DCU Institute of Education
DCU Institute of Education
Dr. Miriam O’Connor

Doctoral research changing professional practice

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This year’s autumn conferrings marked a significant moment for the development of Dental Nursing profession in Ireland when Dr. Miriam O’Connor from the Athlone Institute of Technology graduated with the first Doctorate in the field in Ireland.  Her study, Theory to Practice: Exploratory study on dental nursing graduates’ experience of professional practice placement and how effective it is for preparation for employment was supervised by Professor Joe O’Hara of the School of Policy and Practice and explored the professional practice experiences of Dental Nurses in Ireland.

Dr. O’Connor reflected on her experience as an EdD student in DCU and personal and professional journey that led to last week’s conferring:

My sister and I started in DCU in 2015, chosen because DCU is widely recognised as a centre of expertise and excellence in teacher education. For us, the research-based post-graduate Doctor of Education was an achievement we both felt would enhance our professional academic careers.

I am a lecturer in Athlone Institute of Technology and my sister a lecturer in IT Sligo, coming from an IoT, the ethos and focus we instil is very much student centred. This is something we felt was reflected in DCU, not just in the Institute of Education but among administration departments such as registration, fees and library, with staff available, willing and eager to help. 

For me, the important aspect of commencing this Doctorate of Education was finding a supervisor who was suited to my discipline and where I would be given the opportunity to discuss my ideas, be guided in my decisions and supported as I progressed. I was extremely lucky to have Professor Joe O’Hara, Professor of Education as my supervisor, I couldn’t have asked for more.  I benefited greatly from his expertise, guidance and knowledge of Education, generating new and original research, relevant not just for the dental nursing industry but for all educational programmes containing a professional practice placement element.

I graduated from DCU on 6 November 2019 and my sister will graduate in March 2020.

If you want to become a teacher or wish to develop or extend your professional development and understanding of education, then the Institute of Education at DCU should be your first and final stop.

The DCU Professional Doctorate in Education (EdD) is a research degree for experienced professionals from education and related fields who would like to extend their professional understanding and develop skills in research, evaluation and high-level reflection on practice.

The programme, offered within DCU's Institute of Education, aims to foster professional development through research as well as meeting the requirements of rigour and originality expected of a doctorate. It includes assessed taught courses, research-focused workshops and supervised original research. It offers participants the opportunity to take modules in and complete a research study in one of the following eight Areas of Professional Focus:

  • Arts, Creativity and Imagination in Education
  • Assessment, Learning and Teaching
  • Digital Learning
  • Inclusive and Special Education
  • Leadership and Evaluation
  • Religious Education
  • Teacher Education
  • Values Education

The next intake for the programme will be in September 2020 and further details, including contact information, can be found here:
https://www.dcu.ie/courses/Postgraduate/institute_of_education/Doctorate-Education.shtml