We offer practice-based research opportunities to education practitioners to ensure that the Faculty’s research is pracademic in nature i.e., it contributes new knowledge, insights and is impactful to our students’ own professional practice; to Education; and to society. Our faculty supports, guides and encourages our students, all adult learners, to pursue research that is relevant to their professional practice and builds on their own experience. Current research by students and faculty include:
- Integration of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Tertiary Education;
- Learners’ Perspectives of Environmental Sustainability in Tertiary Education in Ireland;
- Research and Development Learning Environment: Thinking and Talking Across Disciplines;
- Connected Curriculum: Enhancing the Teaching-Learning Environment.
We partner with local, regional and national stakeholders in Education to identify relevant and timely research opportunities that will impact on policy and practice in Education. Join us on our research journey to reshape, inform and influence future Education policies and practice. Please feel free to contact Suzanne Ryan for more information at [email protected].
Students are listed below in alphabetical order by surname
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
| Hayette Bellakehal | Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning | Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning |
| PhD Title: Learners' Perspective of Environmental Sustainability in Tertiary Education in Ireland | ||
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
| Redmond Condon | Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning, SETU Waterford | Department of Law and Criminal Justice, School of Humanities, SETU Waterford |
| PhD Title: How can a connected curriculum enhance the teaching-learning environments for Civil Engineering students in Institutes of Technology in Ireland | ||
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisors |
|---|---|---|
| Marc Mbanda | Head of Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning, SETU Waterford | Assistant Head of Department Literacy Development Centre, SETU Waterford; Dr Brian Jackson Head of Graduate Studies, SETU Carlow |
| PhD Title: Towards the Effective Integration of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the Irish Tertiary Education System | ||
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
| Gulmira Tussupekova | Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning, SETU Waterford | Head of Centre for Teaching and Learning, SETU Carlow & Dr Helen Murphy |
| PhD Title: An examination of the role of adult learners in the co-creation of curriculum design in lifelong learning programmes in SETU | ||
Graduated:
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
| Sara Bates Evoy Graduated in October 2025 | Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning | University of Sheffield |
| PhD Title: Practitioner Identities and Sector Reform in Contemporary Further Education and Training in Ireland | ||
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
| Michelle Greene Graduated in October 2025 | Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning, SETU Waterford | Department of Law and Criminal Justice, Faculty of Humanities, SETU Waterford |
| PhD Title: An Exploration of the Nature of Personal Engagement in Research Work in Institutes of Technology in Ireland (SPaRC) | ||
Students registered in other Schools in SETU and co-supervised by staff in the faculty in the Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning.
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
| Kate O’Keeffe | Department of Management and Organisation, School of Business SETU Waterford | Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning, SETU Waterford |
| PhD Title: From 'Lady Clerks' to CEO: A biographical narrative exploration of the challenges, opportunities and educational programmes for female bank workers since the lifting of the marriage bar in Ireland | ||
Graduated:
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
Graduated in October 2025 | Department of Management and Organisation, School of Business SETU Waterford | Department of Education, Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning, SETU Waterford |
| PhD Title: Critical Data Studies in Public Employment Systems | ||
| Candidate | Supervisor | Co-Supervisors |
|---|---|---|
| Nidhi Piplani Kapur Graduated in October 2025 | Dr Don O'Neill School of Humanities | Head of Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning, SETU Waterford; Dr Suzanne Denieffe Head of Faculty of Humanities, SETU Waterford |
| PhD Title: Embedding a culture of internationalisation into the curriculum through "Internationalisation at home" - Preparation for the changing context of Higher Education in Ireland | ||