Researcher Details |

Jane O'Kelly

Dr. Jane O'Kelly is an Assistant Professor in the DCU Institute of Education. Her research interests include further education and training, professional practice in teaching adults, learner voice, neurodiversity and Autism. She lectures in Research methodologies and approaches, sociology and professional practice in education. She was the Chair of the BSc in Education and Training from 2018 to 2024 and manages the placement year for students seeking accreditation as tutors in further education and training. Her background includes working in the National Centre for Guidance in Education and Leargas, supporting policy and practice in adult education, vocational education and training (VET) and guidance. She has strong ties to European Commission funded VET programmes through twenty years of administration, management, evaluation and report writing in the Leonardo da Vinci, Lifelong Learning and Erasmus+ programmes. She has a deep interest in Autism and Neurodiversity and has researched the experience of autistic people in education and employment. She is committed to the development of the further education sector in Ireland through research and evaluation on pedagogy, peer support and learner-centred practice, both to support the continuing professional development of educators and trainers, and to improve outcomes for adult returners and older learners.

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2024	Kenny, N.; Doyle, J. K.,; O'Kelly,J.; Neilson, S.,; Earley, F.; McDonald, J. (2024) 'Exploring the paradigm of co-produced autism research within the context of the COVID pandemic' In: Including Voices: Respecting the Experiences of Individuals from Marginalised Communities. England : Emerald Insights.
	2017	Rami, J & O'Kelly, J (2017) 'Initial Teacher Education in FET settings: Affirmation and Aspiration' In: Education Matters Yearbook 2016-2017. Galway, Ireland : Education Matters. [Link]

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2022	Tiernan, P.; O’Kelly, J. (2022) 'Enterprise education: pre-service further education teachers' impressions and aspirations'. Education and Training, 64 . [Link] [DOI]
	2019	Tiernan, P.; O’Kelly, J. (2019) 'Learning with digital video in second level schools in Ireland'. Education and Information Technologies, 24 . [Link] [DOI]
	2014	Tiernan, P.; O’Kelly, J. (2014) 'Blending work and learning: The impact of a workplace learning programme on the low-skilled and long term unemployed'. Industrial and Commercial Training, 46 . [Link] [DOI]

Conference Contribution

	Year	Publication
	2024	Trudy Corrigan; Francesca Lorenzi; Jane O'Kelly; Justin Rami (2024) Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference 2024 Evaluating the Health Benefits of Participation in Lifelong Learning in Ireland today Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, 04/04/2024-06/04/2024.
	2022	O’Kelly, J.,Rami, J., et al (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2022, Reconstructing What Matter Exploring professionalism in Further Education and Training: a pilot module Marino Institute of Education, Ireland, .
	2022	O’Kelly, J. et al (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2022, Reconstructing What Matter Exploring professionalism in Further Education and Training: a pilot module Marino Institute of Education, Ireland, .
	2022	Rami, J. & O’Kelly, J. (2022) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annal Conference 2022, Reconstructing What Matters Implications for the professional formation of the FET Teacher - Teaching in Further Education & Training in Ireland Marino Institute of Education, Ireland, .
	2021	Corrigan, T., Rami, J., O’Kelly, J. & Lalor, J (2021) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2021 Possibilities in Education: An Evaluation of a Team Based Approach (to supervision) of Final Year Student Projects in Teacher Education Online, Ireland, .
	2021	Corrigan, T.; Rami, J.; O’Kelly, J.; Lalor, J. (2021) Educational Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Annual Conference 2021 Possibilities in Education: An Evaluation of a Team Based Approach (to supervision) of Final Year Student Projects in Teacher Education Online,Ireland, .
	2021	O’Kelly, J., et al (2021) GASTA National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching in Learning Professional Identity for Teaching in FET Ireland, .
	2020	O'Kelly, J.; Brown, M.; Tiernan, P.; O’Hara, J.; Tiernan,P.; O’Hara,J.; McNamara, G.; Skerrott,C. (2020) Educational Studies Association of Ireland - Opening up Education Education (Options, Obstacles and opportunities) The rise of Intrapreneurship in Education Online, 03/09/2020-05/09/2020.
	2017	Jane O'Kelly (2017) The European Social Fund Celebrating 60 Years of Investing in People ESF conference celebrating 60 years of the ESF in Ireland The Printworks, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, 28/11/2017-28/11/2017.
	2018	Jane O'Kelly, Peter Tiernan (2018) Values and Purpose in Education Teacher, Trainer, Tutor?: Exploring the perspective of students in initial teacher education for Further Education and Training UCD, Dublin, 06/04/2018-07/04/2018.
	2017	Rami, J., Lalor, J., Tiernan, P., Lorenzi, F., O'kelly, J. (2017) ESAI 42nd Annual Conference Changing Research: working the spaces between education policy and practice Cascading support from practitioners to learners in FET: learning difficulties and other issues Cork, Ireland, .
	2017	Rami, J, O'Kelly, J, Teirnan, P (2017) 12th Annual JVET Journal Conference Squeezing the middle - A study of of teachers, trainers and staff working in the Further Education & Training sector in Ireland under the backdrop of the Irish financial crisis Oxford, UK, .
	2016	Rami, J, O'Kelly, J, Lalor, J (2016) ECER 2016 Leading Education: The Distinct Contributions of Educational Research and Researchers Initial Teacher Education for Further Education: An Evaluation of Trainee Teachers’ Experiences of their Teaching Placement UCD, Dublin , Ireland, 22/08/2016-26/08/2016.

