAL CONFERENCE 11 AND 12 NOVEMBER 2015

Organised by the School of Applied Social Studies and the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, in association with the Critical Voices Network Ireland.

Venue: Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork.

This year’s conference aims to explore and debate critical perspectives on:

-           The value of talking therapies

-           The politics of the therapy industry

-           Talking therapies as another expert system

-           Other ways (beyond therapies) to support people in distress

National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference 2015

08 Sep

The national child protection and welfare social work conference has taken place on a biennial basis at University College Cork since 2007. The aim of this conference series is to provide a space for practitioners in the area of child protection and welfare to hear about and debate new developments in the areas of research, policy and practice, and to network with colleagues.

The conference will be of interest to social workers, policy makers, researchers, legal professionals, social care workers, students and anyone with an interest in the field of child protection and welfare. This conference is a not-for-profit event and is a partnership between the Dr Kenneth Burns and Ms Caroline Shore, School of Applied Social Studies (UCC), staff from child protection and welfare teams in the Child and Family Agency and the IASW Southern Branch.

PLEASE NOTE: This conference has reached maximum capacity.

Applied Social Studies Lecturer to speak at Portobello Book Festival 2015

28 Sep

Dr Paul Burgess, School of Applied Social Studies, UCC, will speak at the 2015 Portobello Book Festival next month in Edinburgh.  The festival takes place between 2nd-4th October 2015.

Reimagining Adoption as a Care Option in Ireland

28 Sep

On Thursday 24th September 2015, the School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork, and the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, jointly hosted a seminar entitled Reimagining Adoption as a Care Option in Ireland. 

Social Work and Community Development - Book Launch

23 Sep

At a time of growing social, economic and environmental challenge, this book offers a fresh and engaging perspective on the connections between social work and community development and on how social workers can use a community development approach to practice in critical, creative and sustainable ways.

Applied Social Studies staff member, Órla O’Donovan, has won a Research in Medical Education (RIME) award from INMED.

17 Sep

Together with Deirdre Madden (Law), Órla O'Donovan (Applied Social Studies) has been successful in her bid for a RIME (Research in Medical Education) award from INMED (Irish Network of Medical Educators) and the Medical Council.  Building on a recently completed qualitative analysis of complaints submitted to the Medical Council, the aim of their project is to provide insights into patients’ interpretations of medical professionalism in order to generate useful evidence and new knowledge that can be used for continuing medical education.

Reimagining Adoption as a Care Option in Ireland

16 Sep

Date: Thursday 24th September 2015

Time: 11:00am-3:30pm

Venue: Brookfield Health Sciences Complex G04, University College Cork

The second of a two-part seminar that will address potential changes within the Irish context in light of the anticipated broadening of adoption from care. Speakers include:

• Dr. Derek Kirton (University of Kent) 'Adoption from Care: An Outsider's View of Reform in Ireland'.
• Dr. Valerie O’Brien (University College Dublin) ‘Ireland’s future: Lessons to be learnt from UK and USA adoption policy practice and legislative fields'.
• Dr. Mandi McDonald (Queen’s University Belfast) 'Birth Family Contact Following Adoption From Care: Adopters' Perspectives'.
• Dr. Aisling Parkes (University College Cork) ‘Adoption Law in Ireland: A Time For Reform’.

The opening address is by Senator Averil Power.

Social Work in Ireland: Changes and Continuities

07 Sep

Social Work in Ireland: Changes and Continuities has brought together a range of academics and professionals to provide a comprehensive analysis of social work in the Republic of Ireland. It addresses key questions such as: 'How is social work in Ireland responding to rapidly changing social, cultural and economic circumstances?'; 'How will the new relationships between the state/NGO/private sectors impact on the provision of social services?'; and 'How does, and will, social work respond to the needs of specific service user groups?'

In addressing these questions the book explores key areas of practice, including child welfare, domestic violence, mental health, working with migrants and minority ethnic groups, substance misuse, probation services, and work with older people and people with a disability.

