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Jane O'Kelly

Dr.

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Dr. Jane O'Kelly is Head of School of Policy and Practice in the DCU Institute of Education. Her research interests include further education and training, professional practice in teaching adults, learner voice, neurodiversity and Autism. She lectures in Research methodologies and approaches, sociology and professional practice in education. She was the Chair of the BSc in Education and Training from 2018 to 2024 and manages the placement year for students seeking accreditation as tutors in further education and training. Her background includes working in the National Centre for Guidance in Education and Leargas, supporting policy and practice in adult education, vocational education and training (VET) and guidance. She has strong ties to European Commission funded VET programmes through twenty years of administration, management, evaluation and report writing in the Leonardo da Vinci, Lifelong Learning and Erasmus+ programmes. She has a deep interest in Autism and Neurodiversity and has researched the experience of autistic people in education and employment. She is committed to the development of the further education sector in Ireland through research and evaluation on pedagogy, peer support and learner-centred practice, both to support the continuing professional development of educators and trainers, and to improve outcomes for adult returners and older learners. 

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2024 Kenny, N.; Doyle, J. K.,; O'Kelly,J.; Neilson, S.,; Earley, F.; McDonald, J. (2024) 'Exploring the paradigm of co-produced autism research within the context of the COVID pandemic' In: Including Voices: Respecting the Experiences of Individuals from Marginalised Communities. England : Emerald Insights.
2017 Rami, J & O'Kelly, J (2017) 'Initial Teacher Education in FET settings: Affirmation and Aspiration' In: Education Matters Yearbook 2016-2017. Galway, Ireland : Education Matters. [Link]

Peer Reviewed Journal

Year Publication
2025 Logan, A.; Brennan, A.; Pennycook, C.; Scanlon, D.; Furlong, C.; O'Grady, S.; Gorman, A.; Silke, A.; O'Kelly, J.; Johnson, M.C.; Doyle, A. (2025) ''Going wild with placement': exploring a model of engagement in individual, dyadic and team reflective practice in the context of collaborative self-study supporting teacher educator critical reflection, interrogation of practice, professional learning, collaboration and the scholarship of teaching and learning'. Reflective Practice, . [Link] [DOI]
2022 Tiernan, P.; O’Kelly, J. (2022) 'Enterprise education: pre-service further education teachers' impressions and aspirations'. Education and Training, 64 . [Link] [DOI]
2019 Tiernan, P.; O’Kelly, J. (2019) 'Learning with digital video in second level schools in Ireland'. Education and Information Technologies, 24 . [Link] [DOI]
2014 Tiernan, P.; O’Kelly, J. (2014) 'Blending work and learning: The impact of a workplace learning programme on the low-skilled and long term unemployed'. Industrial and Commercial Training, 46 . [Link] [DOI]

