“The Vicky Phelan Chair in Equality and Access to Education” was launched by SETU Waterford on International Women’s Day, 8th March, 2022. The honorary research chair, named after Honorary Fellow of SETU Waterford, Vicky Phelan, aims to embed the values that Vicky stands for with the values of SETU Waterford.
The role is an Honorary Research Chair for a 3-year period and attracts an annual grant of EUR5,000 which may be used by the successful candidate to fund activities relating to research outputs.
This grant is to conduct research into how we widen access to education, with a specific focus on women.
The awardee to date is Dr Méabh Savage, Lecturer in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, SETU (2022-2025).
Background to the award:
South East Technological University awarded a SETU Waterford Honorary Fellowship to Vicky Phelan in November 2018. This award, conferred by the SETU Waterford Governing Body, is the highest honorary award the Institute can confer to individuals who have demonstrated distinction in a field of human endeavour to such an extent as to provide motivation and inspiration to the community of the Institute and society at large.
Vicky joined SETU Waterford in 2006 to work in the Literacy Development Centre in the School of Education & Lifelong Learning. She was warmly welcomed into the centre and, from the start, it was clear to her colleagues that she was a determined and engaging individual with a passion for education and equality. Her empathy with people and particularly adult learners was at the forefront of her work. Her capabilities and leadership led to her assuming the role of Head of the Literacy Development Centre, a national centre that provides professional development to practitioners working within the adult literacy and adult education sector. In this role she worked with adult education practitioners, local and national stakeholder organisations such as the education and training boards, NALA and SOLAS, and the academic and administrative team at the Literacy Development Centre in SETU Waterford.