The book will of particular interest to practitioners, students, policy makers, managers and researchers in social work and social policy.

First meeting of the SIG to be held in the Annexe, UCC, on Tuesday 14th July 2015 at 4.30pm

03 Jul

On Tuesday 29th June 2015 a seminar was held in the School of Applied Social Studies, UCC, in association with CORU and the IASW.  The seminar addressed the topics of CPD and social work registration.

After the CORU seminar, an information session on developing a Special Interest Group (SIG) for social workers who are interested in pursuing practice research and publishing was facilitated by Carmel Halton and Cliona Murphy (professional development officer with IASW). A decision was made to host the first meeting of the SIG in the Annexe, UCC, on Tuesday 14th July 2015 at 4.30pm.

Professor Mark Doel endorses book on Continuing Professional Development in Social Work

26 Jun

Professor Mark Doel, Sheffield Hallam University, England has provided an endorsement for the recently published book Continuing Professional Development in Social Work by Halton, C., Powell, F., and Scanlon, M.

Launch of the First National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making (2015-2020) on 17th June 2015

22 Jun

Staff from the School of Applied Social Studies attended the launch of the First National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-Making (2015-2020) and workshops based on research and practice publications in Dublin on 17th June 2015.

Dr Deirdre Horgan, Dr Shirley Martin and Dr Catherine Forde from the School of Applied Social Studies in UCC, along with their colleague from the School of Law in UCC, Dr Aisling Parkes, are authors of a recently published 2015 report entitled Children and young people’s experiences of participation in decision-making at home, in schools and in their communities.

Information Seminar on CPD and Developing an IASW Practitioner Researcher SIG (First meeting of Cork Group)

16 Jun

Date: Monday, 29^th June 2015 from 2.00 – 4.00pm

Venue: Annexe, School of Applied Social Studies, Donovan’s Road, UCC, Cork.

Price: Free but booking is essential to secure your place.  Please contact Ruth Murray at r.murray@ucc.ie by June 22^nd 2015 if you are interested in attending.

Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc), UCC: Applications open for September 2015

05 May

The Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc), run by the School of Applied Social Studies at UCC, is a four-year advanced programme which provides the opportunity for experienced professionals based in public sector, community/voluntary, international non-government and private sector organisations to work on complex issues that are of direct relevance to their professional practice and organisational contexts.  As an alternative to the traditional PhD, the DSocSc provides a more structured learning environment which combines taught modules and research. Participants complete taught modules in the first two years of the programme in the areas of social research methods, social theory, and social policy debates and processes, and complete a 60,000 word thesis in Years 3 and 4. Taught modules in Years 1 and 2 are structured around four and five-day workshops in UCC, making it ideal for those who may be living at a distance from UCC.

Commons Against and Beyond Capitalism? A Thinkery with Silvia Federici, George Caffentzis and Anne B. Ryan.

05 May

10.00am – 4.30pm, Thursday, 28 May 2015

CACSSS Seminar Room (ORB G27), University College Cork

During the first part of this day-long Thinkery, which will be led by Silvia Federici and George Caffentzis, you will be invited to listen, think and converse with others about anti-capitalist commoning. Based in New York, Silvia Federici and George Caffentzis are part of an international movement that asserts ‘commons’ can be the seeds of a society beyond state and market.  A long-time feminist, anti-globalization activist, teacher and writer, Silvia Federici’s books include Revolution at Point Zero: Housework, Reproduction and Feminist Struggle (2012) and Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation (2004). Founding member of the Midnight Notes Collective, George Caffentzis’ latest book is In Letters of Blood and Fire: Work, Machines and the Crisis of Capitalism (2013). An overview of their perspective on the commons can be found in this article http://cdj.oxfordjournals.org/content/49/suppl_1/i92.full.pdf+html

School of Applied Social Studies, UCC, and Respond Housing Association successful with IRC New Foundations Grant

26 Mar

School of Applied Social Studies UCC and Respond Housing Association were successful in securing funding from the Irish Research Council under the “Engaging Civic Society” strand of the New Foundations Grant Scheme 2014. This particular strand, which is run in partnership with The Wheel, supports collaborative research projects between postdoctoral or senior researchers and community or voluntary groups.  Philip O’ Reilly, National Co-ordinator of Services for Older People, Respond! was in Dublin last week for the official announcement and photo call with the Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’ Sullivan, TD.

