Researcher Details |

Catherine Maunsell

Dr. Catherine (Kay) Maunsell is Associate Professor of Psychology, Human Development and Education in the School of Human Development, DCU Institute of Education. She is Programme Chair of the landmark Department of Education-funded Level 9 Graduate Diploma in SPHE/RSE. From 2019-2021 Kay was the Principal Investigator on the TEACH-RSE Research Project on Teacher Professional Development and Relationships and Sexuality Education, funded through an IRC Coalesce Research Award (2019/147) with the support of the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme.

Teaching
Kay lectures across a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered within the Institute of Education, including the BAJH (Human Development) and the PME Post-Primary Education. She is Chair of the Level 9 Graduate Diploma in SPHE/RSE, the first specialist teacher professional learning and development programme in SPHE/RSE in Ireland which is supported through funding from the Department of Education.

Until 2021, she was the Subject Co-ordinator of Developmental and Educational Psychology on the BSc Psychology and MSc Psychology (Conversion) programmes offered through the DCU School of Psychology.

Dr. Maunsell supervises students' research from undergraduate through to doctoral levels, and welcomes enquiries regarding Masters and Doctoral supervision in areas pertaining to the interface of Psychology, Human Development and Education, with particular interest in supervising research on themes relating to Relationships and Sexuality Education RSE and Teacher Professional Development and Child/Adolescent Rights. She is fully committed to supporting her students' development and, in turn, learning from them.

Research
Dr. Maunsell maintains an active research profile in the broad fields of developmental psychology, education, social justice and human rights. She is currently pursing her research interests in the rights of children and young people and those most marginalised to comprehensive, right-based, inclusive Relationships and Sexuality Education.

Kay has also been engaged as Irish Co-ordinator on a range of large-scale EU projects and national research on themes, inter alia the role of the education system in social inclusion and and teachers’ role as enablers of human rights in the education system.

Engagement
Kay is a founding and current member of the Steering Committee of the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education CHRCE, a DCU Research Centre in the DCU Institute of Education.

From 2012 to 2016, she was the St. Patrick’s College, Director of Quality Promotion and Assurance and following Incorporation until 2019 was the designated representative of the Institute of Education to the DCU Quality Promotion Committee.

Dr. Maunsell is an active member of national and international organisations devoted to research on child and adolescent development and education.

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2018	Maunsell, C. (2018) '‘Tracing Our Roots: Imagining Our Future’: Lessons to Learn from the Life Histories of Adult Educators in the Republic of Ireland (1970–2010)'. THE ADULT LEARNER: THE JOURNAL OF ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION IN IRELAND, :68-82.
	2016	Bourke, A; Maunsell, C (2016) ''Teachers Matter': The Impact of Mandatory Reporting on Teacher Education in Ireland'. Child Abuse Review, 25 :314-324. [DOI]
	2011	Maunsell, C., (with Carrigan, J.) (2011) 'Invited presentation at the Inaugural Meeting of the International Network on Prison Education (PEN): University of Bergen'. Educational experiences of prisoners studying within the prison system: A life history approach, .
	2014	Carrigan, J; Maunsell, C (2014) ''Never really had a good education you know, until I came in here': educational life histories of young adult male prisoner learners'. Irish Educational Studies, :399-417. [DOI]
	2006	Downes, P., Maunsell, C., McLoughlin, V., Taljunaite, M. (2006) 'Lifelong learning in Ireland and Lithuania: Some examples of Irish policy and practice for Lithuania to consider ?'. Filosofija.Sociologija, 4 :29-36.
	2000	Maunsell, C., Smith H.V., & Stevenson, C. (2000) 'What happens in court? The development of understanding of the legal system in a sample of Irish children and adults'. Irish Journal of Psychology, 21 (3-4):215-5-226.

Book

	Year	Publication
	2000	Maunsell, C., McLoughlin, L. Gogan, S., Greene, S., & Buckley, N. (2000) A National Directory of services for women and their children who have experienced violence or the threat of violence. Dublin: Government Stationery Office.
	1998	Bacik, I., Maunsell, C., & Gogan, S. (1998) The Legal Process and Victims of Rape. Dublin: Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and School of Law, Trinity College Dublin.

