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Please use the conference hashtag when mentioning the conference on social media! #NfRCE2023

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Please use the conference hashtag when mentioning the conference on social media! #NfRCE2023

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JHN Rooms - John Henry Newman
G08 - Foundation Building
M2  - Opposite the JHN Building (grey building)
Canteen - Foundation Building

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Programme for the NfRCE Conference (1210) (11)

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Professor Sullivan's Keynote

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Dr Wodon's Keynote

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Dr Jill Gowdie, Australian Catholic University

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Dr Jill Gowdie, Australian Catholic University

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Australia Catholic University

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Presentation of the book "Formation of Teachers for Catholic Schools"

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Professor of Catholic Education (Pedagogy, Praxis & Faith)

Biography

I am Professor of Catholic Education at the University of Glasgow and currently Director of the St Andrew's Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education. The Foundation is central to the work of the University and is responsible for providing teachers for Catholic schools across Scotland. Working in close partnership with the Scottish Government, the General Teaching Council of Scotland and the Bishops' Conference of Scotland I have oversight of the education of all aspiring Catholic teachers across the country.

I am the author of a range of articles, book chapters and a book on the discipline of Religious Education in the Catholic school sector. My research interests include the professional development needs of teachers in Catholic schools which was the focus of my doctoral thesis.

In addition to being a specialist in Religious Education, I also lead and teach across a range of intersectional education courses at both undergraduate and post graduate level. In all of this work, I am committed to deep disciplinary expertise and effective professional practice.

I have taught and written widely in the field and my work is to be found in many international peer-reviewed journals. My research has been of great interest to academics and I am regularly invited to keynote in national and international contexts. The practical application of my work is also embraced by school educators and I am frequently asked to explore my findings with those teaching and leading within schools.

Research interests

Research interests

My commitment to promoting excellence in learning and teaching is characterised by the research-rich context in which my work is located. I have taught and written widely on Catholic Education in Scotland and other international contexts, Catholic school leadership, faith education, the faith development of teachers, the professional development of teachers, inclusive education, hospitality and the Catholic school, LGBTQ+ and the Catholic school and the use of prayer in schools. Initial teacher education is a central research focus and, in particular, the continuing professional development needs of those teaching within a faith context.

Overall, I have particular interest in the following areas: Religious Education; Faith-schools; Prayer; Religious Observance; Continuing Professional Development of teachers; Faith Development of Catholic teachers; Comparative Education; Initial Teacher Education, Sectarianism.

Career history
2022
Professor of Catholic Education
2017- present
Director of the Saint Andrew's Foundation of Catholic Teacher Education and member of the School of Education Leadership Team
2013- 2022
Senior Lecturer, Creativity, Culture and Faith University of Glasgow
2009- 2013
BEd Programme Leader and University Lecturer in Religious Education, Faculty of Education, University of Glasgow
2008-2010
University Lecturer in Religious Education, Graduate Advisor and Post Graduate Convener for the Department of Religious Education, Faculty of Education, University of Glasgow
2004 - 2008
University Lecturer in Religious Education, Faculty of Education, University of Glasgow

2000-2004
University Lecturer in Mathematics Education, Department of Curriculum Studies, Faculty of Education University of Glasgow

1995 -2000
Classroom Teacher, St Andrew's Primary School, Bearsden, Glasgow

Publications

List by: Type |

Number of items: 22.

Articles

Hughes, L., and Bollan, J. (2009) Catholic schools on the web: Windows to the soul of Catholic education? Journal of Catholic School Studies, 2,

Coll, R. (2007) Student teachers' perception of their role and responsibilities as Catholic educators. European Journal of Teacher Education, 30(4), pp. 445-465.

Books

Hone, E. and (2009) All Together: Creative Prayer with Children. Veritas: Dublin. ISBN 9781847301796

Book Sections

(2015) (doi: Catholic religious education in Scotland: bridging the gap between teacher education and curriculum delivery. In: Buchanan, M. T. and Gellel, A.-M. (eds.) Global Perspectives of Catholic Religious Education in Schools. Springer: Cham, pp. 179-193. ISBN 9783319209241 10.1007/978-3-319-20925-8_15)

(2012) Catholic primary schools in contemporary Scotland: facing new horizons. In: Duffy, E. (ed.) McAuley Conference Series 2012. University of Limerick: Limerick.

(2011) Contributing to the pastoral and spiritual life of the Catholic school. In: Franchi, L. and McKinney, S. (eds.) A Companion to Catholic Education. Gracewing: Leominster, Herefordshire, pp. 210-224. ISBN 9780852447574

and (2009) Catholic Religious Education in Scotland. In: Keiran, P. and Hession, A. (eds.) Exploring Religious Education: Catholic Religious Education in an Intercultural Europe. Veritas: Dublin, pp. 189-198. ISBN 181847301320

and Hone, E. (2009) Hands Up in the Air! Creative Prayer with Children. In: Keiran, P. and Hession, A. (eds.) Exploring Religious Education: Catholic Religious Education in an Intercultural Europe. Veritas: Dublin. ISBN 181847301320

Conference or Workshop Item

This list was generated on Wed Sep 13 20:27:30 2023 BST.

Grants

Beyond Sectarianism: new thinking for a new generation. Five Nations Network Small Grants Award Programme. Mobility funding for Citizenship and Values Education.

Supervision

I welcome applications for Masters and Doctoral supervision in areas related to Religion, Education and Culture.
Current supervision

This Our Faith and the Professional Development of Teachers (Marie McCoy - PhD)

Historical study: Edward Douglas CSsR 1819 - 1898 (Dominic O'Toole - PhD)

Teaching

Course Leadership

As Director of the St Andrew's Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education I have responsibility for the University of Glasgow's Religious Education UG&PG courses including all routes to obtaining the Catholic Teacher's Certificate (CTC). This Certificate is the mandatory academic qualification required in Scotland to teach Religious Education in the Catholic School sector and currently taught via differet routes, including to those studying their PGDE programme at other HE institutions.

I currently lead seven courses in the School of Education.

Catholic Teacher's Certificate (University of Strathclyde) is a course (30 credits) offered by the University of Glasgow and available to PG students at the University of Strathclyde who are eligible to teach Religious Education in the Catholic sector in Scotland.

Catholic Teacher's Certificate (University of Edinburgh) is a course (30 credits) offered by the University of Glasgow and available to PG students at the University of Edinburgh who are eligible to teach Religious Education in the Catholic sector in Scotland

Catholic Teacher's Certificate (University of Dundee) is a course (30 credits) offered by the University of Glasgow and available to PG students at the University of Dundee who are eligible to teach Religious Education in the Catholic sector in Scotland

Catholic Teacher's Certificate (University of the West of Scotland) is a course (30 credits) offered by the University of Glasgow and available to PG students at the University of the West of Scotland who are eligible to teach Religious Education in the Catholic sector in Scotland

Catholic Teacher's Certificate (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland ) is a course (30 credits) offered by the University of Glasgow and available to PG students at the RCS who are eligible to teach Religious Education in the Catholic sector in Scotland

Setting Out on the Road (Glasgow) is a course (30 credits) offered by the University of Glasgow and available to qualified teachers eligible to teach Religious Education in the Catholic sector in Scotland

Setting Out on the Road (Edinburgh) is a course (30 credits) offered by the University of Glasgow and available to qualified teachers eligible to teach Religious Education in the Catholic sector in Scotland

I contribute to and teach on a range of other courses at both Undergraduate and Masters level including Education in Practice 2A&B, Year 4 Elective and PGDE Practitioner Enquiry

Additional information

External Examining

I am currently external for Trinity College Dublin (Marino IoE) Professional Masters in Education Programme. I have been External for the University of Aberdeen's PGDE programme and the External for Dublin City University's Professional Qualification in Religious and Philosophical Education.

I was an International Peer Reviewer for the Quality Assurance / Quality Improvement Programme for Academic Units. (Irish Universities Association Quality Committee)

Consultancy and Knowledge Transfer

International Peer Reviewer for the Quality Assurance / Quality Improvement Programme for Academic Units. (Irish Universities Association Quality Committee.)

Member of the writing group for the Curriculum for Excellence Religious Education in Catholic Schools national guidelines (This is Our Faith). 2009 - present.

Member of the Religious Education Development Group (REDG) for the Curriculum for Excellence Religious Education in Catholic Schools national guidelines. 2009 - present.

Jointly designed and implemented very successful CPD courses for teachers concerned with the use of prayer and liturgy in the Catholic school. 2006 - present.

External Examiner for the PGDE (Primary and Secondary) Programme at the University of Aberdeen (2005-2009).

Academic and professional body membership

BEd Programme Leader

Chair of the BEd Committee

Faculty Undergraduate and Initial Teacher Education Committee

Member of the General Teaching Council of Scotland

Editorial Team: International Journal of Education

Reviewer: Journal of Research on Christian Education

Reviewer: Catholic Education: a journal of inquiry and practice

Member of the Youth Secretariat Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (London Province).

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Professor of Catholic Education (Pedagogy, Praxis & Faith) Biography I am Professor of Catholic Education at the University of Glasgow and currently Director of the St Andrew's Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education. The Foundation is central to the work of the University and is responsible for providing teachers for Catholic schools across Scotland.

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Prof Stephen McKinney, University of Glasgow

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Prof Stephen McKinney, University of Glasgow

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Professor (Pedagogy, Praxis & Faith)

Biography

Professor Stephen McKinney has worked in the field of Education at the University of Glasgow for over 25 years. During that period he has taught at all levels: undergraduate, Masters and doctoral levels. He has assumed a number of key leadership roles, has led some Research Associations/networks and has engaged in numerous research projects.

Career History

2017-2022 Leader Research and Teaching Cluster, Pedagogy, Praxis and Faith

2013-2017 Leader Research Cluster Creativity, Culture and Faith

2012-2013 A/leader Research Cluster Creativity, Culture and Faith

2008-2010 HoD of Religious Education, University of Glasgow

2014- Professor, University of Glasgow

2008-2014 Senior Lecturer in Religious Education, University of Glasgow

1999- 2008 Lecturer in Religious Education, University of Glasgow

1997-1999 Lecturer in Religious Education, St Andrew's College, Glasgow

1992-1997 Principal Teacher in Religious Education, John Paul Academy, Glasgow

1991-1992 Teacher in Religious Education, All Saints Secondary School, Glasgow

2018 Associate member: Irish Institute for Catholic Studies.

2018- Chair of Board of Directors, LSME.