Irish Examiner reports on Homelessness and Housing Exclusion Conference organised by the School of Applied Social Studies and ISS21, UCC.

25 Mar

The Irish Examiner has reported on the School of Applied Social Studies and ISS21 major one day conference on homelessness held in Cork this week.

Intersectionality: Gender, Race and Class in Conflict Situations

24 Mar

Eilish Rooney, Senior Lecturer from the University of Ulster, will be speaking on Intersectionality: Gender Race and Class in Conflict Situations.

Date: Thursday 26^th  March 2015

Time: 1.00pm – 2.30pm

Venue: CACSSS Research Seminar Room, ORB G27, Ground Floor O’Rahilly Building, U.C.C.

Organised by the School of Applied Social Studies and ISS21

Cork Feminista shows a film screening of Carol O'Keeffe's 'The Pieces of Me'

23 Mar

On Thursday 19th March 2015, Cork Feminista showed a film screening of Carol O'Keeffe's 'The Pieces of Me' in The Haven, Cork.  'The Pieces of Me' is a documentary film that captures Carol's search to find her natural mother.

School of Applied Social Studies & the Institute for Social Science in the 21st Century (ISS21) Homelessness and Housing Exclusion: Policy and Practice

02 Mar

Monday 23rd March 2015

Cork Arts Theatre CAT club, located at Camden Court, Carroll's Quay, Cork

See Conference Programme Homelessness and Housing Conference March 2015

CONFERENCE PLACES ARE LIMITED: PLEASE REGISTER AT ace@ucc.ie

ALL OTHER INQUIRIES: Joe Finnerty j.finnerty@ucc.ie

Book Launch: The Contested Identities of Ulster Protestants

02 Mar

The School of Applied Social Studies warmly invites you to a wine reception to celebrate the publication of

‘The Contested Identities of Ulster Protestants’

(TP. Burgess & G. Mulvenna, Eds. Palgrave MacMillan)

and

‘White Church, Black Mountain’

(TP. Burgess. Matador)

on Friday 6^th March, 5pm, Staff Common Room, The Quad, North Wing.

Piping Up! Community Opposition to the Privatisation of our Coastal Commons

19 Jan

A seminar with Risteard Ó Domhnaill and Monica Muller

11am – 1pm, Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Ted Nevill Laboratory, First Floor, Cork Enterprise Centre

Youth and Community Work Symposium at UCC

25 Nov

Date: Wednesday 26^th November 2014

Time: 2.00 pm – 6.00 pm

Venue: Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, G06

The key speakers are Professor Peadar Kirby, University of Limerick, (Academic External Examiner), and Eoin O’Neill, Director, Waterford and South Tipperary Community Youth Service (Practice External Examiner).

This Symposium at UCC will focus on the context and practice of youth and community work in contemporary Ireland.  The format will involve the key speakers making presentations of approximately 45 minutes each, to be followed by a space for debate and discussion on the issues.  It is also planned to use this event to include the launch of a recently completed interdisciplinary research report Intersections: Youth work and music education (see http://intersectionsucc.com).

THE 6th ANNUAL CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES CONFERENCE - 12 AND 13 NOVEMBER 2014: Keynote Presentations

18 Nov

The Two-Day Conference was organised by the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery & the School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork, in association with the Critical Voices Network Ireland.

The conference considered and explored:

• the value and relevance of psychiatric diagnoses in understanding and responding to a wide range of human experiences of emotional distress
• critical perspectives on and creative responses beyond psychiatric diagnoses

See below links to some of the Keynote Speakers Conference Presentations:

‘CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON AND BEYOND PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSES’

30 Oct

THE 6^Th ANNUAL CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES CONFERENCE TAKES PLACE IN BROOKFIELD HEALTH SCIENCES COMPLEX, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK ON 12 AND 13 NOVEMBER 2014

REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED!

