This book explores the emergence of the modern higher education sector in the independent Irish state. The author traces its origins from the traditional universities, technical schools and teacher training colleges at the start of the twentieth century, cataloguing its development into the complex, multi-layered and diverse system of the early twenty-first century. Focusing on the socio-political and cultural contexts which shaped the evolution of higher education, the author analyses the interplay between the state, academic institutions and other key institutional actors – notably churches, cultural organizations, employers, trade unions and supranational bodies. This study explores policy, structural and institutional change in Irish higher education, suggesting that the emergence of the modern higher education system in Ireland was influenced by ideologies and trends which owed much to a wider European and international context. The book considers how the exercise of power at local, national and international level impinged on the mission, purpose and values of higher education and on the creation and expansion of a distinctive higher education system. The author also explores a transformation in public and political understandings of the role of higher education, charting the gradual evolution from traditionalist conceptions of the academy as a repository for cultural and religious value formation, to the re-positioning of higher education as a vital factor in the knowledge based economy. This comprehensive volume will appeal to students and scholars of the Irish education system, educators and practitioners in the field, and those interested in higher education in Ireland more generally.

This book, commissioned to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of free post-primary education in Ireland, examines the origins, legacy and impact of this crucial development. The contributors are internationally recognised for their expertise in history of education, sociology of education, education policy and curriculum.

Focusing on the history of education in Ireland and Europe from the seventeenth century to the present, and written by scholars from a number of disciplines, this collection pursues new areas of inquiry and offers new perspectives on familiar topics. These include an investigation of the emergence of educational print prior to the establishment of the national-school system; the national-school system and the Irish language; the educational formation of the revolutionary generation; the impact of the introduction in Ireland of 'free' second-level education in the 1960s; elite transnational education in the nineteenth century; school architecture; and the experiences of second-level education in the twentieth century as revealed through the life histories of pupils. This volume also includes an extended introduction that locates the historiography of the history of education in Ireland in its international context. These are the proceedings of the eighth Seamus Heaney lectures series, delivered at St Patrick's College, DCU, in 2015. Contents include: James Kelly and Susan Hegarty (DCU), Introduction: writing the history of Irish education; James Kelly (DCU), Educational print and the emergence of mass education in Ireland, c.1650- c.1830; Nicholas Wolf (NYU), The national-school system and the Irish language in the nineteenth century; Ciaran O'Neill (TCD), Education, cosmopolitan cultural capital and European elites in the nineteenth century; David Fitzpatrick (TCD), Knowledge, belief and the Irish revolution: the impact of schooling; Catherine Burke (Cambridge U), Poetry, materialities and montage: towards new histories of twentieth-century school architecture; Judith Harford (UCD) and Tom O'Donoghue (U of Western Australia), Exploring the experience of secondary-school education in Ireland prior to the introduction of 'free' second-level education in 1967; and Audrey Bryan (DCU), (In)equality of opportunity and educational reform in Ireland in the 1960s. [Subject: History of Education, Irish Studies, Pedagogy, Archives & Records]

This book brings together research relating to the economics of higher education in Ireland and presents evidence that will help support policy decision making. It provides an analysis of prominent issues within the higher education sector from an economic viewpoint, discussing the relevant theory and offering an empirical analysis. The book examines three broad themes with a specific focus on issues related to undergraduate education: participation and preferences, progression and outcomes, and benefits and financing. Each chapter presents an accessible, non-specialist analysis of the topic of interest, making it relevant to a wider audience. In doing so, the book provides an important addition to our current knowledge and understanding of higher education in Ireland from an economic perspective. Key chapters discuss the factors influencing institution choices, student retention in higher education, and policy debates surrounding student finance. The book will serve as a useful and up-to-date resource for policymakers, researchers, academics and students across a range of disciplines, both in Ireland and internationally.

A unique book providing a critical overview of the foundation disciplines of education. This book presents a comprehensive introduction to the five key disciplines that form the foundation of the study of education: Philosophy of Education, History of Education, Sociology of Education, Curriculum Studies, Psychology of Education.

The purpose of education has been debated in recent years, especially surrounding its curriculum and structure. In order to fully understand this discussion, the relationship between education and the labor market must be explored. Global Perspectives on Work-Based Learning Initiatives is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on recent progress in selected countries across the globe in educational programs designed to better prepare students for the workforce through the use of work-related learning. While highlighting topics such as degree apprenticeships, integrated learning strategy, and economic development, this book is ideally designed for education administrators, professors, business and education professionals, academicians, researchers, and graduate-level students seeking current research on the relationship between the education and labor market.

This book explores how curriculum reform is interconnected with policy, practice and society. Curriculum reform is increasingly associated with efforts to better the lives of citizens and provide a competitive edge to national prosperity. Educational policy and practice have been the subject of unprecedented convergence worldwide in the quest for so-called 21st century skills. This book offers a case study of curriculum reform within the Republic of Ireland, focusing on antecedents, processes and outcomes of government efforts to evoke fundamental curriculum realignment at lower secondary level. Set against a backdrop of fluctuating economic fortunes and concerns about academic standards and educational equity, this volume has wider relevance beyond Ireland for any system undertaking education reform at scale.