2017-2023- Visiting Professor in Catholic Education, Newman University

2017-2018 - Poverty Truth Commission (Commissioner)

2014- member of CR&DALL

2013- Associate Robert Owen Centre for Educational Change

2005- Honorary Research Fellow, Centre for Theology and Public Issues, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh

Research interests

Research interests

Catholic Schools; Catholic Education; History of Catholic Education; Poverty, deprivation and school education; Social Justice and Catholic schools. Interface between theology and Catholic schools.History of Education; Faith Schooling; Religious Education; Sectarianism and education; Sectarianism and Faith schools.

Research Collaborations

'Ideals' Research Group (Department of Religious Education) 2000-2003

AERS Learners, Learning and Teaching (Scottish Government) 2004-2009

Teacher Development (Learning and Teaching Scotland) 2007

Pupil Participation (Learning and Teaching Scotland) 2008

Poverty and Education with Glasgow City Council 2009-2012

Portfolio of Integration (European Commission) 2011-2013

Searching for Meaning (E. Fairbairn) 2011-2013

Beyond Sectarianism with the Iona Community (Scottish Government) 2013-2015

Schools Improvement Partnership Programme (Scottish Government) 2013-2014

ALLMEET - addressing Multicultural Education and Tolerance in Russia 2014-2017

Knowledge into Action (Scottish Government) 2014-2015

Schools Improvement Partnership Programme (Scottish Government) Phase 2 2015-2017

Scoping Study for Establishment of Knowledge City (British Council. Pakistan) 2015-2016.

Political Literacy in teachers of modern Studies (Gordon Cook Foundation) 2020-2022

Publications

Selected publications

McKinney, S.J. and Sullivan, J. (Eds.) (2013) Education in a Catholic Perspective. Ashgate: Farnham, UK. ISBN 9781409452713

(doi: McKinney, S. , Hall, S. , Lowden, K. , McClung, M. and Cameron, L. (2013) Supporting school leavers in areas of deprivation into initial positive leaver destinations. Improving Schools, 16(1), pp. 67-83. 10.1177/1365480213476366)

McKinney, S.J. (2013) Religious intolerance: sectarianism. In: Bryce, T.G.K., Humes, W.M., Gillies, D. and Kennedy, A. (eds.) Scottish Education. Edinburgh University Press: Edinburgh, UK, pp. 883-892. ISBN 9780748645824

All publications

List by: Type |

Number of items: 239.

Articles

McKinney, S. et al. (2023) (doi: Beyond the pandemic - poverty and school education in Scotland. Scottish Educational Review, 54(2), pp. 238-264. 10.1163/27730840-20231002)

Race, R., Ayling, P., Chetty, D., Hassan, N., , , and (2022) (doi: Decolonising curriculum in education: continuing proclamations and provocations. London Review of Education, 20(1), 12. 10.14324/LRE.20.1.12)

, Lawler, U., O'Sullivan, E. and Guiney, J. (2021) Towards greater openness: Christian educators respond to the challenges of the pandemic. Pastoral Review, 17(4), pp. 27-30.

, McKendrick, J. H., and (2020) What might the Covid pandemic mean for the SERA Poverty and Education Network? Scottish Educational Review, 52(2), pp. 4-8.

Ivinson, G., Thompson, I., Beckett, L., Egan, D., Leitch, R. and (2018) (doi: Learning the price of poverty across the UK. Policy Futures in Education, 16(2), pp. 130-143. 10.1177/1478210317736224)

Cross, B., (doi: Hulme, M. and (2014) The last place to look: the place of pupil councils within citizen participation in Scottish schools. Oxford Review of Education, 40(5), pp. 628-648. 10.1080/03054985.2014.963039)

, Hall, S., Lowden, K., McClung, M. and Cameron, L. (2013) Initial positive school leaver destinations in Glasgow: Secondary schools in areas of deprivation. Research Intelligence(122),

, Hania, H. and Hill, R.J. (2013) Individualism, consumerism and greed: a response from the Old Testament prophets and Catholic social teaching. Pastoral Review, 9(1), Art. 11.

(doi: Hulme, M., , and Cross, B. (2011) Pupil participation in Scottish schools: how far have we come? Improving Schools, 14(2), pp. 130-144. 10.1177/1365480211406880)

McKinney, S.J. (2009) Catholic schools and sectarianism in Scotland. Pastoral Review, 5(4),

, Kennedy, A., Christie, D., Fraser, C., Reid, L., Welsh, M., Wilson, A. and Griffiths, M. (2008) (doi: Key informants' perspectives on teacher learning in Scotland. British Journal of Educational Studies, 56(4), pp. 400-419. 10.1111/j.1467-8527.2008.00416.x)

(doi: Fraser, C., Kennedy, A., Reid, L. and (2007) Teachers' continuing professional development: contested concepts, understandings and models. Journal of In-Service Education, 33(2), pp. 153-169. 10.1080/13674580701292913)

Books

Grigoriev, S., Grinshkun, V., Zannoni, F., Krupova, J., Lvova, O. and (2017) Teoriia i praktika razvitiia tolerantnosti sredstvami polikulturnoi obrazovatelnoi platformy Moskovskogo gorodskogo pedagogicheskogo universiteta. Moscow City University. ISBN 9785906721082

Book Sections

Barnes, L. P., , and Williams, K. (2023) (doi: Religious education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In: Barnes, L. P. (ed.) Debates in Religious Education [2nd ed.]. Series: Debates in subject teaching seriees. Routledge, pp. 23-55. ISBN 9781032523620 10.4324/9781003406280-4)

and Edwards, R. (2020) (doi: A concise history of the Episcopal teacher training college in Scotland. In: Teacher Preparation in Scotland. Series: Emerald studies in teacher preparation in national and global contexts. Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 179-186. ISBN 9781839094811 10.1108/978-1-83909-480-420201015)

and McCluskey, R. (2017) Does religious education matter in non-denominational schools in Scotland? In: Shanahan, M. (ed.) Does Religious Education Matter? Routledge, pp. 152-166. ISBN 9781472484321

, Zannoni, F. and Sakaev, V. (2016) The position of minority religious groups in Glasgow, Novellara and Tatarstan. In: Vieira, I., Urbano, C. and Do Carmo Vieira Da Silva, M. (eds.) Intercultural Dialogue: Learning, Speaking and Sharing. Proceedings of the International Seminar and Study Visit ALLMEET in Lisbon '15. CICS.Nova-Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences, FCSH-UNL, pp. 84-94. ISBN 978982068985

(2016) Yüzyılda Büyük Britanya'daki İnanç Okulları. In: Kaymakcan, R., Tınaz, N., Altin, Z.Ş., Zengin, M., Okudan, A.Y. and Yiğit, H. (eds.) 100. Yilinda İmam Hatip Liseleri Uluslararasi Sempozymumu. Değerler Eğitimi Merkezi.

and (2016) The continued existence of state-funded schools in Scotland. In: Maussen, M., Vermeulen, F., Merry, M. and Bader, V. (eds.) Religious Schools in Europe: Institutional Opportunities and Contemporary Challenges. Routledge: London. ISBN 9781138888487

, Conroy, J. and (2015) Religious education. In: Wyse, D., Hayward, L. and Pandya, J. (eds.) The SAGE Handbook of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment. Sage Publications: London. ISBN 9781446297025

and Hill, R.J. (2013) Jesus as teacher: reading the Gospel for new perspectives. In: McKinney, S.J. and Sullivan, J. (eds.) Education in a Catholic Perspective. Ashgate: Farnham, UK. ISBN 9781409452713

Sullivan, J. and (2013) Exploring practical perspectives. In: McKinney, S.J. and Sullivan, J. (eds.) Education in a Catholic Perspective. Ashgate: Farnham, UK. ISBN 9781409452713

and (2011) An introduction to Catholic theological thinking. In: Franchi, L. and McKinney, S. (eds.) A Companion to Catholic Education. Gracewing: Leominster, UK. ISBN 9780852447574

and (2010) (doi: Religious and spiritual education. In: Baker, E., McGaw, B. and Peterson, P. (eds.) International Encyclopedia of Education. Elsevier: London, pp. 189-193. ISBN 9780080448947 10.1016/B978-0-08-044894-7.00593-5)

and (2008) On Religious Education. In: Blackwell Encyclopaedia of Philosophy of Education. Blackwell.

McKinney, S.J. (2008) Mapping the debate on faith schooling in England. In: McKinney, S.J. (ed.) Faith Schools in the Twenty-first Century. Series: Policy and Practice in Education 23. Dunedin: Edinburgh, pp. 1-14. ISBN 9781903765814

and (2007) Religious education in Scotland. In: Kuyk, E., Jensen, R., Lankshear, D., Loh Mnna, E. and Schreiner, P. (eds.) Religious Education in Europe: Situation and Current Trends in Schools. IKO - Publishing House: Oslo, Norway, pp. 223-229. ISBN 9788271127930

Book Reviews

(2005) (doi: Review of Issues in Holocaust Education Geoffrey Short, Carole Ann Reed, 2004, Ashgate. Journal of Moral Education, 34(3), pp. 383-385. 10.1080/03057240500211519)[Book Review]

Edited Books

, Kumar, R., Sharma, S., Gray, P., Parhi, S., Jackson-Sillah, J. and Vallipuram, S. (Eds.) (2017) Report on the Proceedings of the International Conference on Managing Responsible Research in the Human Sciences and Information Management 2016. London School of Management Education: London, UK. ISBN 9780993122439

, Makgopa, M., Sharma, S., Gray, P., Parhi, S., Jackson-Sillah, D., Vallipuram, S. and Kumar, R. (Eds.) (2016) Research Papers Presented at the 2016 LSME International Conference on Responsible Research in Education and Management and its Impact. London School of Management Education: London. ISBN 97809933122422

and (Eds.) (2011) A Companion to Catholic Education. Gracewing: Leominster, UK. ISBN 9780852447574

(Ed.) (2008) Faith schools in the twenty-first century. Series: Policy and Practice in Education. Dunedin Academic Press: Edinburgh. ISBN 9781903765814

Research Reports or Papers

, and (2013) Searching for Meaning. Science and Religious Education teachers working together. Project Report. Scottish Schools Education Research Centre, Dunfermline.