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2018	Maunsell, C & Bourke, A. (2018) 'SPHE and Intimate Citizenship Education in 21st Century Irish Post-Primary Schools: Meeting Opportunities and Challenges of Proposed Junior Cycle Reform through Teacher Professional Development' In: SPHE and Citizenship Education 100 Years On. Ireland : SPHE Network.
	2013	Maunsell, C; Downes, P (2013) 'Rising to the challenge of realizing lifelong learning for one and all: the role of community adult education in widening participation for traditionally marginalized groups in Irish society and beyond' In: LIFELONG LEARNING IN EUROPE: NATIONAL PATTERNS AND CHALLENGES. CHELTENHAM : EDWARD ELGAR PUBLISHING LTD.
	2011	Maunsell, C. (2011) 'Lifelong learning and associated policy objectives: European, national, and institutional perspectives' In: Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in the University Sector: Policies, case studies and issues arising. Dublin : University Framework Implementation Network (FIN) of the National Qualifications Authority of Irelan.
	2010	Ruane, B., Waldron, F., Maunsell, C. et al. (2010) 'Bringing alive the spirit of Human Rights: Irish teachers’ understandings of human rights and human rights education' In: Human Rights Education: Reflections on Theory and Practice. Dublin : The Liffey Press.
	2008	Maunsell, C. (2008) 'Relationships in adolescence' In: Well-being and post-primary schooling: A review of the literature and research. Dublin : NCCA. [Link]
	2007	Maunsell, C., Barrett, V., & Candon, M. (2007) 'Primary to post-primary school: Perceptions of pupils with special educational needs' In: Beyond Educational Disadvantage. Dublin : IPA.
	2007	Downes, P., Maunsell, C., & Ivers, J. (2007) 'The ‘jolt in climate’ between primary and post-primary' In: Beyond Educational Disadvantage. Dublin : IPA.

Conference Publication

	Year	Publication
	2020	Maunsell, Catherine, Ashling Bourke, Aisling Costello, Claire Cullen and Malgosia Machowska-Kosciak. (2020) European Association of Research on Adolescence EARA *Preparing teachers to teach comprehensive sexuality education to children and young people: Findings from the Irish TEACH-RSE Research Study*
	2019	Catherine Maunsell and Ashling Bourke (2019) World Anti-Bullying Forum WABF *The Potential of Teacher Professional Development for Relationships and Sexuality Education as a Protective Factor against School-Based Bullying: Some Proposals from the TEACH-RSE Research Study*
	2019	Bourke, A. and Maunsell, C. (2019) International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS) *The Child-Parent Relationship, Negative Life Events, and Psychopathology in Childhood* Paris, France,
	2019	Maunsell, C. and Bourke, A. (2019) National Sex Education Conference NSEC *TEACH-RSE: A Study of the Role of Irish Initial Teacher Education Programmes in Preparing Teachers to Teach Sex Education* Newark, New Jersey,
	2019	Hadfield, K., Bourke, A. and Maunsell, C. (2019) International Convention of Psychological Science (ICPS) *The Spillover Hypothesis: How Family Dyads Impact Parent-Child Relationship Quality* Paris, France,
	2018	Maunsell, C. and Bourke, A. (2018) 10th European Conference on Gender Equality in Higher Education *Enabling Gender Equality: Exploring the Potential of Teacher Personal and Professional Development* Trinity College Dublin, Ireland,
	2016	Maunsell, C & Bourke, A (2016) Social, Personal and Health Education SPHE Network Conference *SPHE/RSE in 21st Century Irish Post-Primary Schools: Meeting Opportunities and Challenges of Proposed Junior Cycle Reform through Teacher Professional Development*
	2015	Maunsell, C. and Bourke, A. (2015) European Symposium on Adolescent Research; Organised by European Association for Research on Adolescence EARA and the Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton: London *Adolescent Social, Emotional and Sexual Health and Wellbeing: Opportunities for Initial and Continuing Teacher Education*
	2015	Maunsell, C. and Bourke, A. (2015) 10th Biannual Conference of the International Association for the Study of Sexuality Culture and Society, IASSCS, DCU, Dublin *Sexual literacies among young adolescents in Ireland: To talk (to teacher) or not to talk*
	2014	Maunsell, C. and Bourke, A. (2014) Bi-annual Conference of the European Association for Research on Adolescence EARA, Izmir, Turkey *Emergent Sexual Development in Adolescence*
	2013	Maunsell, C. and Bourke, A. (2013) 13th ISPCAN European Regional Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Dublin *Understanding teachers: Irish teachers’ understanding of human rights and human rights education: Implications for child protection*
	2011	Maunsell, C., (with Downes, P.) (2011) Presentation to the LLL2010 Final Conference, Leuven *Lifelong Learning for All? Policies and practices towards underrepresented and socially excluded groups*
	2011	Maunsell, C., (with Downes, P.) (2011) Presentation to the Final Conference on Implementing the Action Plan on Adult Learning, European Commission, Budapest *Access to higher education for traditionally marginalised groups in Europe*
	2011	Maunsell, C., (with Downes, P.) (2011) Invited Speaker at the Final Conference on Implementing the Action Plan on Adult Learning, European Commission, Budapest *Access to higher education for traditionally marginalised groups in Europe*
	2011	Maunsell, C., Oberman, R., & Waldron, F. (2011) Presentation at the Conference on Opportunities and Challenges: Implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Queen’s University Belfast: Research Forum for the Child *The Right to Human Rights Education: Teachers’ Understanding and Delivery of Human Rights Education in Irish Primary School*
	2011	Maunsell, C. (2011) Conference on Re-imagining Initial Teacher Education: Perspectives on Transformation, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin *Transforming teaching for lifelong learning: The role of initial teacher education within a lifelong learning framework*
	2010	Maunsell, C. (2010) Presentation to the University Framework Implementation Network (FIN) *EU and national lifelong learning policies and practice* [Link]
	2010	Maunsell, C. (2010) Presentation to SCUTREA Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults, University of Warwick *‘Tracing our roots: imagining our future’: A life history of adult education in the Republic of Ireland*
	2009	Ruane, B., & Maunsell, C. (2009) Presentation to the International Conference on Human Rights and Citizenship Education, Birkbeck College, University of London *A vital part of citizenship: Teachers’ understandings of human rights and implications for initial teacher education*
	2007	Maunsell, C., (with Downes, P.) (2007) Presentation to the Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning, University of Stirling *Strategies for the ‘New’Educational Transition: Addressing the lifelong educational needs of young foreign nationals in Ireland*

