Jacqueline Murphy

My earliest teaching experience in the University was actually outside the University – I delivered diploma courses in disadvantaged communities. I soon realised that the most effective approach was not to ‘teach’ in a traditional sense but to facilitate learning. The courses were designed to develop the knowledge and skills relevant to the local community contexts and the partner development agencies. As a recent graduate myself, I was struck by the difference in attitudes and motivations of learners who were involved in designing and creating their own learning outcomes. This ignited a keen and ongoing interest in adult learning theories and teaching techniques.

I facilitated best practice for the participation and empowerment of vulnerable target groups in local development initiatives, including Travellers, Women, Young People and Asylum seekers. I have academically supervised numerous community, youth and voluntary development initiatives spanning from project design, implementation, management and evaluation. I also created and facilitated non-accredited leadership training programmes for young people, women and Traveller women. These programmes were designed to inspire access and participation in third-level education for disadvantaged groups.

This work led to the design of research-based modules across the life course from Youth Researchers, undergraduate to postgraduate levels of study. The task of these modules is to deliver key professional skills to assist practitioners to transform their capacity for sound evidence-based research. My work focuses on facilitating learners to engage with complex research methodologies and situate themselves in the paradigms and frameworks best suited to their context. Dissemination and use of the research findings are priorities. As with all of my modules, content and practice are developed with multiple forms of engagement as a priority, so they are designed to be blended or fully online allowing the practitioner to engage in research whilst maintaining their work and family commitments.

This work has most recently turned to the design and implementation of university programmes for students with an intellectual disability where I am Academic Lead for the University of Galway Cumas programme.

I am lecturer above the bar with the School of Sociology and Politics and the School of Education. My research based in the UNESCO Child and Family research centre using youth as researcher participatory methods to explore social withdrawal of young people. My research with the School of Education uses a photo ilucidation participatory research methodology to explore belonging in higher education for sudents with an intellectual disability.