Baranowska, W., Kosiorek, M., Luatti, L., Ntelli, N., , and Sahin, M. (2012) Portfolio of Integration Scotland: Need Analysis. Project Report. European Commission.

Christie, D., Fraser, C., Kennedy, A., , Reid, L., Wilson, A., Seagraves, L. and Karagiannidou, E. (2009) Welsh, M., Understanding teachers as learners. Project Report. Applied Educational Research Team.

Cross, B., Hall, J., , Hulme, M., Lewin, J. and (2009) Pupil participation in Scottish schools: final report. Project Report. Learning and Teaching Scotland.

Kennedy, A., McKay, J., Clinton, C., Fraser, C., and Welsh, M. (2008) Early professional development in Scotland: teachers in years 2-6. Project Report. Learning and Teaching Scotland, Glasgow, UK.

Conference Proceedings

This list was generated on Fri Aug 11 08:33:31 2023 BST.

Supervision

Stephen's research interests include Faith Schooling, Catholic Schooling, Religious Education, Sectarianism and Faith Schools, the impact of Poverty and Deprivation on School Education, the history of Catholic schooling. He has published widely on these topics in journal articles and book chapters. He welcomes enquiries from Masters and Doctoral students seeking supervision in these topics.

He has examined Doctorates and Doctor of Education theses for the following universities: Institute of Education, University College London; University of Strathclyde; Glasgow Caledonian University; Australian Catholic University; Deakin University Australia; Mater Dei Institute, Dublin; Hope University, Liverpool; The University of Notre Dame, Australia; University of Peshawar, Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Aberdeen, The Open University, Bishop Grosseteste University, University of Wolverhampton, University of the West of Scotland and the University of Glasgow.
Current Doctoral Students
Stephen Scholes: Religious Education and Inspection in Scottish Non-Denominational Schools, 1972-2017 (co-supervisor Dr Leonardo Franchi).

Nouman Hussain: Educating Terrorists? Deconstructing Ibn Taymiyyah's religious eductaion literature and its influence on Salafi schools: Implications for the UK and globally (co-supervisor: Professor Terry Lovat).

Conor O'Reilly: The Outlooks of international Students when immersed in an Irish Higher Educational Setting (Doctorate in Education)

Honor Hania: An investigation into the awareness, understanding and expressions of Catholic Social Teaching in Scotland (co-supervisor Julie Clague).

Mary Lappin: Grief and Loss Education within a Faith Tradition (co-supervisor Dr Georgina Wardle).

Helen McCann: Can student voice be used to develop a love of learning English and develop self-identity as bilingual learners in a private bilingula school in China? (co-supervisor Dr Giovanna Fassetta).

Scott Brankin: Exploring the ways that exposure to varying levels of deprivation influence the decisions made by children and young people in schools with regards to subject choice and post-compulsory educational outcomes (co-supervisors Stuart Hall and Kevin Lowden).

Anna Rozzo: Academic Staff and inclusive pedagogy: an exploration of professional practice and needs (Doctorate in Education).
Students who have completed Doctorates

Tarsisio Nyatsanza: Developing a Transformative Approach to HIV/AID Education: An Analysis of Scotland and Zimbabwe (co-supervisor Professor J. Conroy).

Leonard Franchi: A critical exploration of the disctinction between catechsis and religious education in the magisterial documents of the Catholic Church: the theology of communion as a unifying bond between catechesis and religious education (co-supervisor: Professor Bob Davis).

Federico Zannoni: La societa della discordia. Prospettive pedagogiche per la mediazione e la gestione die conlitti (supervised field work in Scotland; Student at University of Bologna)

Raheleh Mir eslami: Critical thinking in religious education resources: A case study of four secondary schools in Scotland(Student at University of Edinburgh; co-supervisor Dr. Gale MacLeod).

Uriah Pond: Towards Transformative Learning on Short-Term International Study Tours: Incorporating Critical Reflection into Course Design (Doctor of Education).

Steve Younger: Religious Observance and Spiritual Development within Curriculum for Excellence (co-supervisor Professor Alison Phipps).

Wallace Dean Bursey: Meeting the Needs of Religious Learners in the Ontario Classroom (Doctor of Education).

Ahmed Abdullah: Investigating Iraqi Secondary School English Langauge Teachers' Pedagogical Practices (co-supervisors Lavinia Hirsu and Julie McAdam).

John Stoer: Reconsidering Roman Catholic religious education through the Church's teaching on inter-religious dialogue (co-supervisor Julie Clague).

Maxinne Connolly: Terror Management Theory: Transcending the body: Religious ritual surrounding the Body and it's symbolic buffer defence against Death Anxiety (co-supervisor Dr. Georgina Wardle).

Beverley Friend: Relationship between the Government's anti-sectarian educational activities and the pupils and their communities (co-supervisor Professor Heather Walton).

Teaching

Stephen teaches on a wide range of programmes and courses. He lectures at various stages of the MEduc, notably Theology on Education 1 and 2 and the Catholic elective in year 4. He also lectures on the PGDE (BAT). He contributes to the ATQRE and the offsite CTC provision. He is on the steering group of the offsite Catechist's Course (run in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Glasgow) and he teaches on a number of the modules, notably Old and New Testament.

He supervises dissertations at undergraduate and postgraduate levels (Masters and Doctoral levels). He has supervised Masters of Edcuation dissertations and Masters of Philiosophy dissertations for over twenty years.

Professional activities & recognition

Editorial boards

2010 - current: Journal of Beliefs and Values

2006 - 2017: Journal of Moral Education

2015 - current: Improving Schoools

2014 - current: Scottish Educational Review

2016 - current: Journal of values Education

2015 - current: Kazan Pedagogical Journal

2015 - 2015: Ricerche di Pedagogia e Didattica. Guest editor for special edition.

Professional & learned societies

2016 - 2017: President, Scottish Educational Research Association

2014 - 2015: Vice President, Scottish Educational Research Association

2012 - 2018: Secretary, Association of University Lecturers in Religious Education

2018 - 2020: Chair, Association of University Lecturers in Religious Education

2016 - current: Treasurer, International Seminar In Religious Education and Values

2018 - current: Council Member, European Educational Research Association

2016 - current: Member Steering Group, Network for Researchers in Catholic Education

Selected international presentations

2017: Allmeet in Russia: Education and Tolerance for the Multicultural Society Keynote (Moscow, Russian Federation)

2016: FUM Conference Keynote (Reykjavik University of Iceland)

2018: International Conference on Responsible Research and Innovation In Science, Management and Education. Keynote (Panjab University, Chandigarh)

2018: Implementation and Challenges of Multicultural Education: What can Thailand Learn from the Experiences of the UK? Keynote (Mahidol University, Thailand)

2018: ISREV, XXII. Contemporary Perspectives and Contextual Challenges in Religious and Values Education. (Nuremberg, Germany)

2018: AME (Barcelona, Spain)

2019: Responsible Research and Innovation. Keynote (London)

Additional information

Consulting and advice

Associate Assessor HMIe (Scotland) 2008-2009

Associate Assessor ETI (Northern Ireland) 2009-2010

Academic Consultant: Religion in UK Directory 2007

Advisor: Visions for Educational Leadership 2013-2014

Reviewer for AHRC, 2007, 2009

Reviewer for ESRC, 2017, 2019, 2022

Reviewer for Church Universities Fund, 2017

Reviewer for Culham St Gabriel's, 2014, 2018, 2019

Book proposal reviewer: Routledge, Bloomsbury, Continuum, University of Toronto Press, Palgrave, Springer.

Academic peer reviewer. Regular reviewer for: British Journal of Religious Education; Journal of Beliefs and Values; Journal of Research on Christian Education; Scottish Educational Review; Journal of Moral Education; Improving Schools; European Educational Research Journal; FWU Journal of Social Sciences. Academic peer reviewer. Other reviews: School Leadership and Management; Journal of Philosophy of Education; Curriculum Review; Educational Review; Education Sciences; British Educational Research Journal; International Journal of Innovation in Education; Open Medicine Journal; Journal of Religious Education; Haripur Journal of Educational Research; Religions; London Review of Education; Forum for International Research on Education; International Journal of Christianity and Education; British Journal of Educational Studies; Citizenship, Social and Economics Education; Studies in the Social Sciences.

External Examiner: PGCE Religious Education Programme, Newman College of Higher Education University of Leicester 2005-2009.

