Home ▻ Research▻People▻Political Science & Sociology

Political Science & Sociology

Dr Helen Casey

PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer Above the Bar
E: helen.casey@nuigalway.ie
 
researcher
 

Biography

Helen has worked in Higher Education within NUI Galway designing, teaching and assessing flexible and blended learning educational initiatives for part-time learners for 20+ years. Helen completed her MA in Community Development in 1997 which marked the commencement of her professional journey in Higher Education promoting and supporting under-represented learners to access and succeed in University. Helen's doctoral study focused on graduates personal and professional transformative learning impacts. It was undertaken under the stewardship of UNESCO Professor Pat Dolan in 2018 following six years of part-time study while working full time. Helen possesses a strong belief in advocating and championing equitable and fair educational entry and progression pathways for full and part-time learners in Higher Education. 

Research Interests

Models of Best Practice in Community Development; Andragogy and Impact; Reflective Practice in Community, Youth and Family Studies; Research Methodologies; Emotional Intelligence and Empathy Education; Effects of Social Stratification in Higher Education; Higher Education  Participation and Retention Interventions; Higher Education Engagement Policies and Practices

Research Projects

  Project Start Date End Date
Irish Aid Project in Kosovo 01-SEP-06 01-SEP-08
COMMUNITY EDUCATION BA PROGRAMME 06 28-FEB-06 31-DEC-13
Developing Digital Democracy 01-SEP-02 01-JUL-03

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2021 Aontas Star Societal Impact Award AONTAS
2020 NUIG AURORAN HE ADVANCE
2018 PhD in Political Science and Sociology NUIGalway
1997 MA in Community Development NUI

Teaching Interests


Models of Best Practice in Community Development; Andragogy and Impact; Reflective Practice in Community, Youth and Family Studies; Research Methodologies; Emotional Intelligence and Empathy Education; Effects of Social Stratification in Higher Education; Higher Education  Participation and Retention Interventions; Higher Education Engagement Policies and Practices

Academic Director of the following School of Political Science and Sociology programmes:
  
   BCYF:   Community, Youth & Family Studies (Part-time Degree)

 Certificate/ Diploma:    Community Development Practice (Cert./Diploma)

Diploma:  Diploma in Youth and Community Development Practice

Certificate:  Youth Work Practice (Certificate)

BYF:   Child, Youth and Family (Full-time Degree)




Current Postgraduate Students (Taught)

  Name Degree Primary Supervisor
Aileen O Flaherty MA in Family Support Studies Y
Siobhan Breslin MA in Social Work Y

Recent Postgraduate Students

  Graduation Name Degree Primary Supervisor
2007 Helena Browne MASTERS DEGREE (LEVEL 9) Y
2019 Rachael McGovern MA in Family Support Studies Y

Modules Taught

  Term/Year Module Title Module Code Subject / Desc
2020-2021 Understanding Communities SP127
2020-2021 Politics and Policy Making SP136
2020-2021 Social Research Skills SP1113
2020-2021 Research Proposal SP2102 5 ects
2020-2021 Communities in Focus SP242
2020-2021 Introduction to Learning SP1105
2020-2021 Independent Research Project SP162 15 ects module
2020-2021 Literature Review SP1109

External Collaborators

  Name Organisation / Institute Country Description of Collaboration
Community Education Initiative Galway Traveller Movement and Community Action Network IRELAND
Community Development Outreach Project Rural Community Network Northern Ireland IRELAND