Maria Slowey
PROF

Maria Slowey is Emeritus Professor in the School of Policy and Practice and Founding Director of the Higher Education Research Centre (HERC), Institute of Education. In DCU, from 2004 to 2008, she also served as Vice President (Learning Innovation) and Registrar. Prior to returning to Ireland she held senior roles in universities in Scotland and England, including: Glasgow University (1992-2004) where she was Professor of Adult and Continuing Education, Vice-Dean Research and Founding Director of the Centre for Research and Development in Adult and Lifelong Learning (CRADALL), and Northumbria University (1984-1992) as Senior Lecturer, subsequently Head of the Centre for Continuing Education and Widening Access.
Her research and policy activities focus on comparative higher education and sociological analysis of equality and access to higher education and lifelong learning opportunities over the life course. She has published extensively on these matters and acted as expert advisor and committee member to a range of bodies and associations including: UNESCO, OECD, EC, European Universities Association, Council of Europe, European Training Foundation, the Scottish Parliament Committee on Lifelong Learning, the Scottish Independent Committee of Inquiry on Student Finance, the UK RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) Panel for Continuing Education, several committees of HEFCE and SHEFC (Higher Education Funding Councils for England and Scotland), the Strategic Research Board of the British Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Irish higher education CAO (Central Applications Office), and the Asia-Europe Ministerial Meeting (ASEM) Lifelong Learning Hub. Maria is active in relevant learned societies in which she has held elected positions including: Vice-Chair of Council and Chair of the R&D Committee of the Society for Research in Higher Education (SRHE), Executive member of UALL (Universities Association of Lifelong Learning) and Vice-Chair of the Committee for Social Sciences of the Royal Irish Academy (RIA). She is a founder member of the International Advisory Board of the Higher Education Reform (HER) network.
She is Senior Editor of the leading international journal, Studies in Higher Education. Other Editorships and Editorial Boards include: Founding Editor of the Scottish Journal of Adult and Continuing Education (subsequently the Journal of Adult and Continuing Education); Studies in the Education of Adults; The Adult Learner; Springer Lifelong Learning Series; and, she is a reviewer for the other major journals in the field of higher education and lifelong learning.
She has held visiting positions at international centres of excellence including: CSHE, Nagoya University (2018); Stanford University, Graduate School of Education (2017); Florence University, School of Education, Italy (2016 and 2017); Oxford University, UK (Kellogg College 1999); DAAD (German Academic Exchange) Guest Professorship, University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany (2011); CSHE Melbourne University, Australia (2009); Cambridge University (Homerton College, 2009); and University of British Columbia, Centre for Policy Studies in HE, Canada (2008).
Maria is an elected Fellow of the (British) Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS); Member of the International Adult Education Hall of Fame (HoF0; recipient of the UCC Bertram Windel Award for contribution to International Lifelong Learning. She currently holds Visiting positions in the Universities of Glasgow and Florence.
Book
Year | Publication | |
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2024 | Slowey, M. and Taylor, R. (eds). (2024) Academic freedom: core value or elite privilege?. London: Routledge. [Link] | |
2023 | Slowey, M., Hinzen, H., Olomewa, M. and Osborne, M. (eds). (2023) Adult education and social justice. Florence: University of Florence Press. [DOI] | |
2020 | Slowey, M., Schuetze, H.G., and Zubrzycki, T. (eds). (2020) Inequality, Innovation and Reform in Higher Education: Global demographic and social challenges of migration and ageing populations. Dordrecht: Springer. [DOI] | |
2016 | Slowey, M. (ed). (2016) Comparative Adult Education and Learning. Authors and Texts. Florence: University of Firenze Press. [DOI] |
Book Chapter
Year | Publication | |
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2017 | Slowey, M. (with R. Pritchard) (2017) 'Resilience: A high price for survival? Cross-border perspectives on the impact of austerity on Irish higher education' In: Debating Austerity in Ireland: crisis, experience and recovery. Dublin : Royal Irish Academy. | |
2015 | Slowey, M. (2015) 'Intergenerational equality and higher education: Towards an age-friendly higher education?' In: Higher Education Reform Looking Back Looking Forward. [Link] [DOI] | |
2015 | Maria Slowey (with E. Murphy & Y. Politis) (2015) 'Contributing to an evidence base for the enhancement of the experiences and outcomes of mature students at an Irish university' In: B. Culum, Y. Politis and F.M.Ribeiro(Eds.). New voices in Higher Education Research and Scholarship, B. Culum, Y. Politis and F.M.Ribeiro (eds). Hershey, PA : IGI Global. | |
2015 | Slowey, M.; Kozina, E. (2015) 'Perspectives on professional development: The voice of Irish academics' In: Forming Recruiting and Managing the Academic Profession. [Link] [DOI] | |
2013 | Slowey, Maria (2013) 'Institutional Alliances: Passing Policy Fad or New Organizational Model' In: P. Axelrod, R.D.Trilokekar, T. Shanahan and R. Wellen(Eds.). Making Policy in Turbulent Times: Challenges and prospects for higher education. Montreal : McGill University Press. | |
2012 | Slowey, M.; Schuetze, H.G. (2012) 'Afterword: A look around the corner' In: Global Perspectives on Higher Education and Lifelong Learners. [Link] [DOI] | |
2012 | Slowey, M. (2012) 'Ireland: Lifelong learning and higher education in Ireland: turbulent times' In: Global Perspectives on Higher Education and Lifelong Learners. [Link] [DOI] | |