Thesis

	Year	Publication
	2016	Jane O'Kelly (2016) How can a community of practice process and concept support undergraduates learning experiences?. THES [Link]

Invited papers

	Year	Publication
	2022	Rami, J & O’Kelly, J. (2022) Teaching in Further Education and Training - Implications for the professional formation of the FET practitioner - Further Education & Training. Dublin: INVP [Link]

Other Journal

	Year	Publication
	2024	Kenny, N.; O'Kelly, J. (2024) 'How Autistic people can be supported accessing employment in Ireland' RTE Brainstorm, . [Link]

Published Report

	Year	Publication
	2024	Kenny, N.; O'Kelly, J.; Scully, C.; Butler, S. (2024) Future Expectations: A Qualitative Exploration of the Perceptions and Expectations of Autistic Adults Regarding the IMPACT Programme. DCU, . [Link]

Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	Educational Studies Association of Ireland	Member	06/01/2020 - 31/12/2022
	HEI FET Forum	Association of HEI Providers of ITE in FET	05/06/2017 -

Honors and Awards

	Date	Title	Awarding Body
	01/01/2011	DCU Presidents Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (nomination)	DCU
	01/05/2022	Presidents' Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (Team award)	DCU

Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	Placements & Related Partnerships Committee		02/01/2017 - 31/12/2019
	Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee		02/01/2017 - 30/12/2017

Education

	Start date	Institution	Qualification	Subject
		Dublin City University	BSc in Education and Training (Hons)
		Dublin City University	PhD

Reviews

	Journal	Role
	THE ADULT LEARNER: THE JOURNAL OF ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION IN IRELAND	Reviewer

Enterprise Engagement

	Year	Engagement Type	Client	Description
	2022	Other	EPALE (Leargas / EU Commission)	EPALE Ambassador (Ireland)

Research Interests

Further education and training (FET), teaching in FET, continuing professional development in FET, reflective practice, neurodiversity and Autism.

Internal Collaborators

	Type	Name	Company	Role
	Internal	Dr. Peter Tiernan	DCU Institute of Education	Academic
	Internal	FETRC Further Education and Training Research Centre	DCU Institute of Education	Academic

Teaching Interests

I am interested in communities of practice and the value of educators and trainers learning from each other's experience. I believe that the sharing of tacit knowledge and responses to learner needs and behaviour from the practitioner perspective is key to improving practice and the learner experience. These beliefs align with the importance of reflective practice and the commitment of all practitioners to improving the educational and vocational experience of learners and educators alike.

Modules Coordinated

Term	Title	Subject
2022	Reflective Work-based Practice	ES2120
2020	Practical Teaching Placement 2	ES333
2022	Reflective Work-based Practice	ES205
2022	Project 1	ES3140
2022	Human Development - Power and Politics	ES126
2022	Policy & Structures in Education & Training	ES202
2022	Mediation Skills for the Learning Context	ES203
2022	Advanced Teaching Strategies	ES208
2022	Psychology of Individual Difference&Diversity	ES209
2022	Professional Skills and Practice	ES210
2021	Sociology of Education and Training	ES226
2022	Equality, Access and Inclusion	ES311
2021	HR and Training in a Globalised World	ES315
2022	Creating Learning Environments using ICT	ES318
2021	Equality, Access and Inclusion	ES321
2021	Developing a Research Perspective	ES323
2021	Project 1	ES3240
2021	Leadership and the Learning Organisation	ES325
2021	Description of 2022_ES326	ES326
2021	Research Project 2	ES327
2022	HR and Training in a Globalised World	ES340
2022	Designing Instruction for Trainng Environment	ES220
2020	Practical Teaching Placement 1	ES332
2022	Designing Instruction for Trainng Environment	ES224
2022	Research Project 2	ES319