Lecture series accompanies UCC's new PhD programme

A series of Autumn lectures by important figures in education are running in conjunction with a new PhD programme, the Cohort PhD, available in University College Cork. Previous speakers in the series have included Professor Alan Smith of the University of Ulster and Professor Jim Spillane of Northwestern University, Chicago. Next to speak will be Dr Anne Looney, CEO of National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), on the issue of Leadership and Learning in Schools on Friday 28th November. The lecture series will then continue in spring 2009.

24 students have enrolled for UCC’s new structured Cohort PhD programme, the first of its type in Munster.  The students come from diverse backgrounds that include the education agencies, third level lecturers, school principals, teachers and other education professionals.

The students will undertake modules in three areas (1) educational inquiry (2) research methods and (3) policy and pedagogy. The programme will involve two one-week summer schools in July of 2009 and 1010.

The new Cohort PhD in Education is a good example of the new policy direction in Ireland towards more structured 4th level/doctoral education.

“We are delighted with the level of interest in the  PhD programme,” says Dr Paul Conway, Director of the programme and lecturer in Education.   “The new cohort PhD in Education builds on our strong track record in research and publications,” he says.