By Catherine Daly This article synthesises the rationale, methodology, findings, implications, and reflections arising from the study on the role of emotions in Irish post-primary school leadership. Drawing together empirical evidence and lived experiences of senior school leaders, the chapter situates emotional intelligence (EI) as a central and indispensable component of effective educational leadership. It highlights how emotions shape leadership … Continue reading The Heart of Leadership: An Exploration into the Role of Emotions in School Leadership
University of Limerick at PATT42: Showcasing Innovation in Technology Education Research
By Liam Maquet and Manus McDyer Two UL researchers presented their work at the international PATT42 conference in Montreal in 2025. One study, by Liam Maquet, showed why being clear and transparent in qualitative research is important. The other study, by Manus McDyer, explained key ideas in design thinking and how it supports teaching and learning. Their work strengthens UL’s … Continue reading University of Limerick at PATT42: Showcasing Innovation in Technology Education Research
White/Irish/Catholics – Who Gets to Lead Our Schools?
By Robert Hannan, PhD candidate. Supervisors Dr Niamh Laferty; Prof Patricia Mannix McNamara Summary Bullet points Ireland’s population has changed quickly, and classrooms now reflect a wide mix of cultures, languages, and identities—but school leadership does not. Although policies promise fairness and equity in hiring, the teaching and leadership workforce remains mostly white, Irish, and Catholic. Barriers … Continue reading White/Irish/Catholics – Who Gets to Lead Our Schools?
How do we read a comic book?
By Dr. Diarmaid Verrier Image of the author of this blog post, Dr Diamaid Verrier Summary points for this article include: Comics are complex to define and involve integrating images, text, and layout. Reading comics is cognitively more demanding than reading text alone. Research on how people actually read comics is limited and often based on assumptions. Eyetracking shows readers generally follow a zpath but frequently revisit panels. While … Continue reading How do we read a comic book?
Meet the Researcher Dr Shannon Burns
Dr Shannon Burns, associate professor and course director of the PME (Music) at UL. Introduce yourself briefly I am Shannon Burns, a newly appointed associate professor and course director for the Professional Master of Education for music. I am a native New Yorker who has lived here since 2008 when I began studying Ethnomusicology here at the University of Limerick. What is your background? I … Continue reading Meet the Researcher Dr Shannon Burns
The position of Social and Emotional learning within current design practices in Irish STEAM Education
By John Morris Based on work by Manus McDyer, John Morris and Dr. Jeffrey Buckley STEAM Opportunities and Challenges The central aim of The First Annual Education Research Summit was to present diverse research from multiple fields, highlighting current needs, emerging areas of interest, potential opportunities for change, and possibilities for future funding. In many … Continue reading The position of Social and Emotional learning within current design practices in Irish STEAM Education
Ubuntu Network Partnership Project – Teacher Educator Global Citizenship Education Collaboration
The School of Education ‘Ubuntu Network Partnership Project’ hosted a Teacher Educator Global Citizenship Education Collaboration event on 29th August 2025. This event aimed to bring Initial Teacher Education educators together to increase global citizenship education through: Supporting teacher educators make-meaning of GCE Showcasing and sharing what is happening in the context of GCE in modules / programmes and at post primary education This collaborative … Continue reading Ubuntu Network Partnership Project – Teacher Educator Global Citizenship Education Collaboration
School of Education, Research Sharing day 20th January 2026
Members of the School of Education shared their research with colleagues during a School of Education Research Sharing event on Tuesday 20th of January 2026. Seven members of staff, reflecting 6 ongoing research projects in the University of Limerick, shared insights and considerations from their work. Dr. Joanne O’Flaherty, Academic Co-ordinator of the Ubuntu Network (Ubuntu Network | … Continue reading School of Education, Research Sharing day 20th January 2026
SOE Blog Post: Meet the researcher – Paul Finn
Introduce yourself briefly • My name is Paul Finn, I am originally from Co. Louth, and I joined the UL School of Education team last October. I am an educator and researcher specialising in multilingualism, applied sociolinguistics, and language education. With experience teaching Irish, Japanese, French and EAL at second and tertiary levels in Ireland and abroad, I am committed to advancing … Continue reading SOE Blog Post: Meet the researcher – Paul Finn
Using AI to Understand and Reduce STEM Dropout: Introducing the AID-STEM Project by Jason Power
Across Europe, there is growing concern about the shortage of people working in STEM. Engineers, scientists, technologists and other STEM professionals play a huge role in areas like climate action, healthcare, infrastructure and industry. But despite the high demand, many students who start STEM degrees never finish them. In Ireland, almost half of STEM students do not complete their … Continue reading Using AI to Understand and Reduce STEM Dropout: Introducing the AID-STEM Project by Jason Power