Tá an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) tar éis breis is €100,000 de sparánachtaí taighde a bhronnadh ar sheisear mac léinn iarchéime i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál (CMgS). Cabhróidh na sparánachtaí seo, ar fiú €17,612 an ceann iad, le mic léinn PhD in CMgS tabhairt faoi thaighde ríthábhachtach ar ghnéithe bonnriachtanacha den oideachas lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta.
Ar na mic léinn ar bronnadh sparánacht orthu, tá Caitríona Ní Luasa, príomhoide Ghaelscoil Naomh Séamas i gCill Orglan, Co. Chiarraí; Christine Ní Chathasaigh, múinteoir i nGaelcholáiste Luimnigh i gcathair Luimnigh; Caitríona Ní Mhurchú, leas-phríomhoide Ghaelscoil Inis Córthaidh, Co. Loch Garman; Carmel Nic Airt, léachtóir páirtaimseartha in CMgS agus iar-phríomhoide Ghaelscoil Uí Choileáin i gCloich na Coillte, Co. Chorcaí; Helena Nic an Fhailí, comhairleoir leis an tSeirbhís um Fhorbairt Ghairmiúil do Mhúinteoirí agus atá ar iasacht leis an tSeirbhís ó Ghaelscoil Liatroma i gCora Droma Rúisc, Co. Liatroma; agus Toirdealbhach Ó Lionaird, príomhoide Choláiste Ghobnatan i mBaile Bhúirne, Co. Chorcaí. Is iarchéimithe de chlár an M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta in CMgS iad na mic léinn go léir ar bronnadh sparánacht orthu.
Chuir an tOllamh Michael Healy, Leas-Uachtarán an Taighde in CMgS, fáilte roimh na sparánachtaí seo ó COGG, agus dúirt, “Tá Coláiste Mhuire gan Smál an-bhródúil ar fad as clár an M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta agus as an tsárobair atá déanta ag an Dr T.J. Ó Ceallaigh, Comhordaitheoir an Chláir, agus a chomhghleacaithe a chuireann an clár seo ar fáil. Tá an clár ag dul ó neart go neart ó cuireadh tús leis, agus is léiriú eile ar sármhaitheas an chláir chomh fada le leibhéal dochtúireachta é an urraíocht seo ar sparánachtaí PhD bunaithe ar fhiúntas ón gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. Tá an-áthas ar an gColáiste fáilte a chur roimh na mic léinn seo inár bpobal taighde iarchéime atá faoi bhláth, agus ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a ghlacadh le COGG as a chúnamh.”
Agus í ag labhairt faoi chaighdeán agus faoi thionchar féideartha na dtograí taighde PhD, dúirt Muireann Ní Mhóráin, Príomhfheidhmeannach na Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, “Ceann de phríomhfheidhmeanna na Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta is ea tacú le héagsúlacht leathan tionscnamh taighde agus gnímh atá dírithe ar fhorbairt earnáil an oideachais lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta agus ar fhorbairt theagasc na Gaeilge sna scoileanna go léir. Tá géarghá le taighde chun cur chuige níos cuimsithí, níos comhtháite agus níos córasaí a threorú agus a spreagadh le bheith ullamh don todhchaí. Tá d’acmhainn ag na tograí taighde PhD seo cur leis an réimse ar bhealach suntasach uathúil. Tá an-áthas ar COGG tacú leis na tionscnaimh seo, agus guímid gach rath ar na mic léinn ar a n‑aistear taighde.”
Tabharfaidh Christine Ní Chathasaigh faoi thaighde dochtúireachta dírithe ar fheasacht teanga an mhúinteora, agus féachfar ann ar na sainriachtanais, ar an bhforbairt ghairmiúil agus ar thionchar na foghlama sin ar chleachtas oideolaíoch múinteoirí. Is múinteoir Eacnamaíochta Baile agus Gaeilge í Christine i nGaelcholáiste Luimnigh agus dar léi, “Is iad na múinteoirí is tábhachtaí chun rath an chórais tumoideachais a chinntiú, ach mar sin féin níl cáilíocht sa Ghaeilge riachtanach chun dul i mbun teagaisc sa réimse. Tá an-chuid le foghlaim againn fós faoi conas a théann múinteoirí ábhair i mbun forbairt teanga go héifeachtach agus ar thionchar na foghlama sin ar chleachtas oideolaíochta an mhúinteora sa seomra ranga lán-Ghaeilge. Féachfaidh mé ar an topaic íogair seo i mo chuid taighde.”