Organised by the School of Applied Social Studies and the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, in association with the Critical Voices Network Ireland

The conference considers and explores:

• the value and relevance of psychiatric diagnoses in understanding and responding to a wide range of human experiences of emotional distress
• critical perspectives on and creative responses beyond psychiatric diagnoses

The conference will be screened live at: http://www.ucc.ie/en/nursingmidwifery/conferences/streaming/

School of Applied Social Studies Graduation 2014

06 Nov

Students from the School of Applied Social Studies graduated last month at UCC.

ISS21 PhD Scholar Award 2014

28 Oct

Robert Bolton, PhD Candidate in the School of Applied Social Studies, was the recent recipient of the ISS21 Scholar Award 2014, at the CACSSS Scholarship Awards Ceremony 2014 held in the Glucksman Gallery on Tuesday 21st October 2014.

College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences Awards Ceremony 2014

28 Oct

The College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences Awards Ceremony were held on Tuesday 21st October 2014 in the Glucksman Gallery, UCC.

The School of Applied Social Studies was well-represented at the event, with several undergraduate and postgraduate students receving awards.

Social Work Colleagues from Volda University College, Norway, visit the School of Applied Social Studies, UCC.

28 Oct

The School of Applied Social Studies was delighted to welcome social work colleagues from Volda University College, Norway, to UCC on Wednesday 22nd October 2014.

The Contested Identities of Ulster Protestants: Edited by Thomas Paul Burgess and Gareth Mulvenna

21 Oct

'Flags', 'Emblems' and 'The Past'; three seemingly insurmountable challenges which continue to hinder the peace process in Northern Ireland. For many, the responsibility for the impasse that scuppered the Haass talks and brought violent protests to the streets of Belfast appears to rest with the perceived intransigence of the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist communities to embrace change. That this community is itself riven with internal rancour and discord should come as no surprise. Issues of social class, denominational alignment, political aspiration and national identity have historically divided what outsiders have often mistakenly viewed as a collective cultural, religious and socio-political entity.

This study explores the statement by Henry McDonald that this is '…the least fashionable community in Western Europe'. A diverse group of contributors including prominent politicians, academics, journalists and artists investigate the reasons informing public perceptions attaching to the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist communities in Ulster.

Public Lecture:'Lethal Allies: The Collapse of the Rule of Law in the Northern Ireland Conflict’

15 Oct

4.15-6.00pm, Oct 16th 2014

Venue: The Moot Court room, Áras na Laoi (1^st floor) (to the left of the Law Dept reception office), Law Faculty, UCC.

Speakers: Anne Cadwallader (Pat Finucane Human Rights Centre and Author of ‘Lethal Allies’)

Margaret Urwin (Justice for the Forgotten)

A public lecture, outlining what evidence exists, from research of British state archives and reports from the PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Team, of state involvement in sectarian killings during the recent conflict in Northern Ireland, and attempts by families in Dublin, Monaghan and other border areas to obtain truth and some element of closure. 

See Lethal Allies

Book Launch: ‘Lethal Allies: The Collapse of the Rule of Law in the Northern Ireland Conflict’

15 Oct

Thursday October 16th 2014 at 7.30-9.00pm, Cork City Library, Grand Parade, Cork

Speaker: Anne Cadwallader (Pat Finucane Human Rights Centre)

London-born Anne Cadwallader trained as a journalist in Britain before joining BBC Northern Ireland in 1981, covering the conflict on both sides of the border in Ireland. 

She has since worked for RTE, been Political Correspondent in Dublin and Northern Editor in Belfast for The Irish Press Group and has also worked for The Irish Echo (New York), the Christian Science Monitor (Boston) and Reuters.

She has been a radio, television and newspaper freelance journalist for many Irish and international media companies and wrote “Holy Cross: The Untold Story” (Brehon Press) in 2004.

