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Equity, Social Justice and Education

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This research cluster is concerned with issues of inequity and social justice relating to social class, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual identities, age, and (dis)ability.

These issues are considered across settings ranging from early years, school and higher education (particularly initial teacher education), to the local and global community.  

We engage in critical interrogation of key concepts, debates, and issues in educational and social policy, practice, and theory including: 

  • Diversity, educational disadvantage and privilege.
  • Learning spaces, access and participation, and inclusion.
  • Empathy, civic engagement, youth voice, and democracy.
  • Performativity.

Our work in this area draws on the foundational disciplines of Sociology, Psychology, History and Philosophy, and is informed by current research.

Research in this cluster continues to impact national and international policy, practice and research.

Our cluster is engaged in research supported by national and international funding bodies including Health Research Board (HRB), Irish Research Council (IRC), Erasmus+, Rethink Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), Irish American Partnership, Rethink Ireland, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) and Higher Education Authority (HEA).

Research Staff:

Prof. Gerry Mac Ruairc
Dr Elaine Keane
Dr Manuela Heinz
Dr Niamh Flynn
Dr Cornelia Connolly
Dr Clíona Murray
Emer Davitt
Dr Paul Flynn
Art Ó Neachtain
Dr Sheila Garrity

Recent and Current Research Projects in this area:

Immersive Empathy: Using Immersive Technologies to Narrate Community Challenges

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Cornelia Connolly
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway.
Funded by: SFI (2023-2025)

Youth empathy and civic engagement

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Clíona Murray, Dr Niamh Flynn, Ms Emer Davitt, Prof. Gerry Mac Ruairc

Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway.
Funded by: Irish American Partnership (2019-2027)

Designing and Particip.Age, Supporting community participation and social inclusion of Ageing People with Intellectual Disabilities

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Cornelia Connolly
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway.
Funded by: Erasmus+ (2023-2025)

Enhancing primary students’ oral literacy skills through P4C (Philosophy for Children)

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Clíona Murray
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway.
Funded by: COGG (2022-2024)

Capacity for and Access to CS Education in Ireland

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Cornelia Connolly
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway.
Funded by: Google (2021-2024)

Capacity for Access to Post-primary Teaching (APT) project

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Elaine Keane, Dr Manuela Heinz
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway.
Funded by: HEA (2017- present)

The social class identities and positionalities of student teachers from working class backgrounds

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Elaine Keane
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway
Funded by: University of Galway Returners’ Grant (2018-present)

Provision of Staffed Local Networks for Childminders in Ireland

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Sheila Garrity
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway
Funded by: DCEDIY (2023)

Crisis Coping for Marginalised Young People: Living and Learning through COVID-19

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Elaine Keane, Dr Niamh Flynn, Dr Clíona Murray, Dr Paul Flynn, Prof. Gerry Mac Ruairc
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway
Funded by: HRB and IRC (2020-2022)

Bridging Worlds – New Learning Spaces for New Times

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Cornelia Connolly, Prof. Gerry Mac Ruairc, Dr Paul Flynn, Dr Clíona Murray
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway
Funded by: Rethink Ireland (2020-2022)

Big Ideas for Better Schools

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Principle Investigator(s): Prof. Gerry Mac Ruairc, Mr Art Ó Neachtain, Dr Cornelia Connolly, Dr Manuela Heinz
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway
Funded by: Erasmus+ (2019 – 2022)

Turas alternative education programme evaluation

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Clíona Murray
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway
Funded by: GRETB (2020-2021)

Spaces and Traces: Young children’s meaning making through digital methodologies in a time of global pandemic

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Principle Investigator(s): Dr Sheila Garrity
Project Partners: School of Education, University of Galway
Funded by: NUIG/European Capital of Culture Creative Arts Activities (Moore Institute) (2020-2021)

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