Conference Contribution

	Year	Publication
	2021	Catherine Maunsell and Ashling Bourke (2021) Gender Equality Matters Initial Teacher Educators’ insights on gender and sexual equality when preparing teachers to teach Relationships and Sexuality Education RSE: Preliminary findings from the TEACH-RSE Research Project Dublin - Online, .
	2016	Maunsell, C. & Bourke, A. (2016) European Association for Research on Adolescence Biannual Conference, Cadiz, Spain The Role of the School in Learning about Sex and Relationships in Early Adolescence Cadiz, Spain, .
	2016	Costello, A., Bourke, A., & Maunsell, C. (2016) European Association for Research on Adolescence Biannual Conference, Cadiz, Spain An investigation of the relationship between Objectification Theory, Facebook use and Mood Cadiz, Spain, .
	2016	Bourke, A. & Maunsell, C. (2016) European Association for Research on Adolescence Biannual Conference, Cadiz, Spain The role of family relationships on sex education provided in the home Cadiz, Spain, .
	2015	Bourke, A., Hadfield, K., & Maunsell, C. (2015) Society for Research in Child Development Biannual Conference Spillover Hypothesis: The Influence of Familial Subsystems on the Quality of the Parent-Child Relationship Philadelphia, USA, .
	2015	Costello, A., Bourke, A., & Maunsell, C. (2015) International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture and Society (IASSCS) An Investigation of Objectification Theory within the Context of the Internet Dublin, Ireland, .
	2014	Maunsell, C. & Bourke, A. (2014) Self, Selves and Sexualities Conference. Dublin City University, Dublin Learning About Sex and Relationships in Early Adolescence: From Here, There and Nowhere Dublin, Ireland, .
	2013	Greene, N., Bourke, A., Maunsell, C., & Gallagher, J. (2013) European Child Health Conference. Dublin City University, Dublin An investigation into the relationship between psychological vulnerabilities and chronic illness in Irish Children Dublin, Ireland, .
	2013	Bourke, A. & Maunsell, C. (2013) Child Abuse and Neglect 13th ISPCAN European Regional Conference ‘Teachers matter’: the impact of the introduction of mandatory reporting on teacher training and education Dublin, Ireland, .
	2013	Bourke, A. & Maunsell, C. (2013) Growing Up in Ireland Annual Conference, Dublin Communication and Closeness: Parent-child relationships Dublin, Ireland, .
	2021	Maunsell, C., Bourke, A., Costello, A., Cullen, C. and Machowska-Kosciak, M. (2021) SPHE Network Conference 2021 Media and Digital Literacy Relevant to Relationships and Sexuality Education RSE in Initial Teacher Education ITE: Some Lessons from the TEACH-RSE Research Study Online, .
	2021	Maunsell, C. (2021) FoSE: Sex Education Research Convening Invited Panelist: Future of Sex Education Initiative FoSE: Sex Education Research Convening. Co-hosted by the Future of Sex Education (FoSE): Advocates for Youth, Answer, and SIECUS: Sex Ed for Social Change, in partnership with the Widener University Center for Human Sexuality Studies Online, .