External Examiner: PGCE Religious Education Programme, Roehampton University 2011-2015

External Examiner: Religious Studies, St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 2011-2015

External Examiner: PGCE, University of Oxford, 2021-

Academic and professional body membership

General Teaching Council of Scotland (Mem no. 910379) 1991-

International Seminar In Religious Education and Values (ISREV) 2003-

Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) 2004-

Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain 2005-

British Educational Research Association (BERA) 2003-2005; 2008-2009; 2014-2015

Association of University Lecturers in Religion and Education 2009-

Association of Moral Education 2012-

International Forum of Researchers in Education 2014-

Nordic Educational Research Association 2015-2017

Office Holder

Association of University Lecturers in Religion and Education (member of Executive) 2009-

Association of University Lecturers in Religion and Education (Secretary) 2012-2018

Association of University Lecturers in Religion and Education (Chair) 2018-2021

Scottish Educational Research Association (member of Executive) 2013-

Scottish Educational Research Association (Vice President) 2014-2015

Scottish Educational Research Association (President) 2015-2017

Convenor Poverty and Education Network, SERA 2014-

International Seminar of Religious Education and Values (Treasurer) 2016-

Member of Council of European Educational Research Association, 2018-

Vice President Catholic Theological Association of Great Britain, 2021-

Editorial role in academic Journals - Current Roles

Cultura pedagogica e scenari educativi 2023-

Seminare (Editorial Board) 2022-

International Studies in Catholic Education (Advisory Editorial Board) 2022-

The Pastoral Review 2022-

Journal of Beliefs and Values (member of editorial board) 2010-

Improving Schools (member of editorial board) 2015-

Scottish Educational Review (member of editorial board) 2017-

Educazione Interculturale. 2022-

International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church (member of editorial board) 2022-

Journal of Religious Education (member of editorial board) 2021-

Scottish Educational Review (guest co-editor - special edition) 2021

Ricerche di Pedagogia e Didattica (guest co-editor - special edition) 2015

Journal of Religious Education (guest co-editor - special edition) 2020

Journal of Religious Education (guest co-editor - special edition) 2021

Journal of Religious Education (guest co-editor - special edition) 2022

Educazione Interculturale. guest co-editor - special edition 2023

FWU Journal of Social Sciences (member of Advisory Board) 2018-

Haripur Journal of Educational Research 2017-

Educação, escola e sociedade (Comitê Científico da revista). 2017-

IJBST Journal Group (member of editorial board). 2019-

Editorial role in academic Journals - Past Roles

Scottish Educational Review (co-editor) 2013-2017

FWU Journal of Social Sciences (consulting editor) 2014-2018

Studies in the Social Sciences Journal (member of editorial board). 2018-2020

Journal of Moral Education (member of editorial board and UK reviews editor) 2006-2015

Journal of Moral Education (member of editorial board) 2015-2017

Socio-economic and engineering systems: research, design and organization (member of editorial board) 2014-2018

Vestnik Rossiiskogo universiteta druzhby narodov (Seriya informatizaciya obrazovaniya) (member of editorial board) 2014-2020

Kazan Pedagogical Journal (member of international editorial board) 2015-2020

Değerler Eğitimi Dergisi (member of International Advisory Board) 2016-2020

Educazione Interculturale. Conflitti, Dialoghi e Progetti nella Globalizzazione 2017-2022

Journal of Research on Christian Education (member of International Editorial Board) 2017-2019

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Professor (Pedagogy, Praxis & Faith) Biography Professor Stephen McKinney has worked in the field of Education at the University of Glasgow for over 25 years. During that period he has taught at all levels: undergraduate, Masters and doctoral levels. He has assumed a number of key leadership roles, has led some Research Associations/networks and has engaged in numerous research projects.

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Email: sean.whittle@stmarys.ac.uk

Biography

Sean Whittle is a Senior Lecturer in Catholic Education and he is a member of CERRL. He teaches on range of post-graduate courses including the MA Education pathways, the MA Catholic Schools Leadership and the EdD course, and with research students.

Sean is a long serving secondary school RE teacher, and has experience of working in a four very different but equally successful Catholic schools and in a Catholic Sixth Form College. He continues to combine academic activities whilst working part-time as an RE in a Catholic school.

Sean joined the teaching staff at St Mary's in April 2023, however he had previously been a Visiting Research Fellow who worked with Professor Gerald Grace for many years.

Areas of scholarly interest

Sean is interested in:

the philosophy or theory of Catholic Education

Catholic Education Studies

philosophy of education

the theology of Catholic education

Religious Education in Catholic schools

non-confessional Catholic Education

religious literacy

the intersections between theology and education.

Research

Research profile

Sean's monograph, A Theory of Catholic Education (Bloomsbury 2014), which was developed from his doctoral research, presents a robust philosophy of Catholic education that draws fruitfully on insights from Karl Rahner. He has edited six books on Catholic Education:

Vatican II and New Thinking about Catholic Education 2016 [Routledge]

Researching Catholic Education 2018 [Springer]

Religious Education in Catholic schools in the UK and Ireland 2018 [Peter Lang]

Irish and British Perspectives on Catholic Education 2021 [Springer]

New Thinking, New Scholarship

New Research in Catholic Education: Responses to the Work of Professor Gerald Grace 2021 [Routledge].

Also in 2021, he jointly edited with Dr Gareth Byrne Catholic Education: A lifelong journey [Veritas]. In 2023 and 2024, three further edited volumes are due for release. Since 2016, he has been collaborating with other academics working in the field of Catholic Education Studies by serving as the organising secretary for the Network for Researchers in Catholic Education (NfRCE).

Sean has also been engaged in a range of research projects including:

a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at Brunel University on a Religious Literacy project

researching RSE in Catholic schools in Northern Ireland

a research project of a Catholic Multi-Academy Trust in Birmingham).

He has also frequently been a visiting lecturer at universities, such as:

Oxford Brookes University

Newman University

Edgehill University.

Sean serves as chair of the academic association AULRE.

Sean holds a BA in Philosophy and Theology (Heythrop), a Master's in Systematic Theology (MTh Heythrop), an MA in Education (IOE-UCL), a PGCE in RE, and a Doctorate in the Philosophy of Catholic Education (IOE-UCL).

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Profile for Dr Sean Whittle (Senior Lecturer - Catholic Education) at St Marys University, Twickenham

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End of Year Message from Professor Eugene Wall, President of MIC

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Opening by Professor Eugene Wall, MIC President

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Opening by Professor Eugene Wall, MIC President

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More information

Professor Eugene Wall graduated from UCD in 1975 with a degree in psychology. He was awarded a UCD postgraduate scholarship and undertook a research MA in the field of developmental psycholinguistics. He qualified as a primary teacher from Froebel College and taught part-time in several third-level institutions in Dublin prior to moving to Limerick in 1980. In 2001, he qualified from UCD with a PhD in Education.

Eugene taught developmental psychology and educational psychology in Mary Immaculate College from 1980 to 1998. For the latter part of that time, he was also Assistant Dean Academic Affairs in the College of Education of the University of Limerick. Following appointment to the role of Registrar/Vice-President Academic Affairs in 1998 he continued to lecture part-time on the B Ed programmes and the M Ed programme on educational psychology and on educational policy issues.

He served for 21 years on the Council of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and was a member of several of its sub-committees over that time, including the Coordinating Committee which was responsible for overseeing the development of the 1999 primary school curriculum. He chaired the Council's Primary Assessment Advisory Group.

Eugene is co-author of the MICRA-T and the SIGMA-T, the two most widely used standardised tests in Irish primary schools.

Eugene was the founding Chairperson of the Learning Hub, which works in partnership with local education providers, families and young people to develop and implement practical and solution focused responses to the high levels of educational disadvantage and early school leaving experienced by local communities on the Northside of Limerick City.

He was President of the Irish Federation of University Teachers from 1994-1997 during which time IFUT played a key role in shaping the 1997 Universities Act. Following this, he was appointed for a three-year term to the Higher Education Sectoral Committee of Education International.

Eugene was appointed to the post of President of MIC in May 2018.

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President@mic.ul.ie | Mary Immaculate College

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Networking Catholic Education Today Editor: John Clawson Assistant Editor: ​ Editorial Office, Networking ( CET) Ltd 9 Elston Hall Elston NG235NP Tel: 01636 525607 Email:…

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THINKPIECE FROM NATIONAL PRESIDENT MARIA RIMMER

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THINKPIECE FROM NATIONAL PRESIDENT MARIA RIMMER

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Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges

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Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges

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Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools & Colleges

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Leading Catholic academics and educationalists are holding a conference in London next month to explore responses to the current challenges in Catholic education.

The Network for Researchers in Catholic Education (NfRCE) has announced that its 2022 Annual Conference is being held in collaboration with the Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges (CATSC).

Their first in-person gathering since 2019, the Conference will take place at St Mary's University, Twickenham on 20 th/21 st May. The event will create a unique opportunity for researchers and leaders/practitioners in Catholic education to work together to formulate responses to the needs and concerns of Catholic school leaders working in the post-pandemic environment.

The conference theme is Flourishing as a Contemporary Catholic leader and teacher: insights from research and practice, and confirmed keynote speakers include Professor John Lydon, St Mary's University; Professor Stephen McKinney, University of Glasgow and Asst. Professor Amalee Meehan, Dublin City University.

Emeritus Professors John Sullivan and Gerald Grace will also be present, and there will also be parallel papers presented by academics and early career researchers from across England, Scotland and Ireland.

The Executive Council Officers of the Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges (CATSC) President John Nish, Treasurer Professor John Lydon and General Secretary Dr Caroline Healy and fellow members of the Executive Council told The Catholic Network that they are delighted to be collaborating with the Network for Researchers in Catholic Education (NfRCE) to host the Conference.

Prof. John Lydon, CATSC Executive, said: "working together with the Network for Researchers in Catholic Education, promises to be a fruitful one, enhancing the output of conference papers which, for previous conferences, have been acclaimed by Catholic teachers, leaders and academics".

All who are interested in Catholic Education are invited to attend as it promises to be the largest gathering of leading Catholic education researchers and practitioners this year in the UK.

For more on the Conference, and to register to attend:
https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/events/2022/05/nfrce-annual-conference Pictured: Prof. John Lydon presenting at the last conference in 2019 held in Dublin with Very Rev. Fr. Gerard Briody, SDB, Salesian Provincial of the Great Britain Province.
________________________________

ABOUT CATSC

The formation of CATSC in 1996 brought together the long traditions of three organisations - the Catholic Teachers Federation of England and Wales, the Association of Catholic Schools and Colleges and the Association of Religious in Education.

At the national evel, the Association works to support and safeguard the interests of Catholic Education and those working in this sector. The Association enjoys good working relationships with the CBCEW and CES.

The Association is also an active member of the World Union of Catholic Teachers (WUCT). The CATSC Treasurer is currently a member of the WUCT Executive which is the only Catholic teaching association recognised by The Vatican. He is also the leader of the Thematic Group on Education of the Catholic-Inspired NGO Forum, sponsored by the Vatican Secretariat of State.
Website: https://www.catsc.org

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Academic conference will bring together leading experts to explore post-pandemic challenges for school leaders - The Catholic Network

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Leading Catholic academics and educationalists are holding a conference in London next month to explore responses to the current challenges

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NfRCE and CATSC Joint Annual Conference 2022 | St Mary’s University

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The theme for the 2022 joint annual conference is ’Flourishing as a Contemporary Catholic leader and teacher: insights from research and practice.’