2012 | Slowey, Maria (with W. de Vries) (2012) 'Concluding Reflections. Between Humboldt and Newman: Marketization and Global Contributions in Contemporary Higher Education' In: H.G.Schuetze; G. Alvarez(Eds.). State and Market in Higher Education Reforms Trends, Policies and Experiences in Comparative Perspective. Rotterdam : Sense Academic Publishers. | |
2012 | Slowey, M.; Kozina, E. (2012) 'New knowledge - New learning? Curriculum change in higher education and academic engagement in the Bologna process in Ireland' In: Handbook of Research on Didactic Strategies and Technologies for Education Incorporating Advancements. [Link] [DOI] | |
2012 | Slowey, Maria (2012) 'Lifelong learning and higher education in Ireland 2000-2010: boom to bust' In: M.Slowey; H.G.Schuetze(Eds.). Global Perspectives on Higher Education and Lifelong Learners. London and New York : Routledge. | |
2012 | Slowey, M.; Schuetze, H.G. (2012) 'All change - no change?: Lifelong learners and higher education revisited' In: Global Perspectives on Higher Education and Lifelong Learners. [Link] [DOI] | |
2010 | Slowey, M. (2010) 'University adult continuing education: The extra-mural tradition revisited' In: International Encyclopedia of Education. [Link] [DOI] | |
2007 | Slowey, Maria (2007) 'Adults in higher education - the search for a policy learning journey' In: A.Tuckett(Eds.). Participation and the pursuit of equality: essays in adult learning, widening participation and achievement. Leicester : National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. | |
2004 | Slowey, Maria (2004) 'Changing and Persisting Patterns: the public and lifelong learning in Scotland' In: N.Sargant and F. Aldridge(Eds.). Adult Learning and Social Division: a Persistent Pattern. Leicester : National Institute of Adult Continuing Educatio. | |
2003 | Slowey, Maria (2003) 'Higher education and civil society' In: M.Slowey and D.Watson(Eds.). Higher Education and the Lifecourse. Buckingham : SRHE/Open University Press. | |
2002 | Slowey, Maria (2002) 'Evidence based or evidence ignored? Progress of the Lifelong Learning Agenda in Scotland' In: Lifelong Learning and Higher Education: The Next Phase. Cambridge : Universities Association for Continuing Education (UACE). | |
2002 | Slowey, Maria (2002) 'Changing and Persisting Patterns: The Public and Lifelong Learning in Scotland' In: N. SARGANT and F. ALDRIDCE(Eds.). ADULT LEARNING AND SOCIAL DIVISION: A PERSISTENT PATTERN. England and Wales : National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education (NIACE). | |
2001 | Slowey, Maria (2001) 'Higher Education and New Knowledge Forms A new role for a reconceptualised liberal adult education?' In: Liberal Adult Education: Towards a Contemporary Paradigm. Cambridge : Universities Association for Continuing Education (UACE). | |
2000 | Slowey, Maria (2000) 'Traditions and new directions in higher education: a comparative perspective on non-ttraditional students and lifelong learners' In: H.G. Schuetze and M.Slowey(Eds.). Higher Education and Lifelong Learners. New York : Routledge. | |
2000 | Slowey, Maria (2000) 'The United Kingdom: redefining the non-traditional student: equity and lifelong learning in British higher education 1985-2000' In: H.G. Schuetze and M.Slowey(Eds.). Higher Education and Lifelong Learners. New York : Routledge. | |
1998 | Slowey, Maria (1998) 'Is research quality measurable? Reflections on the implications of the research assessment exercise for continuing education' In: E. Gerver(Eds.). Continuing Education in the Research Assessment Exercise 1996: Problems and Prospects for Strategic Development. Leeds : Universities Association for Continuing Education (UACE). |
Peer Reviewed Journal
Year | Publication | |
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2015 | Murphy, Emma; Politis, Yurgos; Slowey, Maria (2015) 'Contributing to an Evidence Base for the Enhancement of the Experiences and Outcomes of Mature Students at an Irish University'. MULTICULTURAL AWARENESS AND TECHNOLOGY IN HIGHER EDUCATION: GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES, . [DOI] | |
2016 | Talmage, C.A.; Mark, R.; Slowey, M.; Knopf, R.C. (2016) 'Age Friendly Universities and engagement with older adults: moving from principles to practice'. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 35 . [Link] [DOI] | |
2009 | Slowey, Maria (2009) 'Guest Editorial'. JOURNAL OF ADULT & CONTINUING EDUCATION, 15 . | |
2009 | Slowey, Maria (with M. Morgan) (2009) 'Higher Education in the broader educational landscape - widening the perspective on equity and access in Ireland'. JOURNAL OF ADULT & CONTINUING EDUCATION, 15 :204-219. | |
2007 | Slowey, Maria (2007) 'Accountability- a fair price for autonomy? The impact of new quality systems on higher education reform'. UNIVERSAL ACCESS IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY ISNN : 1615, 35 :83-94. | |
2006 | Slowey, Maria (with T. Healy) (2006) 'Social exclusion and adult engagement in lifelong learning some comparative implications for European states based on Ireland's Celtic Tiger experience'. COMPARE: A JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE EDUCATION, 36 :359-378. | |
2004 | Maria Slowey (2004) 'Swimming with the (main) stream? The relationship of adult education and the lifelong learning agenda in post-devolution UK'. THE ADULT LEARNER: THE JOURNAL OF ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION IN IRELAND, 2004 :27-41. | |
2002 | Slowey, Maria (with H. Schuetze) (2002) 'Participation and Exclusion- a comparative analysis of non-traditional and lifelong learners in systems of mass higher education'. 44 :309-327. | |
2024 | Heribert Hinzen; Maria Slowey; Huu Phuoc Khau (2024) 'Learning from the past for the future: Signposts and landmark anniversaries in adult learning and education'. International Review of Education, . [Link] [DOI] |