The first to be awarded a UNESCO Chair in the Republic of Ireland in 2008, Pat Dolan is a Professor at the School of Sociology and Political Science and Emeritus Professor at UNESCO. He is cofounder and former Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at the University of Galway in Ireland and cofounder and former Director of the Institute for Lifecourse and Society a multi-disciplinary international research Institute at the University.  He completed an M.Litt. and PhD in Sociology and Social Work, the latter in 2004 at Queens University of Belfast.  Apart a stellar record in teaching, over decades Prof Dolan has completed an extensive body of social research acquiring over multi-millions in income in the process. He has over 100 peer reviewed academic publications and in excess of 100 conference and international presentations. 

While his research interests include Civic Engagement, Family Support, and Youth Participation theories, over the last 10 years he has focused extensively on educative programme design in relation to youth empathy and pro-social behaviour enablement in formal and non-formal education settings, and with colleagues enabling this to occur nationally throughout Irish schools. In addition to Prof. Dolan extensive international policy achievements, he has been the recipient of many international awards including an Irish Fulbright Senior Scholarship; the D’Arcy McGee International Beacon Fellows Award; a United Nations medal for Children’s Rights and special commendation by UNESCO HQ Paris.

Pats specific interests include Empathy Education, Youth Participation (Youth as Researchers), Resilience, Youth Mentoring, and Family Support.  Prof Dolan has also served on numerous National and international Social Work and Social Care Working Groups.  He has recently been appointed as Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards Research Advisory Group, and he is Founder and International Expert Advisor to the incoming UNESCO Empathy and Engaged Citizenship Observatory. Currently he is Policy Advisor and Board member of Foróige, Ireland’s largest national youth work agency.  Over his career, Prof Dolan has taught on numerous education programmes in Ireland and in the US at Penn State, and is co-creator of numerous the BA in Early Childhood Studies, Masters and PhD programmes for example the Masters  in Social Work and Masters Family Support Studies at the University of Galway.  He is Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of York, and at Penn State University USA.  As part of his role in Children youth and Family Policy Prof Dolan has worked closely with UNESCO, UNICEF, UN Youth Office, Eurochild and the Council of Europe. 

Key Education Programmes and Training currently delivered and research undertaken by Professor Pat Dolan2010 - Now BA Connect, Childrens Studies 2010 - Now BA Early Childhood Studies and Practice 2010 - Now Structured PhD in Child and Youth Research, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland 2008 - Now BA in Community and Family Studies External postgraduate teachingoutside of NUI Galway 2009 - Now MA in Community and Family Studies 2006 - Now BA Public - No restriction and Social Policy 2004 - Now MA Social Work 2003 - Now MA Community Development 2002 - Now MA Family Support Studies 1997 - Now Postgrad Diploma in Child Protection and Welfare, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland