Valerie is a Lecturer at the Literacy Development Centre (LDC), and the academic lead on the Level 8 Teacher Education qualification, providing strategic and academic oversight of programme design, delivery, and assessment. Valerie holds a PhD in Maritime Economics funded by the Marine Institute, a Master’s in International Shipping and a BA (Hons) in Maritime Business and Maritime Law from the University of Plymouth. Valerie completed and a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning from SETU in 2023.
Valerie has over 10 years’ experience of working on EU funded research programmes including Erasmus+, EU Connexus, HEA, FP7, GRUNDTVIG, INTERREG IVC, INTERREG IVA Ireland Wales covering a broad spectrum of areas including digital literacy, micro-credentials, and the recognition of prior learning (RPL) regional development, university-industry relations. Valerie has published in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to international conferences, and is the principal Investigator of LDCRG which was the first established research group in the Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning.
Valerie continues to supervise Education Research Projects at postgraduate level, with a record of co-supervision of PhD and Master’s by Research students, supporting learners to achieve successful completion and dissemination of their work. Valerie is an active contributor at departmental, school, and university level. She serves on the School Research Board, Research Ethics Committee, and Teaching and Learning Committee, and is engaged in institutional initiatives such as Athena SWAN.
PhD Student: Dr. Sergio Botelho Junior. The Innovation Dynamo: Determining Channels that Generate and Facilitate Knowledge Spillovers (KS) in Regional Innovation Systems. Examined and Completed 2020.(Co-Supervisor)
PhD Student : Dr Mandy Lalrindiki. The Influence of Regional Level Institutional Frameworks in the Evolution of an Inter-regional. Expected submission June 2019. Examined and Completed in 2020. (Co-Supervisor)
Masters by Research: Anna Rogowska. An Exploratory Analysis of Employees’/Volunteers’ Entrepreneurial Orientation in Public and Third Sector Organisation. Submitted and Completed June 2016. (Co-Supervisor).
Wylie, N., Widger, L., Brett, V., & Murphy, H. M. (2023). A Critical Analysis of European Micro-credential development in an Erasmus+ project. European Journal of University Lifelong Learning, 7(1), 35-43. Article 7(1). https://doi.org/10.53807/07015bsl
Brett, V., Mernagh, G., Neff, E., and Power, C. (2023) The Literacy Development Centre (LDC) Leading in Education and Adult Literacy, QQI NFQ 20th Anniversary Conference, Dublin, Nov 17th 2023.
Brett, V., Bunyan, K., Warren, C., McGarry, C., Neff, E., Mernagh, G., & Power, C. (2023). The Literacy Development Centre- Digital Spaces-Human Connections. Poster Presentation, Digital Education Conference, SETU, December 12th to 13th
Laura, W, Murphy, H, Wylie, N & Brett, V (2022), 'Scaling the Recognition of Prior Learning for greater access and inclusion for lifelong learners', 2022 EUCEN Autumn Seminar, Barcelona, Spain, 17/11/2022 - 18/11/2022.
Laura W, Brett, V, Laura W, Helen M. (2022). Using digital learning to foster digital competencies of basic skills teachers; Establishing a pathway for collaborative micro-credential development as part of an Erasmus+ project. Poster session presented at 2022 EUCEN Autumn Seminar, Barcelona, Spain.
Bates Evoy, S., Brett, V., Dooly, Z., Flynn, S., Hearne, L., Murphy, H., O’Grady, M. & Widger, L. (2022, February 16). CITO Research ProjectFindings [Conference Presentation]. CITO Project Virtual Final Conference. Online.
Bates Evoy, S., Brett, V., Hearne, L., Murphy, H., O’Grady, M., Widger, L. & Dooly, Z. (2021) CITO Phase 2 Field Research Report.
Lalrindiki, M., and O’Gorman, B., and Brett, V (2019) ‘Developing an Inter-regional Innovation Collaboration, the role and ‘anti-role’ of proximity: The eDIGIREGION Story’ Presented at European Triple Helix Congress on Responsible Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ETHAC) (Thessaloniki, Greece) 30th September to 1st October, 2019
Botelho, S., O’Gorman, B., and Brett, V. (2019) ‘The critical channels of KS’ Presented at European Triple Helix Congress on Responsible Innovation & Entrepreneurship (ETHAC) (Thessaloniki, Greece) 30th September to 1st October, 2019
Lalrindiki, M., Brett, V., and O’Gorman, B. (2019) ‘Developing an Inter-regional Innovation System: A Longitudinal Approach’ Presented at Triple Helix Association Annual Conference (Cape Town, South Africa) 9th –11th September, 2019
Botelho, S., O’Gorman, B., and Brett, V. (2019) ‘Unintentional flows of knowledge unveiled: a policy framework for propagating knowledge and innovation to regions’ Presented at Triple Helix Association Annual Conference (Cape Town, South Africa) 9th –11th September, 2019
Lalrindiki, M., Brett, V. and O’Gorman, B. (2019) ‘Practical approach to the development of inter-regional innovation collaboration’ Presented at Regional Studies Association Annual Conference (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) 5th – 9th June, 2019
Botelho, S., Brett, V. and O’Gorman, B. (2019) ‘The snowball effect of knowledge spillover in regions’ Presented at Regional Studies Association Annual Conference (Santiago de Compostela, Spain) 5th – 9th June, 2019.
Lalrindiki, M., Brett, V. and O'Gorman, B (2018) The role of institutional frameworks in developing an inter-regional innovation system Presented at Triple Helix Conference (Manchester, UK) 5th-8th September.
Lalrindiki, M., Brett, V. and O'Gorman, B (2018) Developing an Inter-regional innovation system (iRIS): what makes it work Presented at Regional Studies Association Annual Conference (Lugano, Switzerland) 3rd – 6th June, 2018.
Botelho, S., Brett, V., O'Gorman, B. (2018) Channels of knowledge spillover for small firms. Presented at Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference (Waterford, Ireland) 6th - 9th June, 2018
Lalrindiki, M., Brett, V. and O'Gorman, B (2017) A longitudinal study on Inter-regional Collaboration: the eDIGIREGION story Presented at University-Industry Interaction Conference (Dublin, Ireland) 7th-9th June, 2017.
Lalrindiki, M., Brett, V. and O'Gorman, B (2017) Inter-regional Collaboration from a distance: the eDIGIREGION story Presented at Regional Studies Association Annual Conference (Dublin, Ireland) 4th – 7th June, 2017.
Rogowska, A., Brett, V and O’Gorman, B (2017) Exploring Entrepreneurial Orientation of Pubic and Third Sector Organisation at the Employee/Volunteer Level, Dublin Business Review, Vol 1, Issue 1.eDIGIREGION Project Team (2017) A good Practice Guide to Regional Innovation Ecosystems. Oak Tree Press: Cork. (Available at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07198DV5N/)
eDIGIREGION Project Team (2017) A good Practice Guide for Performing Regional Innovation Benchmark Audits. Oak Tree Press: Cork. (Available At: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072HSR36R)
Brett, V and O’ Gorman, B., Afonso, O. (2017) Supporting Knowledge and Policy Based Stakeholders in Delivering Regional Impact: A Tool to Select Regional Innovation Scoreboard Indicators in The Quadruple Innovation Helix Nexus: Smart Growth Model, Qualitative Empirical Validation and Operationalisation for OCED Countries. Palgrave: New York. (Available At: http://www.palgrave.com/br/book/9781137555762)
O’Gorman, B., Brett, V and Lalrindiki, M. (2016) Developing Region Specific Smart Specialisations. Case Study of South East Ireland, Regions, No 302, Issue 2, pp25-28.
Rogowska, A., Brett, V., O’Gorman, B. (2015) Supporting employees in Public and voluntary Organisations to Become more Entrepreneurial, ECSB conference on Entrepreneurship and Education, Luneburg, Germany, April 23rd-24th.
Lalrindiki, M., O’Gorman, B. and Brett, V. (2015) ‘The Influence of Regional Level Institutional Frameworks in the Evolution of an Inter-regional Innovation System: A Conceptual Paper’ presented at Regional Science Association International-British and Irish section Conference, Dublin 17th-18th August.
O’Gorman, B., Brett, V. and Lalrindiki, M. (2015) ‘Exploring and Developing Regional Smart Specialisations in South East Ireland’ presented at Regional Studies Association-Irish Branch Conference, Cork 4th September 2015.
Lalrindiki, M., O’Gorman, B. and Brett, V. (2015) ‘The Influence of Regional Level Institutional Frameworks in the Evolution of an Inter-regional Innovation System: A Conceptual Paper’ Proceedings of the European Week of Regions and Cities - Open Days 2015 Master Class on EU Cohesion Policy, Brussels, 12th - 15th October, 2015.
O’Gorman, B and Brett, V. (2014) A road map for regional innovation: A Technovation example, in Proceedings of the 59th Annual Conference of the International Council for Small Business, Dublin, 11th-14th June.
Brett, V., O’ Gorman, B., and Afonso, O. (2014) A road map for regional innovations, in Proceedings of the University Industry Interaction Conference, Barcelona, April 23rd-25th.
