Research Announcement

Research on Adult Religious Education and Faith Development

The Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education and the Presentation Sisters, North East Province have announced a three-year partnership to enable research into community-based adult religious education and faith development in Ireland today. Over three years, a postdoctoral researcher based at the Centre will provide a broad picture of current provision in adult religious education in Ireland, conduct quantitative and qualitative research into the educational needs of local faith communities and develop and deliver pilot projects to test new approaches to faith development, working with local faith communities throughout Ireland. The funding announcement was made at a conference on 'The Voices of Young People on Religion and Education', organised by the Irish Centre for Religious Education, part of DCU’s Institute of Education, on Friday, 8th and Saturday, 9th June on DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus. Pictured (L – R): Dr Anne Looney, Executive Dean, DCU Institute of Education; Dr Gareth Byrne, Director of Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education; Sr Anne Codd, Presentation Sisters, North East Province; and Nathalie Walker, CEO, DCU Educational Trust. (Photo: Julien Behal)

DCU’s Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education and the Presentation Sisters have announced a three-year partnership to enable research into community-based adult religious education and faith development in Ireland today.

Over three years from September 2018, a postdoctoral researcher based at the Centre will provide a broad picture of current provision in adult religious education in Ireland, conduct quantitative and qualitative research into the educational needs of local faith communities and develop and deliver pilot projects to test new approaches to faith development, working with local faith communities throughout Ireland.

The funding will be provided by the Presentation Sisters, North East Province and the project will be led by Dr Gareth Byrne, Director of the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education.