In 2009, she quit journalism to become a Case Worker with The Pat Finucane Centre in Armagh.  In 2013 she authored “Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland” (Mercier Press), a best-selling book based on research carried out by the Centre. She is in Cork to officially launch the book and talk about some of the research material contained in it. 

See Public Lecture City Library Anne Cadwallader

Irish Research Council highlights recent conference on adoption co-hosted by the School of Applied Social Studies and Faculty of Law at UCC

30 Sep

The Irish Research Council (IRC) has highlighted the recent international conference on adoption at UCC on its website. The conference, entitled 'Redefining Adoption in a New Era: Opportunities and Challenges for Law and Social Work Practice’ was co-hosted by the School of Applied Social Studies and the Faculty of Law at UCC on 4th and 5th September 2014.  It was funded by the Irish Research Council New Foundations Award 2013.

Two-day international conference on adoption held in UCC on 4th & 5th September 2014

15 Sep

The conference, entitled Redefining Adoption in a New Era: Opportunities and Challenges for Law and Social Work Practice, was jointly convened by the School of Applied Social Studies and the Faculty of Law at UCC.

Philomena Lee was a key-note speaker at the conference, where she delivered a moving speech on her own experience of adoption in Ireland.

REDEFINING ADOPTION IN A NEW ERA: OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES FOR LAW AND PRACTICE

15 Jul

TWO DAY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

BROOKFIELD HEALTH SCIENCES COMPLEX UCC

THURSDAY 4th AND FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER 2014

Adoption Conference 2014 Programme

Training for Social Workers/Potential Practice Teachers in UCC, 4-5 September 2014

26 May

Ruth Murray, Fieldwork Coordinator in the School of Applied Social Studies, is organising the annual two-day Fieldwork Workshop Training in UCC on September 4^th and 5^th September 2014. It is being run by a number of staff within the School of Applied Social Studies and outside Practitioners. It is aimed at social workers who may be considering supervising students in the future or social workers who have not taken students for a while and wish to have their supervision skills refreshed. The two days are free. Topics being covered are:

• Reflection in Action: What is Reflective Feedback and what does it look like?
• Challenges on Placement and Different Learning Styles of Students
• Keeping CORU Proficiencies in mind while supervising students
• Background to MSW and BSW Programmes

VALIDATION WORKSHOP WITH THE FOUNDER OF VALIDATION, MRS NAOMI FEIL.

09 Apr

THE WORKSHOP WILL TAKE PLACE ON 30TH MAY, 2014, AT THE BROOKFIELD HEALTH SCIENCES COMPLEX (ROOM G01, 9.00–17.30). THIS IS THE FIRST SUCH WORKSHOP TO BE HELD IN IRELAND. IT IS MRS FEIL’S FIRST VISIT TO CORK, SO IT IS A WORKSHOP NOT TO BE MISSED.

Validation is a way of working and communicating with older people who have dementia and it is particularly focused on people who are in later stages of dementia. It makes use of sensory methods of communication; touch, song, movement etc, to build relationships and connect with the interests people had and the activities they engaged in at earlier times in their lives, when they were more able to be actively engaged in all aspects of their lives.

The Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Children

19 May

CONFERENCE HELD AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK ON 28th and 29th APRIL 2014

Issues pertaining to the commercialisation and sexualisation of children have captured the attention of the media, advocacy organisations and politicians in recent years in a number of different contexts including Ireland. Such issues have given rise to much cultural anxiety, debate and policy interventions designed to protect children. The conference brought together a range of stakeholders towards the development of deeper understandings of children and young people’s experiences of living in contemporary sexualised and commercialised worlds. The implications for the development of policy and practice were a significant part of the discussion at the conference. 

Commons Sense – New Thinking about an old idea

02 May

Publication of a Special Supplement to the  Community Development Journal: Commons Sense – New Thinking about an old idea.

Edited by Mary McDermott, Tom O’Connell and Órla O’Donovan.

Our Bodies, Whose Property?