Déanfaidh Caitríona Ní Luasa, príomhoide Ghaelscoil Naomh Séamas i gCill Orglan, imscrúdú ar fhréamhacha agus ar thionchar féideartha chleachtas na bpríomhoidí tumoideachais. Tá súil aici uirlis féinmheastóireachta scoile a fhorbairt ina cuid taighde, uirlis a bheidh fréamhaithe i gcomhthéacs na ceannaireachta san oideachas lán-Ghaeilge. Deir sí, “Is gá ceannaireacht atá bunaithe ar bhonn eolais agus ar thacar scileanna a bhaineann go sonrach leis an tumoideachas chun an próiseas féinmheastóireachta scoile a chur i bhfeidhm i gcomhthéacs an tumoideachais. Is ann do raidhse litríochta ar an gceannaireacht oideachais go ginearálta ina n‑aithnítear saintréithe ceannaire ‘rathúil’ scoile ach, ina ainneoin sin, is lú i bhfad an taighde atá déanta, agus an tuiscint atá againn, ar conas is ceart freastal ar na héilimh a bhíonn ar cheannairí scoile i gcomhthéacs an tumoideachais – go háirithe príomhoidí i scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Féachaim sa taighde dochtúireachta seo leis an mbearna sin a dhúnadh.”
Agus buíochas á ghlacadh le COGG aige as ucht na tacaíochta, dúirt an Dr T.J Ó Ceallaigh, Stiúrthóir na Staidéar Iarchéime Múinte san Oideachas in CMgS, go bhfuil géarghá le soláthar oideachais atá bunaithe ar thaighde le go dtiocfaidh forbairt ar an tumoideachas éifeachtach in Éirinn. Deir sé, “Tá ár mbonn eolais maidir leis an oideachas lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta ag méadú de shíor, agus tá buntacaíocht ann i gcónaí don tumoideachas i measc tuismitheoirí, lucht oideachais, agus lucht déanta beartas ar gach leibhéal. Mar sin féin, is iomaí athróg chasta idirghníomhach a théann i bhfeidhm agus i gcion ar fhorbairt clár den sórt sin. Tá soláthar ardchaighdeáin bunaithe ar an léann agus ar an taighde ríthábhachtach le haghaidh rath agus fhás leanúnach an tumoideachais. Is gá iarrachtaí taighde saindírithe i láthair na huaire chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh sa réimse. Is mór an onóir dom a bheidh in ann tacú leis na mic léinn seo ar bronnadh sparánacht PhD orthu ina gcuid iarrachtaí.”
Tá faisnéis bhreise i ndáil le tograí taighde na mac léinn a fuair sparánacht le fáil anseo.
Féach Creat CMgS le haghaidh an Oideachais ar leibhéal Dochtúireachta anseo.
Táthar ag glacadh le hiarratais faoi láthair don Teastas i dTeagasc Ábharbhunaithe san Iarbhunscolaíocht Lán-Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta. Cuirfear tús leis an gclár i Mí Eanáir 2022. Is é an 14 Nollaig 2021 an spriocdháta chun iarratas a chur isteach. Tá faisnéis bhreise le fáil anseo.
Níltear ag glacadh le hiarratais faoi láthair do chlár an M.Oid. san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta don bhliain acadúil 2021-22. Tá faisnéis bhreise le fáil anseo.
Over €100k in Research Bursaries Awarded to MIC Students
Over €100,000 has been awarded in research bursaries from an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) to six postgraduate students at Mary Immaculate College (MIC). The bursaries, which are valued at €17,612 each, will support PhD students at MIC to engage in critical research on key aspects of Irish-medium and Gaeltacht education.