Brett, V., O’ Neill, A. and O’Gorman, B. (2014) Observing entrepreneurs in networks: reflecting on the relationship between the researcher and the participants’, Int. J. Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp.275–287.
Brett, V., O’Brien, T., and O’Gorman, B. (2013) KT Force – Towards Innovative Regions. Regional Studies Conference on the Role of Universities in Regional Development, Waterford Institute of Technology, Oct 30th.
O’Gorman, B., and Brett, V. (2012) Learning networks in a regional context: The SLNIW story, Regions, No, 286, Issue 2, pp 4-7.
Power, J., Brett, V., Mullally, M., O’Gorman, B and Fuller-Love, N. (2012) Sowing the seeds of success: The diversification and development of Aisling Designs, in Proceedings of the 15th Annual Conference of the Irish Academy of Management, National University, Maynooth, Ireland, Sept 5th-7th.
Brett, V., O’Neill, A., O’Gorman, B., Fuller-Lover., N. (2012) Observing entrepreneurs in learning networks: reflecting on the relationship between the researcher and the participants, in 15th Uddevalla Symposium, University of Algarve, Portugal. June 14th-16th.
Brett, V., Mullally, M., O’Gorman, B. (2012) Taking action for regional based entrepreneurs. Action Research Colloquium. Waterford Institute of Technology. Waterford, Ireland. May 24th.
Power, J., Brett, V., O’Gorman, B. And Fuller-Love, N. (2012) Establishing sustainable entrepreneurial learning networks: A longitudinal study, in Proceedings of the 2012 International Conference on International Business (ICIB). University of Macedonia, Thessaloniki, Greece, May 17th-19th.
Brett, V., Mullally, M and O’Gorman, B. (2012) The role of action research in the development of sustainable learning networks: Lessons learned from the Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales Project. Action Learning: Research and Practice, Vol 9, No 2, pp125-143.
Sustainable Learning Networks in Ireland and Wales (2011) Learning by Linking Establishing Sustainable Business Learning Networks. Oak Tree Press: Cork.
Power, J., Brett, V., Sinnott, E., O’ Gorman, B., and Fuller-Love, B. (2011) A longitudinal study examining the development of entrepreneurial learning networks. RENT XXV Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Conference. University of Nordland, Bodo, Norway, November 16th-18th.
Mullally, M, Brett, V., O’ Gorman, B., Carr, J and Fuller-Love, N. (2011) Facilitating trust among entrepreneurs’ to access tacit knowledge: The SLNIW Story in the 12th European Conference on Knowledge Management. University of Passau, Germany, 1st-2nd September.
Power, J., Brett, V., Fuller-Love, N., O’Gorman, B. (2011) Do opposites attract? The interpersonal circumplex of behaviour in learning networks in 14th Uddevalla Symposium on Entrepreneurial Knowledge, Technology and Transformation of Regions. Bergamo, Italy, June 16th18th.
Mullally, M., Brett, V., O’Gorman, B. (2011) The importance of trust to facilitate knowledge sharing within business learning networks. Action Research Colloquium, Waterford Institute of Technology. Waterford, Ireland. June 9th-10th.
Brett, V., and O’Gorman, B. (2011) The role of Higher Education Institutes as intermediaries in regional economic enhancement in 4th International Conference for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Regional Development, Macedonia, 5th-7th May.
Brett, V and O’Gorman, B. (2010) Higher Education and Universities: The role of SLNIW in promoting regional economic growth: A theoretical perspective. SLNIW Seminar the Road to Self-Facilitating Networks. Thursday October 14th, Wexford. Ireland.
Brett, V and Roe, M. (2010) The potential for clustering of the maritime transport sector in the Greater Dublin Region. Maritime Policy and Management, Vol 37, (1), pp1-16.
Brett, V and Roe, M. (2008) Globalisation, governance, maritime clusters and the role of the state, in proceeding of the International Association of Maritime Economists Conference on Sustainability in International Shipping and Logistics and the China Factor. Dalian, China, April 2nd- 4th.
Brett, V and Roe, M. (2007) The potential for clustering in the Greater Dublin Region: Analysing maritime clusters through Delphi, in proceedings of the International Association of Maritime Economists Conference on Challenges and Trends in Shipping Markets and Investments and Policies. Athens, July 4th-6th.
Brett, V. (2008) Clustering in Ports. Dublin Port, Irish Aid and UNCTAD. Presentation on Training for Trade Programme. Dublin Port. April 2008.
Brett, V. (2005) Maritime Clusters and Ireland: A Case for Action. Irish Ports Association Conference. Faithlegg House, Co. Waterford, Ireland. September 30th.
Brett, V. (2005) Developing Ireland’s Maritime Cluster. Marine Institute Conference, Galway, Ireland, November 2005.
