School of Policy and Practice header
School of Policy & Practice

Dr
Trudy
Corrigan

Primary Department
School of Policy & Practice
Role
Academic Staff
Trudy Corrigan_002
Phone number:
01 700
9251
Campus
St Patrick's Campus
Room Number
SPC M 220

Academic biography

Researcher and Lecturer, Trudy is a staff member of the School of Policy and Practice, Institute of Education, DCU. Founder of the DCU Intergenerational Learning Programme (DCUILP) and one of the co-founders of the DCU Age Friendly University Initiative (DCU AFU). Her research interests are in adult education and lifelong learning. This includes developing Intergenerational Learning as a high quality pedagogical practice in higher education.

Trudy is interested in evaluating intergenerational learning as an integral part of 21st Century Learning in higher education. In addition she is interested in how this innovative pedagogical practice influences teacher education in early childhood, primary and second level schools. This  includes using the expertise and experience of retired people as mentors to third level students in developing personal and professional knowledge and skills.

The DCU Intergenerational Learning Programme  was one of the first DCU initiatives/flagships which has now developed into the DCU Age Friendly University Global networks. Trudy was vice-chair who together with the President and colleagues from DCU, Arizona State University (ASU) and the University of Strathclyde, were the first three universities to develop the 10 Principles of an Age-Friendly University in 2012. These principles have now been developed by 51 colleges world wide. Trudy is currently developing research which embraces the knowledge, expertise and lived experience of older people to be used for high quality learning in higher education.        

Trudy is interested in the concept of a stimulated mind in aging. In addition she is interested in the benefits of the provision of teaching and learning opportunities at third level as a significant contribution towards independent living in aging. Her research includes evaluating the role of Intergenerational Learning as a contribution to the continuing personal and professional development of older people, third level students and as a contribution to critical thinking and reflection in third level learning.

Trudy's experience has previously been in Adult Education and in Professional Development both at third level and in Colleges of Further Education. Her other research interests are developing communities of learning both on campus and online  that are inclusive of engaging older and young people in the arts, the sciences and in the inclusion of  intercultural and cross generational populations in higher education. Trudy supervises master's students and doctoral thesis students, and trainee teachers in their work-based practice.In recent weeks she has adopted to the move to online teaching for all modules and embraces the use of this form of learning as a hybrid model for the new academic year. This has also influenced her interests in developing online learning as a blended form of learning both within mainstream higher level teaching and learning, and in older adult learning. Trudy is the principal investigator of an Erasmus Project which is  currently evaluating the benefits of smart home technology for older adults. This is to assist in lifelong learning and to facilitate them to live independently in their own homes.  

Research interests

Intergenerational Learning as a pedagogy used in higher education. The development of communities of learning in higher education that is intercultural and cross generational. Personal and Professional development of learning in later life. Valuing the scholarship of eldership-embracing the knowledge and wisdom of older people in higher education. Encore career opportunities. Adult Education and Lifelong Learning. Mediation Skills in the workplace. Access, equity and inclusion at third Level. Innovative learning and the impact of educational opportunities in relation to human,social and cultural capital. Intergenerational Learning and learning opportunities for older and younger people at third level, click here for the Intergenerational Learning Project website. Mentoring and Peer Learning. Citizenship and Education. Action Research/Research Perspectives. Innovative Access Routes to third level in association with the HEA. Benefits of ICT for the Knowledge Economy. Benefits of ICT for Professional Development in Education. Creating communities of practice/ and learning organisations in the workplace. Lifelong learning. Learning opportunities in higher education for older people. The Scholarship of Eldership