The bursary awardees include Caitríona Ní Luasa, principal of Gaelscoil Naomh Séamas in Killorglin, Co. Kerry; Christine Ní Chathasaigh, teacher in Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh in Limerick city; Caitríona Ní Mhurchú, deputy principal of Gaelscoil Inis Córthaidh in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford; Carmel Nic Airt, part-time lecturer at MIC and former principal of Gaelscoil Uí Chaoileáin in Clonakilty, Co. Cork; Helena Nic an Fhailí, advisor at the PDST (Professional Development Service for Teachers) and seconded teacher from Gaelscoil Liatroma in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim; and Toirdealbhach Ó Lionaird, principal of Coláiste Gobnatán in Ballyvourney, Co. Cork. Each of the bursary recipients are graduates of MIC’s M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta programme.
In welcoming these bursaries from COGG, Professor Michael Healy, Vice-President of Research at MIC, said, “Mary Immaculate College is immensely proud of our M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Gaeltachta programme and the work of an Dr TJ Ó Ceallaigh, Comhordaitheoir an Chláir, and his colleagues who deliver this programme. Since its inception, the programme has gone from strength to strength, and this new development, involving sponsorship of merit-based PhD bursaries by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, further underpins the excellence of the programme right through to doctoral level. The College is delighted to welcome the awardees who will join our thriving postgraduate research community and acknowledges the contribution of COGG.”
Commenting on the calibre and potential impact of the PhD research proposals, Muireann Ní Mhóráin, Chief Executive of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, said, “A key function of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta is to support a wide variety of research and action initiatives aimed at the development of the Gaeltacht and Irish-medium sector and the teaching of Irish in all schools. Research is critically needed to guide and stimulate a more comprehensive, cohesive, systematic and future-ready approach. These PhD research proposals have the potential to provide a distinctive and significant contribution to the field. COGG is delighted to support such research initiatives and wishes the awardees all the best with their research trajectories.”
Christine Ní Chathasaigh’s doctoral research will focus on teacher language awareness and will examine the specific needs, professional development and impact of this learning on teachers’ pedagogical practice. According to Christine, who teaches Home Economics and Irish in Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, “Teachers are the most important factor in ensuring the success of the immersion system, yet a qualification in Irish is not an essential requirement to teach in the sector. We have much to learn about how subject teachers go about effective language development and about the impact of this learning on their pedagogical practice in the Irish-medium immersion classroom. My research will explore this delicate topic.”
Caitríona Ní Luasa, principal of Gaelscoil Naomh Séamas in Killorglin, will investigate the roots and potential implications of immersion principals’ practice. Through her research she hopes to develop a school self-evaluation tool, which is rooted in the context of leadership in Irish-medium education. She said, “Implementation of the school self-evaluation process in the immersion context demands leadership shaped by an immersion-specific knowledge base and skill repertoire. Although there is much literature on educational leadership in general that identifies characteristics of a ‘successful’ school leader, meeting the demands placed upon school leaders working in the immersion context is far less researched or well understood – particularly principals in Irish-medium immersion and Gaeltacht schools. My PhD research seeks to address this gap.”
Thanking COGG for its support, Dr T.J. Ó Ceallaigh, Director of Taught Postgraduate Studies in Education at MIC, indicated that research-informed educational provision is critical in the evolution of effective language immersion education in Ireland. He said, “Our knowledge base in relation to Irish-medium and Gaeltacht education is growing constantly and there continues to be a core base of support for immersion education among parents, educators and policymakers at all levels. However, a complex and interacting multitude of variables initiate, influence and impact on the development of such programmes. High-quality provision powered by scholarship and research is key for the continued success and growth of immersion education. Specific targeted research efforts are needed at this time to advance the field. It will be a privilege to support PhD bursary awardees in these efforts.”
Additional information in relation to bursary awardees’ research proposals is available here.
View MIC’s Framework for Doctoral Education here.
Applications are currently being accepted for An Teastas i dTeagasc Ábharbhunaithe san Iarbhunscolaíocht Lán-Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta commencing in January 2022. The deadline for applications is 14 December 2021. Further information is available here.
Applications for An M Oid san Oideachas Lán-Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta are currently closed for the academic year 2021-22. Further information is available here.
