Academic biography

Aishling is a lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the DCU Institute of Education, St. Patrick's Campus. She is currently pursuing a PhD focusing on her main areas of interest, Early Childhood Education(ECE), policy and stakeholder participation. Aishling holds a Masters in Mentoring, Management and Leadership in the Early Years from the Technological University of Dublin, a Degree in Early Childhood from Queens University, Belfast and a Degree in Business Management from Trinity College, Dublin. Prior to her appointment, Aishling was a senior specialist with Early Years the Organisation for Young Children in Northern Ireland. She provided mentoring and training to management and staff in ECE facilities across the border counties. Aishling is a strong advocate for the ECE profession and is involved in several organisations which promote workforce professionalisation and high-quality provision. She has a passion for ECE and strives to pass on this passion to her students. In 2021, Aishling was awarded the DCU Presidents Medal for Teaching and Learning and became a Senior Fellow in Advanced HE, demonstrating her commitment to professionalism in learning and teaching in higher education. Her research and teaching areas include government policy, advocacy, leadership, mentoring, management, children's citizenship and participation, sustainability, community and parental involvement within the early years. Aishling is currently engaging in a three-year research project working in collaboration with Maynooth University aiming at empowering children, parents and educators to engage in and influence Ireland’s play policy. Aishling is also the placement coordinator for students on the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education Degree. She strives to enhance the student experience while on professional placement by engaging in research projects on, the placement experience, mentoring and assessment at a local and international level