October NUI Galway Researchers Secure Funding to Develop New Learning Spaces for New Times

NUI Galway, in collaboration with Foróige, have been awarded research funding for a new project “Bridging Worlds - New Learning Spaces for New Times”, which aims to bridge the gap between formal and non-formal learning context and space.

Funded by Rethink Ireland and the Innovate Together fund the project has been conceptualised, from the outset to support young people, teachers, school leaders and youth workers - with a shared focus on the quality of all young people’s learning.

While the focus is on all learners, the project has a core objective of enhancing and reimagining the educational infrastructure around learning spaces for marginalised and disadvantaged learners who typically struggle.

The project is seeking participation from schools in Galway city and county, Co. Mayo and Co. Roscommon – particularly Transition Year teachers. The project wants to work with and provide training for TY teachers who would you like to upskill in new projects that could be interesting and delivered in TY. Training in online and blended  learning provision will be provided along with learning more about youth work and nonformal approaches to education provided by Foróige. The project will introduce innovative evidence based programmes developed for nonformal settings to be delivered in and out of school.

The “Bridging Worlds - New Learning Spaces for New Times” project is a collaboration between NUI Galway’s School of Education and UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre and Foróige, collaborating with Insight Research Centre for Data Analytics and NUI Galway Student Services. The research is being led by a team at NUI Galway - Dr Cornelia Connolly, Dr Bernadine Brady, Dr. Cliona Murray, Professor Gerry MacRuairc, and Professor Pat Dolan, and Seán Campbell, CEO and Sarah Haslam, Director of Programmes & Research from Foróige.

Dr Cornelia Connolly, School of Education, NUI Galway, said: “The legacy of this work will be contributing to a reconceptualization of where and how children and young people learn, with specific reference to an outcome that ensures that all children and young people can benefit from the intersection of formal and non-formal education.”

For more information about the project please contact learningspaces4newtimes@gmail.com or follow on twitter @bridging_worlds

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