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2024 Trudy Corrigan; Francesca Lorenzi; Jane O'Kelly; Justin Rami (2024) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference 2024 Evaluating the Health Benefits of Participation in Lifelong Learning in Ireland today Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, 04/04/2024-06/04/2024.
2022 Rami, J. & O’Kelly, J. (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annal Conference 2022, Reconstructing What Matters Implications for the professional formation of the FET Teacher - Teaching in Further Education & Training in Ireland Marino Institute of Education, Ireland, .
2022 O’Kelly, J. et al (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2022, Reconstructing What Matter Exploring professionalism in Further Education and Training: a pilot module Marino Institute of Education, Ireland, .
2022 O’Kelly, J.,Rami, J., et al (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2022, Reconstructing What Matter Exploring professionalism in Further Education and Training: a pilot module Marino Institute of Education, Ireland, .
2021 Corrigan, T.; Rami, J.; O’Kelly, J.; Lalor, J. (2021) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2021 Possibilities in Education: An Evaluation of a Team Based Approach (to supervision) of Final Year Student Projects in Teacher Education Online,Ireland, .
2021 O’Kelly, J., et al (2021) GASTA National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching in Learning Professional Identity for Teaching in FET Ireland, .
2021 Corrigan, T., Rami, J., O’Kelly, J. & Lalor, J (2021) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2021 Possibilities in Education: An Evaluation of a Team Based Approach (to supervision) of Final Year Student Projects in Teacher Education Online, Ireland, .
2020 O'Kelly, J.; Brown, M.; Tiernan, P.; O’Hara, J.; Tiernan,P.; O’Hara,J.; McNamara, G.; Skerrott,C. (2020) Educational Studies Association of Ireland - Opening up Education Education (Options, Obstacles and opportunities) The rise of Intrapreneurship in Education Online, 03/09/2020-05/09/2020.
2018 Jane O'Kelly, Peter Tiernan (2018) Values and Purpose in Education Teacher, Trainer, Tutor?: Exploring the perspective of students in initial teacher education for Further Education and Training UCD, Dublin, 06/04/2018-07/04/2018.
2017 Jane O'Kelly (2017) The European Social Fund Celebrating 60 Years of Investing in People ESF conference celebrating 60 years of the ESF in Ireland The Printworks, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, 28/11/2017-28/11/2017.
2017 Rami, J, O'Kelly, J, Teirnan, P (2017) 12th Annual JVET Journal Conference Squeezing the middle - A study of of teachers, trainers and staff working in the Further Education & Training sector in Ireland under the backdrop of the Irish financial crisis Oxford, UK, .
2017 Rami, J., Lalor, J., Tiernan, P., Lorenzi, F., O'kelly, J. (2017) ESAI 42nd Annual Conference Changing Research: working the spaces between education policy and practice Cascading support from practitioners to learners in FET: learning difficulties and other issues Cork, Ireland, .
2016 Rami, J, O'Kelly, J, Lalor, J (2016) ECER 2016 Leading Education: The Distinct Contributions of Educational Research and Researchers Initial Teacher Education for Further Education: An Evaluation of Trainee Teachers’ Experiences of their Teaching Placement UCD, Dublin , Ireland, 22/08/2016-26/08/2016.

Thesis

Year Publication
2016 Jane O'Kelly (2016) How can a community of practice process and concept support undergraduates learning experiences?. THES [Link]

Invited papers

Year Publication
2022 Rami, J & O’Kelly, J. (2022) Teaching in Further Education and Training - Implications for the professional formation of the FET practitioner - Further Education & Training. Dublin: INVP [Link]

Other Journal

Year Publication
2024 Kenny, N.; O'Kelly, J. (2024) 'How Autistic people can be supported accessing employment in Ireland' RTE Brainstorm, . [Link]

Published Report

Year Publication
2024 Kenny, N.; O'Kelly, J.; Scully, C.; Butler, S. (2024) Future Expectations: A Qualitative Exploration of the Perceptions and Expectations of Autistic Adults Regarding the IMPACT Programme. DCU, . [Link]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2025) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Association Function From / To
Educational Studies Association of Ireland Member 06/01/2020 - 30/04/2026
HEI FET Forum Association of HEI Providers of ITE in FET 05/06/2017 -

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
01/04/2023 DCU President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (nomination) DCU
01/06/2018 President's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (nomination) DCU
01/11/2023 Irish Research Council Research Ally Prize Irish Research Council
01/01/2011 DCU Presidents Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (nomination) DCU
01/05/2022 Presidents' Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (Team award) DCU
01/05/2025 Presidents' Award for Excellence in Doctoral Supervision DCU
22/04/2025 President's Award for Excellence in Engagement (Team Award) DCU

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Professional Development and Partnerships Committee Working with colleagues from across the Institute of Education on initial teacher education placement partnerships and the strategic design and delivery of continuous professional development modules 30/11/2021 - 31/12/2022
Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee 01/09/2016 - 01/09/2019
Placements & Related Partnerships Committee 02/01/2017 - 31/12/2020

Education

Start date Institution Qualification Subject
Dublin City University PhD
Dublin City University BSc in Education and Training (Hons)

Reviews

Journal Role
Irish Educational Studies Reviewer
THE ADULT LEARNER: THE JOURNAL OF ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION IN IRELAND Reviewer

Enterprise Engagement

Year Engagement Type Client Description
2022 Other Age and Opportunity Member of Age and Opportunity Research Committee
2022 Other EPALE (Leargas / EU Commission) EPALE Ambassador (Ireland)
2022 Other AONTAS Editorial Committee / Book Review Editor for the Adult Learner Journal
2016 Invited talk/presentation Leargas EPALE - webinars
2022 Other AONTAS Member of Project Advisory Group for the European Agenda for Adult Learning. Aontas is the national coordinator of the EAAL in Ireland.