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CERRL, Institutional Partner of NfRCE, Launch

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CERRL, Institutional Partner of NfRCE, Launch

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Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson

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Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson

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DublinCity InterfaithForum: Keynote speaker - Archbishop Dr. Michael Jackson

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Prof. Stephen McKinney - University of Glasgow - BDRC 2017

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Email: sean.whittle@stmarys.ac.uk

Biography

Sean Whittle is a Senior Lecturer in Catholic Education and he is a member of CERRL. He teaches on range of post-graduate courses including the MA Education pathways, the MA Catholic Schools Leadership and the EdD course, and with research students.

Sean is a long serving secondary school RE teacher, and has experience of working in a four very different but equally successful Catholic schools and in a Catholic Sixth Form College. He continues to combine academic activities whilst working part-time as an RE in a Catholic school.

Sean joined the teaching staff at St Mary's in April 2023, however he had previously been a Visiting Research Fellow who worked with Professor Gerald Grace for many years.

Areas of scholarly interest

Sean is interested in:

the philosophy or theory of Catholic Education

Catholic Education Studies

philosophy of education

the theology of Catholic education

Religious Education in Catholic schools

non-confessional Catholic Education

religious literacy

the intersections between theology and education.

Research

Research profile

Sean's monograph, A Theory of Catholic Education (Bloomsbury 2014), which was developed from his doctoral research, presents a robust philosophy of Catholic education that draws fruitfully on insights from Karl Rahner. He has edited six books on Catholic Education:

Vatican II and New Thinking about Catholic Education 2016 [Routledge]

Researching Catholic Education 2018 [Springer]

Religious Education in Catholic schools in the UK and Ireland 2018 [Peter Lang]

Irish and British Perspectives on Catholic Education 2021 [Springer]

New Thinking, New Scholarship

New Research in Catholic Education: Responses to the Work of Professor Gerald Grace 2021 [Routledge].

Also in 2021, he jointly edited with Dr Gareth Byrne Catholic Education: A lifelong journey [Veritas]. In 2023 and 2024, three further edited volumes are due for release. Since 2016, he has been collaborating with other academics working in the field of Catholic Education Studies by serving as the organising secretary for the Network for Researchers in Catholic Education (NfRCE).

Sean has also been engaged in a range of research projects including:

a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at Brunel University on a Religious Literacy project

researching RSE in Catholic schools in Northern Ireland

a research project of a Catholic Multi-Academy Trust in Birmingham).

He has also frequently been a visiting lecturer at universities, such as:

Oxford Brookes University

Newman University

Edgehill University.

Sean serves as chair of the academic association AULRE.

Sean holds a BA in Philosophy and Theology (Heythrop), a Master's in Systematic Theology (MTh Heythrop), an MA in Education (IOE-UCL), a PGCE in RE, and a Doctorate in the Philosophy of Catholic Education (IOE-UCL).

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Profile for Dr Sean Whittle (Senior Lecturer - Catholic Education) at St Marys University, Twickenham

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I have a BA in History & Politics (Hull), a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Liverpool), a MLitt in Philosophy of Religion (Lancaster), a PhD in Catholic Philosophy of Education (London) plus a Diploma in the Philosophy and History of Education (London) and a Diploma in Theology (Liverpool) and I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I supervise doctoral research in Catholic Studies and in Christian education. My special areas of academic interest include Christian higher education, the interconnections between theology, philosophy, and education, and the match between purposes of, contexts for and approaches to Christian education. My research interests also include the religious thought of Maurice Blondel, developments in the Catholic intellectual tradition, especially the unfinished project of modernism and the place of religious conviction and speech in the public square. What links these broad areas is an enduring engagement with key issues in the communication and reception of Christian faith.

My latest book is The Christian Academic in Higher Education: The Consecration of Learning (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). Prior to this I have authored, edited or co-edited seven books and over 80 chapters and articles (in the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia and Europe) on religion and education. My next major writing project is a book Lights for the Path, an introduction to key figures from the Catholic intellectual and spiritual tradition (past and present) who illuminate important aspects of the task of Catholic educators in schools, colleges and universities.

I am a member of the editorial team for International Studies in Catholic Education (Routledge), an editorial adviser for Journal of Religious Education (Springer), a consultant for Liverpool Hope University's Centre for Christian Education and a member of the Steering Group for the Network of Researchers in Catholic Education (UK and Ireland). I also serve as Visiting Professor (Theology and Education), Newman University.

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I have a BA in History & Politics (Hull), a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Liverpool), a MLitt in Philosophy of Religion (Lancaster), a PhD in Catholic Philosophy of Education (London) plus a Diploma in the Philosophy and History of Education (London) and a Diploma in Theology (Liverpool) and I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

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Beyond Test Scores: Measuring the Contributions of Catholic Schools

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Getting to & from Shannon Airport by Bus

It's one of the cheapest ways of travelling and you can get to and from Shannon Airport very easy from anywhere, with Ireland's national bus service Bus Éireann.

From Eyre Square to Times Square and beyond...

You can get direct links to and from Shannon Airport to Limerick,Shannon Airport to Cork and Shannon Airport to Galway.

With other towns and cities, you can then simply connect from these cities to your next destination on the Bus Éireann Network.

Check out Bus Eireann's timetables to plan how you can get to and from Shannon Airport.

Bus Timetables are available here
Limerick > Shannon > Ennis - Route 343

Connect at Ennis - Galway > Kinvara > Doolin > Cliffs of Moher - Route 350

Expressway customers in order to guarantee and reserve your seat in advance please click on the links below In order to complete your seat reservation

Route information for Limerick > Tralee - Timetable : Route 13

Route Information for Limerick > Kilarney - Timetable Route 14

Route infomation for Galway > Limerick > Cork - Timetable Route 51

Getting to and from the airport should be the easiest part of your trip, with our partners Expressway Route 51 it is! Expressway offers departures and arrivals directly from within Shannon Airport, adding convenience to the comfort of coach travel.

Shannon Airport Coach Service

Expressway coaches provide superior comfort and convenience with reclining leather seats, air conditioning, sockets for charging devices, free 4G Wi-Fi and plenty of room for luggage. These luxury coaches will ensure your journey between Shannon Airport and your destination is as relaxing as it is enjoyable.

Travelling from Shannon Airport

Route 51 connects Cork, Mallow, Ballyhea, Charleville, Limerick, Clarecastle, Ennis, Crusheen, Gort, Labane, Ardrahan, Kilcolgan, Clarenbridge, Oranmore and Galway to Shannon Airport.

Where to buy tickets?

You can buy tickets at the self service kiosk in the Arrivals Hall or on the bus itself. And Bus Éireann also has a range of tourist passes to offer maximum value and flexibility for travellers of all types.

Expressway customers in order to guarantee and reserve your seat in advance please click on the Book Bus Tickets button below In order to complete your seat reservation.
Book Bus Tickets

Where to catch my bus?

Just outside the main terminal, you'll find the various Bus Éireann stops where you can board all services.

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You can get direct links to Limerick, Cork and Galway to and from Shannon Airport with countless services passing through every day. Find out more about buses to & from Shannon Airport by visiting our official site today.

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HOTEL IN LIMERICKCITY CENTRE

INDOORHEATED POOL

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EXPLORE 800 YEARS OF HISTORY ATKING JOHN'S CASTLE

Located on the banks of the River Shannon, Clayton Hotel Limerick offers stylish, modern rooms, waterfront dining , and a leisure centre with an indoor swimming pool and gym. The ideal place to stay in Limerick city for a girls' weekend , or for your next family getaway to the Wild Atlantic Way . With a number of seasonal packages available, there's something for everyone - we can't wait to welcome you to our Limerick hotel.

Gift Wonderful Experiences

This Christmas, give the gift of wonderful experiences at Clayton Hotels.

With 48 fabulous hotels to choose from across Ireland and the UK, there is something for everyone.
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Save €10 on every room, every night when you Click on Clayton at claytonhotellimerick.com
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Style & Comfort in our 4-Star Hotel in Limerick City

Relax and unwind in comfortable, modern rooms in our hotel in Limerick city centre. All rooms boast 32" flat-screen TVs, a safe, air-conditioning, free WiFi and full use of Club Vitae leisure centre.
EXPLORE OUR 4* HOTEL ROOMS

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Guests enjoy complimentary use of Club Vitae leisure centre which features the latest fitness equipment, indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. Enjoy a relaxing swim with views of the River Shannon at our 4* hotel in Limerick.
VISIT OUR LEISURE CENTRE

Our Safety Promise to You

Our continued commitment to the health, safety & wellbeing of our guests & employees is of paramount importance for Clayton Hotel Limerick. Guests can be reassured that all our hotels are subject to rigorous inspection by Bureau Veritas, a world leader in health & safety standards. Read more here

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Hotel in Limerick City Centre | Clayton Hotel Limerick

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Clayton Hotel Limerick offers stylish, modern rooms, waterfront dining, and a leisure centre with an indoor swimming pool and gym with the best views in town

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Our new McGettigan's bar in Limerick City is now open and we look forward to welcoming you. We offer a selection of drinks and traditional Irish food with a bit of a twist.

McGettigan's is committed to using only the finest quality ingredients in our dishes. We always try to source the majority of our fruit & vegetables locally & we also believe in sourcing all our meat & fish from local suppliers.

Looking for a relaxing dinner amidst the hustle and bustle of the city centre? Our stylish restaurant is your perfect choice of high quality food and wine in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Innovative combinations of French technique and Irish produce in a fashionable brasserie, ideal for a romantic date or a catch-up dinner with friends.

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Your hotel in the city Welcome to Limerick City Hotel Located on the banks of the River Shannon, the Limerick City Hotel encompasses breathtaking views of the Shannon and Limerick City. Limerick City Hotel is walking distance from Limerick Colbert Train & Bus Station.

