INOVATE ‘Integrating our Voices Across Teacher Education’

The Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education has been awarded funding by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to incorporate authentic minority ethnic young people’s voices within teacher education programmes at both pre-service and in-service levels.  This project will contribute to the authentic representation of young people with ethnic minority backgrounds and an authentic and respectful public portrayal of their personal stories. The specific objective is to give voice to these young people and their stories with a view to increasing understanding of their experiences in teacher education programmes. 

The project is unique as it not only facilitates the expression of young peoples’ voices but also facilitates incorporating their authentic lived experiences in educational research. It brings together Laura Lundy’s model (2007) of participation, as it provides young people with affordances to express their views (Space), facilitates the expression of their views (Voice), creates opportunities for their voices to be listened to (Audience) and have their views acted upon (Influence).

Over the course of the next two years, we will organize a showcase focusing on ethnic minority young people’s vision for a just and equitable future in Ireland. We will also produce digitally animated narratives/videos illuminating young people’s lived experiences through digital autobiographies w& digital story telling. The animated videos will be used to develop and deliver intercultural education workshops with pre-service and in-service teachers to strengthen their competence and confidence to integrate authentic ethnic minority voices and enhance the representation of the young people’s experience in their teaching practice.

If you’d like to find out more please contact Malgosia M-Kosciak malgosia.machowska-kosciak@dcu.ie or Maria Barry maria.barry@dcu.ie .

Maria Barry, Principal Investigator said:

The Centre is delighted to have been awarded funding to continue our work and research in this important area.  Previously, we have worked with primary teachers and schools, supporting them to develop their intercultural education work approaches.  This project now gives us the opportunity to focus on integrating the voices of young people with minority backgrounds across teacher education.

Project coordinator Malgosia MacHowska-Kosciak said:

It is a wonderful project that creates amazing opportunities for young people with ethnic minority background to have their voices heard and incorporated across teacher education. Their story is our priority at every stage of the project!