Published Report

	Year	Publication
	2021	Maunsell, Catherine, Ashling Bourke, Aisling Costello, Claire Cullen and Malgosia Machowska-Kosciak. (2021) TEACH-RSE Teacher Professional Development and Relationships and Sexuality Education RSE: Realising Optimal Sexual Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan. HSE: Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme, .
	2013	Maunsell, C., McLoughlin, L., Carrigan, J. and McLoughlin, V. (Eds). (2013) Reintegration into Society through Education and Learning [RiSE]. Grundtvig Learning Partnership, .
	2011	Waldron, F., Kavanagh, A.M., Kavanagh, R., Maunsell, C., Oberman, R., O'Reilly, M., Pike, S., Prunty, A., & Ruane, B. (2011) Teachers, Human Rights and Human Rights Education: Knowledge, perspectives and practices of primary school teachers in Ireland. A report by the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education. St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, .
	2010	Dooley, C., Downes, P., Maunsell, C., & McLoughlin, V. (2010) Promoting social inclusion: The access of adults to formal and non-formal education in Ireland. Irish National Report for Subproject 5 of EU Framework Six Project ‘Towards a lifelong learning society: The contribution of the education system’. Educational Disadvantage Centre, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, .
	2010	Ruane, B., Kavanagh, A., Waldron, F., Dillon, S., Casey, M., Maunsell, C., & Prunty, A. (2010) Young children's engagement with issues of global justice. A Report by the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education. St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra and Trocaire, .
	2009	Maunsell, C., Carrigan, J. Downes, P., McLoughlin, V., & Byrne, I. (2009) National Report of a Survey of 1000 Adult Learners’ Experiences of Returning to Education. EDC-SPD, .
	2008	Maunsell, C., Downes, P., & McLoughlin, V. (2008) National Report on Lifelong Learning in Ireland. Educational Disadvantage Centre, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, .
	2007	Downes, P. & Maunsell, C. (2007) Count us in: Tackling early school leaving in South West Inner City Dublin, An integrated response. South Inner City Community Development Association (SICCDA) & South Inner City Drugs Task Force, .
	2006	Downes, P., Maunsell, C., & Ivers, J. (2006) A holistic approach to early school leaving and school retention in Blanchardstown: Current issues and future steps for services and schools. Blanchardstown Area Partnership, .

Commissioned Report

	Year	Publication
	2001	Maunsell, C., McLoughlin, L., Gogan, S., Greene, S., & Buckley, N. (2001) Report on the Feasibility of a National Helpline for Victims of Violence. Report Commissioned by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the National Steering Committee on Violence Against Women. COMMREP
	1999	McLoughlin, L., Maunsell, C., & O’Connell, M. (1999) Children in the Irish Juvenile System: Report Commissioned by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the National Working Group on Juvenile Justice. COMMREP

Other Journal

	Year	Publication
	2022	Costello, A., Maunsell, C., Cullen, C. & Bourke, A. (2022) 'A Systematic Review of the Provision of Sexuality Education to Student Teachers in Initial Teacher Education' Frontiers in Education (Teacher Education), . [Link] [DOI]

Research Interests

Child and Adolescent Sexual Development; Relationships and Sexuality Education RSE; Child and Adolescent Rights; Child and Adolescent Wellbeing; Teacher Professional Development

Research Projects

Title	Role	Start date	End date
TEACH-RSE Teacher Professional Development and Relationships and Sexuality Education RSE: Realising Optimal Sexual Health and Wellbeing Across the Lifespan	Principal Investigator	01/04/2019	30/09/2020
DStep Developing Staff to Enhance Programme (Psychology)	Member of Project Team	09/01/2017	21/12/2018
OED: Outreach Empowerment and Diversity.	Irish Research Co-ordinator; Network Co-ordinator: European Association for the Education of Adults EAEA, Brussels.	01/12/2011	31/12/2014
RISE: Reintegration into Society through Education and Learning.	Irish Research Co-ordinator; Learning Partnership Co-ordinator: FCZB, Berlin	01/09/2011	31/08/2014
LLL2010 'Towards a lifelong learning society: The contribution of the education system'	Irish Coordinator, with Dr. Paul Downes	01/09/2005	31/08/2011

Teaching Interests

Psychology of Adolescence; Child and Adolescent Sexual Development; Relationships and Sexuality Education RSE; Child and Adolescent Rights; Child and Adolescent Wellbeing; Teacher Professional Development