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Contact

Rannóg/Section

Acting Head of Department of Inclusion, Religious Education and Student Life

Course Leader for Master in Education Studies: Leadership in Christian Education

Director of Centre for Religious Education

Moderator of Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) Online Leadership Programme

Qualifications

Doctorate in Education (Dublin City University)
M.A.in Religion and Culture (Dublin City University)
Bachelor of Religious Science (Mater Dei / NUI Maynooth)
Bachelor of Science in Psychotherapy and Counselling (Middlesex University)

Teaching

Course Leader of Master in Education Studies (Leadership in Christian Education)

Religious Education Certificate

Multi-Belief and Ethical Curricula in Diverse School Contexts

The Inner Landscape of the Young Child

Religious Diversity and Intercultural Education

Transitioning to Higher Education

Reflective Practice

Research / Professional Interests

Religious diversity in Irish education; religious education; the inclusion of different beliefs in Catholic schools; supporting students in the transition to Higher Education; belief fluidity.

Publications

Kieran, P. & Mullally, A. (2020), 'Covid-19: a Watershed for the Catholic Church', in Doctrine and Life: A Religious Life Review, Vol.70:7, September 2020.

Kieran, P. & Mullally, A. (2020), 'The New Nones': Implications of Ticking the 'No Religion' Census Box for Educators in Ireland, The Furrow: A Journal for the Contemporary Church, Vol 71(7/8), pp. 387-395.

Malone, T., O'Toole, B. & Mullally, A. (2020). 'The Family Project': investigating multi-belief learning in two Irish primary schools. British Journal of Religious Education, 42(3).

Mullally, A. (2019), Guidelines on the Inclusion of Students of Different Beliefs in Catholic Secondary Schools, 2nd Edition. JMB: Dublin.

Uí Choistealbha, J., Mullally, A., & McMorrough, A. (2018), Moving from a Focus on the Student to a Focus on the Teacher. In I. Kunnari (Ed) Higher Education Perspectives on ePortfolios. HAMK Unlimited Journal. Retrieved [April 25th, 2020] from https://unlimited.hamk.fi/ammatillinen-osaaminen-ja-opetus/focus-on-the-teacher.

Flanagan, B., Nelson, J. & Mullally, A. (2012), 'Spiritual Education: A Teacher Development Initiative' in Journal for the Study of Spirituality, Vol. 2:1.

Mullally, A. (2010), Guidelines on the Inclusion of Students of Other Faiths in Catholic Secondary Schools, 1st Edition. JMB: Dublin.

Mullally, A. (2006), Gender and Religion Textbook for Leaving Certificate Religious Education, Veritas, 2006

Conference Presentations

2020: 'Belief Fluidity: Research on the Lived Reality of Catholicism among Pre-Service Postgraduate Student Teachers in Catholic Colleges in the Republic of Ireland'. With Dr Patricia Kieran: Lived Catholicism(s): New Questions and Untold Stories Conference, Durham University [Online]

2020:Supporting Students in the Transition to Higher Education: ESAI Conference [Online].

2020: 'What about the Nones?': Research on PME Student's Perspectives on Non-Religious Belief in Ireland. With Dr Patricia Kieran: Irish Institute for Catholic Schools, [Online].

2019: The Catholic Dialogue School: Including Students of Different Beliefs in Catholic Secondary Schools: JMB/AMCSS Annual Leadership Conference, Killarney.

2019: 'Why are Catholic Schools Afraid to be Catholic Schools?' Challenges to Leaders of Catholic Secondary Schools in Ireland: Network for Researchers in Catholic Education Annual Conference, Dublin City University.

2018: Research Findings on Challenges to Leaders of Catholic Secondary Schools Regarding Religious Diversity: Towards New Guidelines: JMB/AMCSS Annual Leadership Conference, Galway.

2018: Supporting Students in the Transition to Higher Education. With Dr Marian Fitzmaurice: ' Are We Ready?' Seminar, National Forum for Teaching and Learning, Marino Institute of Education.

2017: Diversity: Enrolment and Inclusion - New Challenges and Opportunities: JMB Education Conference 'Faith in Our Schools', Croke Park Dublin.

2015: Best Practice Guidelines on Inclusion and Diversity in Publicly-Managed Schools: John Marcus O Sullivan Conference: Religion, Diversity and Publicly-Managed Schools: ETBI, Naas.

2011: Practical Approaches to Nurturing the Spirituality of Children in Religiously Diverse Classrooms: The Spirit of the Child International Conference, Waterford Institute of Technology.

2011: School Planning for Religious Diversity: John Marcus O Sullivan Conference: ETBI, Kerry.

2010: Fostering Spirituality in Religiously Diverse Classrooms, Changing Boundaries: Spirituality and Education International Conference, Dublin City University.

Funded Research Projects

2016- 2018: 'Empowering ePortfolio Processes'
https://eepeu.wordpress.com/
2020 - 2022: 'Supporting Inclusion and Diversity in Teaching' [SiDiT]

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Acting Head of Department of Inclusion, Religious Education and Student Life Course Leader for Master in Education Studies: Leadership in Christian Education Director of Centre for Religious Education Moderator of Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders (EREBB) Online Leadership Programme Doctorate in Education (Dublin City University)M.A.in Religion and Culture (Dublin City

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"Education and Integral Human Development" ~ Keynote by Quentin Wodon (World Catholicism Week 2023)

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Prof David Torevell, Liverpool Hope University

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Prof David Torevell, Liverpool Hope University

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Prof David Torevell, 'The Naked Truth: Temptation and the likely "fall" of Catholic education'

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Dr. Maurice Harmon on 'Exploring our Christian Community'

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Dr Dan O'Connell, MIC on 'Catholic Education on Rapidly Thinning Ice'

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Dr Ros Stuart-Buttle, Liverpool Hope University

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Dr Ros Stuart-Buttle, Liverpool Hope University

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Dr Ros Stuart-Buttle 'Authority, Pedagogy, and Religious Education Online'

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Dr Catherine Stapleton, 'A Reflection on School Ethos and Religious Education'

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Rev Prof Anne Lodge, DCU, 'Finding an Anglican Voice Amidst the Clamour of the 21st Century Agora'

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Dr Masterson, Dr Murphy, & Dr Kieran 'Religious Education in Europe & Ireland: Policy and Practice'

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Dr Lydia Mannion, MIC, 'Beyond Wellbeing'

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NfRCE Conference Registration | Mary Immaculate College

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The Network for Researchers in Catholic Education Annual Conference, hosted by Mary Immaculate College, will take place on Thursday 19 & Friday 20 October 2023.

When booking you can choose to attend the conference one day or two-days. Concessions also available.

Please note: MIC does not store any credit card details. Payments are processed through Stripe.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and security. All personal data collected will be processed in accordance with our Conference Data Notice.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Patricia Kieran, Patricia.Kieran@mic.ul.ie.

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The Network for Researchers in Catholic Education Annual Conference, hosted by Mary Immaculate College, will take place on Thursday 19 & Friday 20 October 2023. When booking you can choose to attend the conference one day or two-days. Concessions also available. Please note: MIC does not store any credit card details.

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Professor John Sullivan, Liverpool Hope University

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Professor John Sullivan, Liverpool Hope University

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Dr Avieen Mullally, Marino Institute of Education & Assoc Prof Patricia Kieran

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Dr Avieen Mullally, Marino Institute of Education & Assoc Prof Patricia Kieran

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Dr. Patricia Kieran and Dr. Aiveen Mullally's Research on Non-religious Belief in Ireland

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The Network for Research in Catholic Education (NfRCE) was established in 2016 to support and nurture researchers who work in the field of Catholic education. Following the closure of Heythrop College, where the network was founded, CERRL is delighted to act as the institutional partner, and a number of CERRL's staff are members of the network's steering committee. The network's purpose is to provide a forum for research and dialogue related to Catholic education in its fullest and broadest senses. It takes an open and inclusive approach to research, welcoming studies into the practice as well as the theory of Catholic education.

Annual conference and events

As part of its mission, the NfRCE holds an annual conference. The 2023 conference at Mary Immaculate Conference, University of Limerick on the 19th-20th October, is on the theme of 'Catholic Education and the Institutional Church'.

Maureen Glackin Maureen has enjoyed a varied career in education and is currently General Secretary of the Catholic Independent Schools' Conference. Prior to this she spent 14 years at St Mary's University enjoying a variety of roles before being appointed Head of the School of Education, Theology & Leadership.

Patricia Kieran is Associate Professor of Religious Education at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland. She is Director of the Irish Institute for Catholic Studies and she has over thirty years' experience of lecturing on inter-religious learning, theology and education and faith schooling, at university level.

John Lydon is Professor of Catholic Education, and Editor of the leading journal International Studies in Catholic Education, at St Mary's University, London. In addition he teaches at the University of Notre Dame, London Global Gateway.

Stephen J. McKinney is a Professor in the School of Education, University of Glasgow. He is on the Editorial Board of the Pastoral Review, International Studies in Catholic Education, Journal of Religious Education, International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church and the Journal of Beliefs and Values,

Dr Cora O'Farrell is the Director of the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education (MDCCE) at Dublin City University. She has taught Religious Education at undergraduate and postgraduate level for the past twenty years. She is a member of the Council for Catechetics of the Irish Episcopal Conference and is active in pastoral initiatives within the Archdiocese of Dublin.

Dr. Ros Stuart-Buttle is an independent author, consultant and researcher in Theology and Education. Ros is the current Chair of the Working Group of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England & Wales Board of Religious Studies. She was formerly Director of the Centre for Christian Education and Pastoral Theology at Liverpool Hope University

John Sullivan is Emeritus Professor of Christian Education, Liverpool Hope University, UK. He is author and editor of nine books - the two most recent being The Christian Academic in Higher Education: The Consecration of Learning, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018; and Lights for the Path, Dublin: Veritas, 2022.

Dr Sean Whittle is a Senior Lecturer in Catholic Education at St Mary's University and a long-serving secondary school R.E. teacher. Sean has published widely in Catholic education, as well as editing six books, most recently Irish and British Perspectives on Catholic Education, 2021.

Joining the network

If you are researching Catholic Education, you are welcome to become a member of the Network. To join the NfRCE please contact Dr Sean Whittle, St Mary's University, at sean.whittle1@stmarys.ac.uk.

