Doctoral Studies
Doctoral researchers play an integral role in contributing to national and international research projects. FETRC fosters early-career research through structured mentoring, writing workshops, and collaborative research initiatives
FETRC currently supervises over 30 doctoral students whose research focuses on a range of FET issues, including:
- Digital literacy and technology-enhanced learning in FET
- Alternative pathways and progression routes
- The impact of quality assurance in vocational education
- Inclusive education and social justice in FET
- Professional identity in FET teaching
John Lalor:
Sarah Gunning (2023)
The conditional pitch: an empirical phenomenological study of how student leaders understand involvement in leadership
Co-supervision with Dr. Justin Rami
Karen Ryan (current)
Sharing practice: exploring professional identity in the further education and training sector (FET)
Co-supervision with Dr Jane O’Kelly
Melissa Lynch (current)
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS! Exploring the impact of social and cultural capital on low socioeconomic status (LSES) students’ progression from DEIS school into further and higher education in Ireland
Co-supervision with Dr Jane O’Kelly
Francesca Lorenzi:
Colm Kenny (2017)
Venture in/between ethics, education and literary media: making cases for dialogic communities of ethical enquiry
Supervisors Dr Brigitte Le Juez and Dr Francesca Lorenzi
Tanja Tillmanns (2017)
Disruptive learning: re-orienting frames of mind towards becoming sustainability change agents
Supervisors Dr Francesca Lorenzi and Prof. Charlotte Holland
Brendan Kavanagh (2024)
An exploration of the motivations for changing career and the formation of professional teacher identity among second-career teachers working within the FET sector of the city of Dublin ETB
Supervisors Dr Francesca Lorenzi and Dr Elaine McDonald
Joanne Lynch (2024)
From periphery to core: exploring experiential learning in business education through the lens of signature pedagogies
Supervisor Dr Francesca Lorenzi
Emma Gallagher (current, title unknown)
Supervisors Dr Francesca Lorenzi, Dr Irene White, Dr Catriona Warren and Dr Eimear Holland
Jane O'Kelly
Breda McNally (2025)
What’s the story with apprenticeship in Ireland? Experiences of apprenticeship reform in higher education 2016-2023: an exploratory case study
Ger Scanlon:
Fiona Healy (2018)
How focussed interventions supports quality provision for early years professionals in the Republic of Ireland
Caoilainn Doyle (2018)
Executive Function (EF) in dyslexia: examining an EF profile associated with dyslexia and cambarid dyslexia - ADHD and exploring the near and far transfer effects of EF training in dyslexia alone
Vincent O’Flaherty (2019)
The career decision- making process of Irish underage footballers
Elaine Banville (2019)
Exploring the role of special needs assistants on the inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream post-primary physical education
Leanne Connolly (current)
Building a vision for life post-school: views and experiences of students, parents, teachers and principals of post-school transition planning in Irish Special Schools
Tracy McElheron (current)
An investigation into early childhood educators’ perspectives on gender bias and gender stereotyping in early childhood education and care settings
Peter Tiernan:
Fergus Timmons (2023)
Supporting family carers of people living with dementia through online education: a case study from an Irish NGO
Co-supervision with Dr Enda Donlon
Suzanne Stone (2023)
The yin & yang of digital technologies: a case study exploring the impact of a digital wellbeing intervention on higher education staff
Co-supervision with Dr Margaret Leahy
Colette Lyng (current)
An exploratory multiple methods case study to determine the supports, if any, that clinically based nurse experts need to develop accreditable educational resources
Co-supervision with Dr Eamon Costello
Mahmoud Hammash (current)
Designing bespoke Immersive Virtual Reality IVR environments for post-primary Chemistry education in Ireland
Maria Parysz (current)
How has the online course on AI for managers impacted their upskilling in AI literacy?
Co-supervision with Dr Enda Donlon
Patrick Boylan (current)
An exploration of lecturers' and students' experiences using a proto-type Immersive Virtual Reality Microteaching system to practice and develop their Microteaching Skills in Initial Teacher Education: a single-site case study
Co-supervision with Dr Sabrina Fitzsimmons
Rudie Coppieters (current)
Exploring the impact of ChatGPT on engineering students' critical thinking
Co-supervision with Dr Eamon Costello
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