Research Interests

"My present position in SALIS is as research assistant for the Intercultural Workplace Project, which commenced in March 2003. Working alongside Dr. Aileen Pearson-Evans and Dr. Bill Richardson, the research project will empirically examine the reality of the intercultural workplace in Ireland and outline the needs of different groups, the training and education required by both migrant and Irish workers, and the new structures and policies needed within organisations to enhance rather than discriminate against diversity. The project therefore is an attempt to contribute to the world of practice-based research in the area of intercultural studies, a fairly new field of study in Ireland.

Our aims include the production of a comprehensive report which provides a broad overview of the current Irish intercultural workplace, locates it within the international context, and makes informed recommendations for the changes necessary, involving new structures, policies, education and training, in order to create a truly effective and dynamic intercultural workforce. Besides the organisation of a conference, we hope to use the findings to develop training and education materials for future use in Irish workplaces. The research will also benefit SALIS and other DCU students on various degree programmes in that it will equip them with practice based skills for their future work. For details on this project, please visit our website www.iwp.dcu.ie or e-mail us iwp@dcu.ie"

- Sylvia Schroeder