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Network for Research in Catholic Education

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Network for Research in Catholic Education

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How to get to Limerick and hotel options

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How to get to Limerick and hotel options

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Provisional Information about the Britain and Ireland Network of Researchers in Catholic Education Conference in MIC 2023

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Dr Sean Whittle: sean.whittle1@stmarys.ac.uk
Assoc Prof Patricia Kieran: patricia.kieran@mic.ul.ie
Carleigh Garcia: carleigh.garcia@mic.ul.ie

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Dr Teresa O'Donnell, IICS Doctoral Student

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Dr Teresa O'Donnell, IICS Doctoral Student

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Get excited for a taizé service at the conference by IICS Doctoral Student, Dr Teresa O'Donnell!

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Maynooth Music Lunchtime Concert - Mary Louise and Teresa O'Donnell

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Access our past lecture series, conference presentations, and more!

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Irish Institute for Catholic Studies IICS

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Situated within Mary Immaculate College, a third level Catholic College of Education and the Liberal Arts, the Irish Institute for Catholic Studies is a cross-faculty, interdisciplinary, research-oriented and community-engaged network of scholars involved in the study of Catholicism and its contribution to culture and society in Ireland and beyond.

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Our Mission Our Aims

Director: Dr Patricia Kieran

A) The IICS promotes interdisciplinary research related to Catholic Studies. Our guest lecture speakers includes expert speakers on fine arts, literature, theology, education, music, social justice etc.

B) To further students' understanding of Catholic Studies, we facilitate students guided tours of local (Hunt Museum), national (Chester Beatty) and international (Vatican Museum) Museums' wonderful collections of religious art.

A) The IICS explores Catholic social teaching and is concerned with the promotion of human rights, climate change and the dignity of the human person.

B) To promote social justice, the IICS is involved in research focusing on inter-religious dialogue, the voice of the child in education as well as climate justice. It also promotes action for justice through engagement with a number of organisations concerned with homelessness, those in Direct Provision and socially and educationally disadvantaged groups.

A) Located in a third-level higher education institution, Mary Immaculate College, the IICS is interested in promoting the education of Catholic Studies scholars and establishing an interdisciplinary 'Catholic studies' stream in the postgraduate taught programmes of the College, and postgraduate research. We conduct seminars for researchers interested in exploring the Catholic element of their diverse research interests.

B) We foster interdisciplinary scholarly research among scholars. Our expanding database encourages networking and research collaboration. We focus on making such research accessible through seminars, public lectures and on-line resources.

A) The IICS recognizes the importance of the environment and its protection. Conscious of our effect on the environment, the IICS attempts to promote and educate people about climate justice.

B) We take Third Level students on a voluntary Soul Safari, on a day retreat to the sea, to relax and meditate in nature, with an optional Catholic element of spending time with a trained Spiritual Director.

The Irish Institute for Catholic Studies is compiling a database of interdisciplinary research to disseminate academic research on Catholic culture and thought. Please contact IICS directly if you wish to contribute to this database.

Hickey, I. & Howley, E. (Forthcoming 2023) Seamus Heaney's Mythmaking, Routledge.

Hickey, I. (2022) 'Heaney, Catholicism and the Hauntological: The Later Poetry' in The Brazilian Journal of Irish Studies.

Hickey, I. (2022) 'Overthrowing Societal Norms Through the Spoken Word: Benjamin Zephaniah's Dub Poetry in City Psalms' in Lucy English and Jack McGowan (eds.,) Spoken Work in the UK, Routledge.

Hickey, I. Haunted Heaney: Spectres and the Poetry, Routledge.

Hickey, I. 'Virgilian Hauntings in the Later Poetry of Seamus Heaney' (2018) in Estudios Irlandeses, Issue 13. pp. 27-40.

Hickey, I. 'The Haunted Bog and the Poetry of Seamus Heaney' (2018) in Nordic Irish Studies, Volume 17, Number 2. pp. 35-54.

Hickey, I. 'Elegising the Past and Future: Seamus Heaney's "Route 110" Sequence' (2019) in Irish University Review, Volume 49, Number 2. pp. 340-355.

Hickey, I. '"The old cause is never dead": Hauntology and Brendan Behan's The Hostage' (2020) in Irish Studies Review, DOI: 10.1080/09670882.2020.1742461.

Hickey, I. '"Dublin You Are": Representations of Dublin in Twenty-First Century Irish Poetry'. (2020) in C21 Literature: Journal of Twenty-First Century Writings. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.16995/c21....

Hickey, I. 'Derrida, Heaney and the Translation of Virgil's Aeneid Book VI' in Études Irlandaises. .

Kieran, P. & Mullally, A. (2022) 'Blending Catholicism with Chi, Chakras and Crystals: Research on the Lived Reality of Catholicism among Pre-Service Postgraduate Student Teachers in Catholic Third Level Colleges in the Republic of Ireland (roi)', Ecclesial Practices.

Kieran, P. and Mullally A. (2021) 'Beyond belief? Pre-service teachers' perspectives on teaching RE in Ireland. A Journal of Religious Education, Vol 69/3, pp. 423-437. DOI 10.1007/s40839-021-00153-7

Kieran, P. (2021) 'The World's Religious and Global Climate Disruption' in Dolan, A. (ed.) Teaching Climate Change in Primary Schools: An Interdisciplinary Approach. London: Routledge.

Patricia Kieran & John Mc Donagh (2020) British Journal of Religious Education Vol. 40 No. 4. The centre cannot hold: decolonising the RE curriculum in the Republic of Ireland

Patricia Kieran & Aiveen Mullally (2020) Covid-19 A Watershed for the Catholic Church, Doctrine & Life, Vol. 70 No. 7, pp. 2-10.

Patricia Kieran, Marie Parker-Jenkins & Anne Ryan (2020) Religions and beliefs in changing times: perspectives of student stakeholders in third-level educational contexts in the republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, British Journal of Religious Education Religions and beliefs in changing times: perspectives of student stakeholders in third-level educational contexts in the republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

Kieran, P & Mullally, A. (2020) 'The new 'nones': the implications of ticking the 'No Religion census box for educators in Ireland' in The Furrow, July/August, pp. 387-395.

Kieran. P. (ed.) (2019) Connecting Lives: Inter-belief Dialogue in Contemporary Ireland. Dublin: Veritas. pp. 309 ISBN 9781847307613 https://www.veritasbooksonline.com/connecting-lives-9781847307613-27455/

O'Donnell, A., Kieran, P., DCherouvis, S., Bergdahl, L., with Langmann, E. (2019) The Enquiring Classroom: Values, Identity, Exploration. Erasmus + http://nebula.wsimg.com/b34a2e21e05d30983c68342cf6de3918 AccessKeyId=C0264DFDC5E0FBB4FF37&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

Garcia, C. (2022) 'Shamrock Social Norms: Security, Catholicism, and Shame', Alluvium Journal.

Garcia, C. (2022) 'Catholic Shame and Female Blame: Edna O'Brien and The Country Girls Trilogy', The Furrow.

Fluidly Faithful? Catholic Education and the Institutional Church

MIC will be hosting the Network for Researchers in Catholic Education Annual Conference this October, in partnership with the Irish Institute for Catholic Studies and the Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools, and Colleges.

Conference Theme: Fluidly Faithful? Catholic Education and the Institutional Church

Conference Dates: Thursday 19th through Friday 20th, October 2023

Closing Date for Abstracts: July 1st, 2023 to sean.whittle@stmarys.ac.uk
The call for papers can be found here.
More information about the conference, including confirmed keynotes, can be found here.

Please contact Carleigh Garcia at carleigh.garcia@mic.ul.ie or Patricia Kieran at patricia.kieran@mic.ul.ie for general inquiries about the conference.

Laudato Si' Film Screening - The Letter

On February 1st, St Brigid's Day, MIC will be hosting a screening of The Letter. Please use this pdf for access to the film's trailer and more information.

Our promotional poster can be found here.

IICS Lecture Series 2023

Dr Lydia Mannion, MIC, will speak on Wednesday, February 15th from 3.00-4.00 pm in JHN 221 on her doctoral thesis: 'Beyond wellbeing: Exploring the relationships between psychological wellbeing, religiosity and religious coping amongst adolescents at Senior Cycle level in post-primary schools in Ireland'.

Peter McVerry, SJ of the Peter McVerry Trust will be coming to MIC to speak on 'Jesus Social Revolutionary?'. He will be speaking in the Tara Forum at 1.00 pm on February 22nd (Ash Wednesday). This event is co-hosted by MIC's Chaplaincy.

Professor Gladys Ganiel, Queen's University Belfast, is speaking for the IICS via Microsoft Teams on March 29th from 3.00-4.00 pm. Her topic of discussion is 'Highly religious young Catholics in Northern Ireland: Renewing the Catholic landscape?'. Please email carleigh.garcia@mic.ul.ie for the MT link.

Britain and Ireland Network of Researchers in Catholic Education Conference in MIC 2023

The conference is to take place in MIC on October 19th-20th. More information soon!

The Mid-West Sikh Community, in collaboration with Limerick City & County Council and Mary Immaculate College, has planned a number of events to commemorate the life of Limerick native Max Arthur MacAuliffe. Postponed until future notice.

Religiosity of Black Lives Matter Movement

More than 150 people across Ireland, last Saturday, attended an online candlelight vigil to honour the memory of murdered African Irish man, George Nkencho. He was shot and killed by armed gardai in an incident that involved a kitchen knife. His killing, outside his family home in Dublin on 30 December 2020, led to anger and outrage by many, especially the black community in Ireland. Following this, protesters gathered for several days outside the Blanchardstown Garda station to demand for justice.

Mr Nkencho had no previous conviction, and his killing was a bitter recall of the armed gardai shooting of John Carthy, outside his family home in Abbeylara, Co. Longford, in April 2000. Also, both Nkencho and Carthy were 27 years old and suffered from psychiatric illnesses at the time of their killings. It was, however, another recent murder that held an eerie aura of the death of Nkencho.

In May 2020, unarmed African American man, George Floyd, was killed under the knee of a white American police officer in Minneapolis, America, because he allegedly used a $20 counterfeit bill. Just like one could scarcely miss the first-name similarity of the two murdered men and their killers, one could only just ignore the outcomes of their killings.

