School of Education

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Applications are currently invited for a Lecturer in Maths Education and a Lecturer in Educational Leadership. Further details can be found at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/sites/QUBJobVacancies/AcademicOpportunities/ 

For an informal discussion in relation to these posts please contact Dr Joy Alexander (Maths Education) or Dr Caitlin Donnelly (Educational Leadership).

The closing date for both posts is 11 March 2013. 

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Tony Blair recently told teachers and policy makers attending a Sharing Education event at Queen’s University Belfast that he believes a better future lies in educating young people to respect different faiths and cultures.
 
In a video message shown at Queen’s Sharing Education Conference, which was examining the delivery of religious education in Northern Ireland, Mr Blair told delegates: “If we want to create a more peaceful and harmonious world then we have to start by educating young people not just to tolerate, but to respect, those of a different faith and culture to their own.”
 
The former Prime Minister prepared the message for delegates on behalf of his Tony Blair Faith Foundation which promotes respect and understanding about the world’s religions through education and multi-faith action.
 
At the Sharing Religious Education event in Riddel Hall, representatives from his Foundation joined experts from across the world to speak about the different ways in which religious education is delivered.
 
Mr Blair said his Face to Faith programme is “Linking schools the world over, from Brisbane, to Beirut to Belfast,” and that he believes it has “many things in common with a shared approach to religious education in Northern Ireland.”
 
He also conveyed to those attending the event about his hopes for working together, saying: “I really hope we can work together so that our young people are properly equipped with the skills and attitudes and understanding that they will require in the world today.”
 
Currently in Northern Ireland, more than 10,000 school pupils from 150 schools across Northern Ireland are benefitting from Queen’s successful Sharing Education Programme which was launched in 2007. Funded by the International Fund for Ireland and the Atlantic Philanthropies, it aims to find new ways of sharing education in order to create new curriculum-based educational opportunities and in doing so sustain contact among pupils from different communities to help promote understanding and reconciliation.
 
Speaking ahead of the event, Tony Gallagher, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Academic Planning, Staffing and External Relations at Queen’s, said: “Today’s event comes at a time when, following years of division and separation, interest in sharing and collaboration in education is growing.  The Executive’s Programme for Government has ambitious and laudable targets relating to the promotion of Shared Education, while on the ground, more and more schools are forming collaborative partnerships in order to improve the educational outcomes of their pupils.
 
“Tony Blair’s message today serves to highlight that the delivery of Religious Education is a global issue, and we are proud that the School of Education at Queen’s can continue to show leadership in this area by facilitating discussions around the opportunities for enhanced shared religious education, and shared education more generally.”
 
More information on the Sharing Education Programme at Queen’s is available online at http://www.schoolsworkingtogether.co.uk/

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Applications are currently invited for a full-time PhD studentship to be located jointly in the Schools of Education and Psychology at Queen's. The focus for the studentship is:

"The effects of universal preschool - and school-based education programmes in reducing prejudice and promoting respect for diversity among children aged 3-11: A systematic review and meta-analysis"

Supervisors: Professor Paul Connolly (School of Education) and Dr Clifford Stevenson (School of Psychology)

The Studentship is full-time for three years and covers the cost of fees and an annual maintenance grant.  The systematic review will be registered with the international Campbell Collaboration and additional support will be provided by the Education Coordinating Group, based at the Peabody Research Institute, Vanderbilt University, USA. Opportunities will also be available to spend time at Vanderbilt to gain additional training in systematic reviewing and meta-analysis.

Previous experience of systematic reviews and meta-analysis are not required as full training will be given to the successful applicant.  However, applicants should have a competent grasp of quantitative methods and statistical analysis using software such as SPSS, including applying multivariate techniques such as multiple regression and factor analysis.

The deadline for the receipt of completed applications is 22 February 2013.  As part of the application process, applicants are required to submit a proposal of up to 2,000 words (including references) in relation to how they would undertake the above research project.  In relation to this specific project, the proposal should include:

- some discussion of the existing research evidence on the development of prejudice among young children and what is known about the effectiveness of different approaches to reducing this; and
- some appreciation of what a systematic review and meta-analysis is and the key methodological issues that will need to be considered.

As regards the latter, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the Campbell Collaboration website for examples of title registrations, protocols and full systematic reviews published. Details of how to apply can be found here

For further information please contact Professor Paul Connolly

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As a result of the Autism Act (NI) 2011, the DHSSPS is leading on the development of a cross-departmental Autism Strategy and Action Plan for N.Ireland. A multi-agency Autism Strategy Project Board was established to direct and manage the development of the Plan which was launched for public consultation at the end of November 2012, with a closing date of Mid-March 2013. In parallel with this work, the Minister for Health Social Services and Public Safety established a Research Committee. Prof Dillenburger said of her appointment, ‘I am honoured and delighted to represent QUB on the Northern Ireland Autism Strategy Research Advisory Committee and to be able to contribute to ensuring that services and education for individuals with ASD are firmly based on research evidence’.

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On January 22^nd, the Centre for Children’s Rights recent research on the legal implementation of the UNCRC in twelve countries was launched in the Scottish Parliament in an event chaired by Neil Bibby MSP, shadow Minister for Children and Young People. Professor Laura Lundy outlined the key findings of the report and in response, Aileen Campbell MSP, Minister for Children and Young People welcomed the research and said that it would inform their next steps in relation to the Children and Young People Bill and ongoing efforts to implement the UNCRC. Anita Tiessen, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF-UK addressed the implications for the UK government and Professor Kay Tisdall of the University of Edinburgh reflected on the implications of the research for Scotland.

Click here for the report.

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