02 May

A Transdisciplinary Thinkery* on “The Body”

15 - 16 May 2014

University College Cork

* A Thinkery is an active process where people explore issues in a convivial and critical manner or, as Ivan Illich put it, “a free club for the search of surprise, a place where people go who want to have help redefining their questions rather than completing the answers they have (already) gotten.”

National Forum for Teaching and Learning Seminar & Workshop 2014

29 Apr

Promoting Intercultural Communication and Diversity in Teaching and Work Practice - Seminar & Workshop

Date: Thursday 8th May 2014

Time: 9.30am-4.30pm

Venue: Room G10, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex, University College Cork.

This workshop and seminar will help participants to examine personal and professional values, attitudes and behavioural practices in relation to diversity, difference and equality.   The seminar will encourage a reflection on what types of behaviour or practices undermine equality and dignity at work and look at how these situations might change through individual and collective action within institutions.

Launch of the new PhD in Social Work at UCC.

06 May

The new PhD in Social Work was launched last Thursday May 1^st 2014 at UCC.

Professor Walter Lorenz, the Principal of the Free University of Bozen/Bolzano in Northern Italy, visited UCC to launch the new MPhil/PhD in Social Work.

Professor Lorenz presented a paper entitled “Social work‘s place among academic disciplines – the role of research”.  There has been great interest in the new PhD programme to date. The School of Applied Social Studies was delighted that so many social work practitioners attended the launch.  

New Book on Continuing Professional Development by Applied Social Studies Staff

09 Apr

A new book on Continuing Professional Development by Applied Social Studies staff, Dr Carmel Halton, Professor Fred Powell and Dr Margaret Scanlon, was celebrated by the Irish Association of Social Workers on Wednesday 2nd April 2014 at the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.  Ms Noreen Kearney, former Psychiatric Social Worker & Lecturer in Social Studies, TCD, launched the book.

The Irish Welfare State in and after crisis: resilience, resistance, retrenchment, reform

07 Jan

Conference call for papers: The Irish Welfare State in and after crisis: resilience, resistance, retrenchment, reform
University College Cork, March 28th 2014

Invitation to 'Invisible Children': Events marking the 65th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights

28 Nov

The School of Applied Social Studies in association with Doras Luimní and local community volunteers warmly invite you to two forthcoming events to mark the 65th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Invitation to Critical Social Thinking Symposium and Conference 2013

26 Nov

It's that time of year again! You are warmly invited to the Critical Social Thinking Student Research Initiative 2013/14. Hosted by the School of Applied Social Studies and made possible through NAIRTL funding (2008), this initiative promotes undergraduate and postgraduate research in the social sciences.  

Congratulations to Masters in Planning graduates on their business success!

26 Nov

Two UCC planning graduates have been hailed for transforming what began as a research project into a “grassroots-led” regeneration plan for MacCurtain St in Cork City.

Certificate in Contemporary Living news!

26 Nov

Kickboxing Success for Certificate in Contemporary Living Students and IT achievement for CCL student, Tom Mulqueen, who has been nominated for a Google ‘New to IT’ award.

New book: Living with Asperger Syndrome and Autism in Ireland

26 Nov

The School of Applied Social Studies extends warm congratulations to Dr Stuart Nielson and Diarmuid Heffernan on the publication of their new book Living with Asperger Syndrome and Autism in Ireland. 

Meanings of Madness: Critical and Creative Perspectives Conference, 13 and 14 November 2013, UCC

26 Nov

'Meanings of Madness: Critical and Creative Perspectives' is a two-day event organised by the School of Applied Social Studies and the Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery University College Cork, in association with the Critical Voices Network Ireland.

Congratulations to our colleague, Cindy O'Shea, who has been honoured with a UCC Exceptional Citizen Award!

26 Jul

The Selection Committee determined that Cindy should be honoured with an Exceptional Citizen Award on the basis of her outstanding contribution to the wider community, both locally and nationally, in particular her work in the area of mental health and suicide prevention.