The murder of Floyd resulted in an avalanche of global condemnation and brought a new chapter of attention to racism. Similarly, the killing of Nkencho brought back to centre stage, the voices of Black Lives Matter (BLM) in Ireland. This movement started in America as a hashtag on social media in 2012 and has now grown worldwide and takes different dimensions in different countries. In Ireland, for example, many activists use it to condemn racism, but, also, Direct Provision - a system that accommodates asylum seekers in the Republic of Ireland.

In the case of the death of Nkencho, protesters and BLM activists again raised many concerns, including racial bias and profiling of black people by gardai, and systemic racism in Ireland in general. They wept, knelt, and marched in protests, but also importantly, they prayed in protests. Prayer and fasting initiatives for the healing of the family of Mr Nkencho were organised among black communities across Ireland and one could be forgiven for thinking this was the first-time prayers were pivotal at protests organised by BLM. Just recently, prayers were a regular feature throughout the Floyd protests in America, United Kingdom, Ireland and many parts of the world, and few people will disagree that this is integral to BLM.

During the January 30th vigil to remember George Nkencho, members of the Network of African Irish Leaders in Ireland, singers and audiences paid loving tributes to him, but the prayer portion of the event stood out. There were several languages, including tongues spoken in a prayer by Pastor Tosin Poopola of the Redeem Church. The prayers were so powerful they palpitated in the galaxy, and as the Bible states: "for anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God" (1 Corinthians 14), in that moment, a prophecy of healing was declared on the Nkencho's, and the black community in general.

I argue that this aspect of the struggle - prayers - makes BLM a unique liberation movement, and it is easy to see why. Most of the recent BLM protests address the theme of death. One may argue that most people tend to seek the face of God during crisis, sad, traumatic, and violent end to life. That is true. There is, however, a distinctive way black people pray, and in America, as well as most parts of the world where Africans are present, their struggle for equality and justice is also fought through prayers that very often include chants, and weeping. Their practical testimonies are cemented in the hope that alongside protests, "God will make a way where there seems to be no way" (Isaiah 43:19). Even for some non-believers, this belief can uplift and elevate one's faith in the omnibenevolent.

This grip of prayers in the African struggle for liberation is not new. This is present in African traditional religions where there is profound trust in the protective powers of gods and ancestors; present in the era of colonisation that brought about a new God and a new way of worship to Africans; and, the transatlantic enslavement of Africans when the sufferings, and stench of death of mainly black slaves smelled everywhere.

Back then, slave masters used Christianity to make blacks better - "obedient and docile" (Cone 2008, pp 34-35) and to exert and solidify their control. On the other hand, slaves used the new way of worshipping to also learn how to break their chains of bondage. Take for example, Dr Martin Lurther King - one way in which he became so impactful was "his relationship with God in Christ" (Scruggs 2012). Till this day, this powerful history inspires many black people to assert religion and prayers as formidable tools when seeking protection, liberation, justice, and freedom.

Though one does not have to be religious to pray, many activists of the BLM movement believe that they must be faithfully devoted to the cause and robustly prayerful for a future of inclusion, justice, and equality of all black lives.

References:

Cone, J. (2008) 'Theological and Ethical Aspects' in Fahlbusch, E. et al, The Encyclopedia of Christianity, (Volume 5), Michigan: Wm. B Eerdmans Publishing Company and Leiden: Koninklijke Brill.

Scruggs, J. (2012) 'Foreword' in King (Jr), M., "Thou, Dear God": Prayers that Open Hearts and Spirits, Massachusetts: Beacon Press, ix-x.

Contact:

Lylian Fotabong
PhD student in Applied Linguistics
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
Lylian.Fotabong@mic.ul.ie

'Sister Schools: The relationship between Regis University, Denver and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, my Erasmus+ experience, and why students should participate in international exchange'

Regis University describes itself as 'Colorado's Catholic Jesuit University', as it is the only Jesuit university in the Rocky Mountain West and one of the twenty-seven Jesuit universities in the United States (Regis University 2021). Though I may be biased, as I am originally from the Denver metro area, the mile-high city, truly located a mile above sea level, is a sunny (300 days of sunshine a year), culturally diverse, and outdoor-obsessed city. Denver places international students in the heart of America rather than at its peripheries like many major coastal universities more commonly chosen by international students do. When I asked a fellow Mary Immaculate College student (April 2022) why they chose to study at Regis rather than in New York, Boston, or California, they responded that they would spend a week at some point in one or more of those major locations, so why not be unique and discover parts of America typically forgone. That is not to diminish other areas of the United States, as I come from a country which is vast, and each state is significant and distinct. However, though Colorado is a landlocked state and not seen to be as appealing as one of the coasts, its capital and location of Regis, Denver, offers proximity to outdoor recreation, large city attractions and international flair. Even with these benefits, it is often the academic excellence offered by Regis that attracts students, and the holding of a Memorandum of Understanding between Regis and MIC only benefits students who are interested in studying at Regis, as it makes this process much easier. Studying abroad may be a stressful endeavour, as there are flights, finances, accommodation, and transferring of credits to concern oneself with, not to mention homesickness, but the independence, friendships, and gaining of a global perspective, along with life skills such as intercultural communication, adaptability, and problem solving, will only benefit a person overall in career opportunities and personal development. Studying abroad, in general, can result in these skills and experiences, but the values, intellectual tradition, and empathetic understanding of religion may only be gained through a university such as Regis.

Founded in 1877, as a Jesuit institution, Regis is heavily involved in social justice, with a mission to 'build a more just and humane world through transformative education at the frontiers of faith, reason and culture' (Regis University 2021). Previously located in New Mexico as the College of the Sacred Heart before moving to Colorado and being renamed Regis College, in honour of St John Francis Regis, in recognition of his 'service to at-risk women and youth, providing them stable incomes and independence', it helped pioneer education in Colorado (Regis University 2021). It has continued this legacy of helping those at the margins of society and educating Coloradans and beyond ever since. You do not have to be Catholic to attend Regis, but it is important to know that there are certain values which accompany a Jesuit education, inspired by the Jesuit founder St Ignatius Loyola, who believed in educating 'men and women of all ages and faiths to take leadership roles and to make a positive impact in a changing society', by encouraging the seeking out of truth, and always questioning 'How ought we to live?' (Regis University 2021). Students at MIC, a college historically dedicated to education, may find kindred spirits at a place like Regis where there is a deep commitment to teaching, learning, and research, all to help souls because they have found there is a no more powerful way to do this than through education. This concept of caring for souls, an emphasis of the Jesuits on caring for the person as a whole, is manifested at Regis in dedication to finding vocations for all students, not only in the religious sense but more broadly. They seek to inspire students to learn where and how they are drawn to commit themselves to something bigger than themselves, with the mindset of who do you want to be, rather than what do you want to do. To participate in international exchange is an opportunity to find yourself through the removal of your culture and value system, and expose yourself to an entirely different element and experience. If this is the case, what better environment to find oneself in than in a community committed to inspiring their students to find who they are in this world and how to make a broader impact?

One of the reasons I chose Regis as my host for Erasmus+ this past semester, was to learn of Colorado's connection (indeed, if it had one at all) to Irish Studies and international exchange with Ireland. Regis formerly had a relationship with NUI-Galway for a certificate in Irish Studies, which ended seven years ago. I did not receive a clear answer to the reason behind the lapse in this relationship. However, the MOU Regis holds with MIC and the Institut Catholique de Paris for J-1 exchange students allows a flow of students between Regis and the two universities. Typically, Regis will send three to five students per year to Ireland - mainly to MIC or Maynooth, as those are currently the only locations in Ireland they have a relationship with. The most common students from Europe who study at Regis at this point are from Germany, Spain, and Italy, followed by Ireland. To strengthen the relationship between MIC and Regis, which has already been established, we could begin hosting joint virtual events to incentivize our partnership. Another option would be to directly market MIC's dedication to education and excellent teaching program to Education majors at Regis. I drew their attention to the wonderful opportunity the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship holds for graduating seniors, which is the main reason I began my postgraduate studies in Ireland and at MIC as an American.

This Spring on Regis' campus, there was a buzz in the air as students post-Covid begin to return to normality. Though a welcoming and research-rich university, with more than 120 degrees and programs (Regis University 2021), unfortunately, it is still at risk of many of the challenges facing Catholic higher education institutions today. There are financial challenges of declining enrollments, which the pandemic contributed to, and the fact that there are many more public universities in Colorado than private, leading many to believe a public institution is a more viable option. It is also hard for people to take the dynamics of faith and reason seriously in a secular world. According to my interview with Regis' Office of Mission (March 2022), there are predictions that in ten years institutions like Regis will not survive. As one of the few Catholic higher education institutions remaining in Ireland, many of these areas of concern are well known to those at MIC. Despite being Catholic and private being some of the reasons one should be concerned for its survival, these are also what result in Regis' unique values and intellectual traditions which should be preserved. Regis provides students with an opportunity to become educated, yes, but also to transform their 'education into something greater', to question everything, even morality, and 'extend a hand to those on the margins' (Regis University 2021). Therefore, Regis is not only another university but also an institution dedicated to education and the individual, which is something to be cherished and a reason to further develop MIC's relationship with it, in hopes that together, we may continue to produce some of the finest graduates on a global scale, who will ite inflammate omnia*.

*The founder of the Jesuits, St Ignatius of Loyola, is commonly associated with the phrase, 'Go forth, and set the world on fire'.

Carleigh Garcia is a PhD student in the English Language and Literature department at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick. She also works as a Departmental Assistant in the department, and as Research Assistant to the IICS. Her doctoral thesis, The underside of the Shamrock. The influence of the Catholic Church and shame in Irish literature between 1937-2007' is being conducted under the supervision of Dr Eoin Flannery. She is currently spending the semester at Regis University in Denver, Colorado, USA, on an Erasmus+ Mobility Award.
References
Regis University (2021) Regis University, available here [accessed April 14, 2022].

This blog was influenced by interviews with an MIC student studying at Regis (April 2022), Regis' Global Office for Education (April 2022), and the Regis Office of Mission (March 2022).

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The IICS is an interdisciplinary research centre inspired by and in critical dialogue with Catholic culture and thought. We explore the long and rich Catholic tradition in a spirit of scholarly rigour and academic freedom.