Outreach Activities

Year Engagement Type Organisation Description
2024 Other Dublin NorthWest Partnership Board Member

Research Interests

Further education and training (FET), teaching in FET, continuing professional development in FET, reflective practice, neurodiversity and Autism. 

Research Projects

Title Role Description Start date End date
Autism Friendly University: A qualitative exploration of the views of DCU stakeholders of the autism friendly experience DCU PI 25/10/2023 24/10/2024
Autistic Academics: Autistic academic staff: A participatory autism research approach to exploring workplace experience and educational practice at third level in Ireland Co PI 13/08/2021 01/03/2024
Ícaro – Innovative Curriculum for Adult Learners on Soft Skills DCU PI 01/09/2017 31/08/2019
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS! Exploring the Impact of Social and Cultural Capital on Low Socioeconomic Status (LSES) Students' Progression from DEIS Schools in Ireland DCU PI 01/09/2024 31/08/2026
Autism Friendly University: A qualitative exploration of the views of DCU stakeholders of the autism friendly experience DCU PI 25/10/2023 24/10/2024
Building Relationships for Inclusive Digital Growth and Engagement DCU PI 01/01/2025 31/12/2026
Future Expectations: A qualitative research study exploring the perceptions and expectations of Autistic young adults Gheel services IMPACT Programme DCU Co-PI 03/10/2022 27/07/2023
Autistic students: A co-produced exploration of the experiences of autistic individuals attending a third level education institution in Ireland. Co PI 29/09/2020 01/03/2025
Professional Identity for Teaching in FET DCU PI 01/04/2021 31/12/2021

Current Postgraduate Students

Student Name Degree Supervision
Lynch ,Melissa PhD Supervisor
Cahill ,Angela Doctor of Education Supervisor
McNally ,Breda Doctor of Education Supervisor

Internal Collaborators

Type Name Company Role
Internal Dr. Peter Tiernan DCU Institute of Education Academic
Internal FETRC Further Education and Training Research Centre DCU Institute of Education Academic

Modules Coordinated

Term Title Subject
2021 Sociology of Education and Training ES226
2022 ES223
2022 Professional Skills and Practice ES210
2021 Project 1 ES3240
2020 Practical Teaching Placement 2 ES333
2022 Policy & Structures in Education & Training ES202
2022 Creating Learning Environments using ICT ES318
2021 Description of 2022_ES326 ES326
2021 Research Project 2 ES327
2022 ES134
2022 ES142
2020 Practical Teaching Placement 1 ES332
2022 Research Project 2 ES319
2022 ES219
2022 Project 1 ES3140
2021 Leadership and the Learning Organisation ES325
2022 Designing Instruction for Trainng Environment ES224
2022 Lifespan Development ES106
2023 ES102
2022 ES129
2022 Mediation Skills for the Learning Context ES203
2022 ES225
2022 Human Development - Power and Politics ES133
2022 Academic Writing and Reading ES1350
2022 Psychology of Individual Difference&Diversity ES217
2021 Developing a Research Perspective ES323
2022 ES218
2022 Reflective Work-based Practice ES205
2022 Leadership and the Learning Organisation ES316
2022 ES313
2022 Social&Personal Dev with Communication Skills ES125
2022 Human Development - Power and Politics ES126
2022 Psychology of Individual Difference&Diversity ES209
2022 Equality, Access and Inclusion ES311
2021 HR and Training in a Globalised World ES315
2021 Equality, Access and Inclusion ES321
2022 HR and Training in a Globalised World ES340
2022 ES101
2022 Social & Personal Dev. with Comm. Skills ES132
2022 Designing Instruction for Trainng Environment ES220
2022 Citizenship, Diversity and Inclusion ES131
2022 Advanced Teaching Strategies ES208
2023 ES105
2022 Curriculum Development ES127
2022 Reflective Work-based Practice ES2120