Outstanding Dissertation Award – Dr Ciaran Dunne (SALIS)
16 July 2009

Ciaran Dunne

Dr. Ciarán Dunne of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences has been awarded second place in the category of ‘Outstanding Dissertation Award’ by the International Association of Intercultural Research (IAIR). The IAIR, a major association in the field of intercultural studies, seeks to promote and facilitate intercultural research in the areas of psychology, communications, education, management, and other areas of specialisation in the social sciences. This international award, granted every two years, is given in recognition of outstanding doctoral research in the field of intercultural studies.

Dr Dunne’s PhD, which was completed in the School of Applied Language and Intercultural Studies (SALIS), examined intercultural relations among students in Irish higher education, with a specific focus on DCU. Using a grounded theory methodology, the study explored students’ perceptions of cultural difference within the student body and their experiences of intercultural contact on campus, including the factors which facilitate and/or hinder such contact. The study sought to address some of the challenges and opportunities associated with the rapidly increasing student diversity resulting from the internationalisation of higher education.

Dr. Dunne’s award will be formally acknowledged at the IAIR conference, which will be held in August.