Dr. Bernie Grummell and Dr. Sinead Matson delivered a presentation titled, ‘Voices from the Field – European research partnership with teachers’ exploring policy and practice in inclusive education’ at the Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) annual conference in May. Their presentation covered work package one - a mixed methods research study carried out as part of the Erasmus+ funded TUTOR Project by Dr. Grummell and Dr. Margaret Nugent in 2023.
Teacher’s Upskilling aiming at a holistic inclusivity in learning (TUTOR) is a three-year Erasmus+ research project in Ireland, Austria, Greece, Turkey, and EU. The objective is to create partnerships of teacher education and training providers to establish Teacher Academies to support teachers to develop their capabilities in understanding and developing more inclusive learning environments. Work Package one involved a desk-based review conducted in parallel with mixed method research of online questionnaires, focus groups, and interviews with over 800 stakeholders involved in second level and Further Education and Training (FET) across the four countries and at EU level, on the existing and desired state of inclusive education, identifying gaps.
The research revealed that education policies in partner countries often focus on specific types of exclusion, such as students with special needs or from migrant backgrounds, without incorporating an intersectional understanding of inclusivity. Respondents highlighted a lack of diversity in the teaching profession and that teachers lack practical training on implementing inclusive approaches, leading to fragmented conceptualizations of student identity. Many teachers describe feeling ill-prepared to support diverse student cohorts and how to address sensitive topics effectively, as well as the lack of time to engage in critical conversations about diversity and inclusion with colleagues and students. The research highlight the complex and often invisible role of teachers in supporting students with diverse identities and experiences.
Please contact Bernie Grummell or Sinead Matson for further information.