Researcher Details |

Eemer Eivers

Contact Details

Director, DCU Futures Evaluation
T:01 700 9010

E:eemer.eivers@dcu.ie

Eemer Eivers is the Director of the DCU Futures Evaluation, under the aegis of the Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection (EQI). She is also a Senior Research Associate with DCU's Educational Disadvantage Centre. Prior to leaving the Educational Research Centre in 2018, she led Ireland’s participation in multiple large-scale assessments (PIRLS, TIMSS, PISA, Ireland’s National Assessments), conducted multiple programme evaluations, and led the development of a variety of standardised assessments for primary and post-primary school students. Since then, she has worked as a consultant with the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), Malta’s Ministry for Education, and the UK’s National Foundation for Educational Research, as well as with many Irish agencies.

Particular interests include comparisons of educational systems, educational assessments, literacy, educational disadvantage and early school leaving. Malta’s new 10-year policy to combat early school leaving draws heavily on her work, and she subsequently advised on how to adapt Ireland’s HSCL model of support for Maltese schools. She was also a member of Northern Ireland’s Literacy and Numeracy Taskforce, and of the panel that developed the Common Funding Scheme (the mechanism by which Northern Ireland’s education budget is allocated and distributed).

Published Report

	Year	Publication
	2023	Regina Murphy; Eemer Eivers (2023) Evaluation of Creative Schools: Final report. Dublin City University, . [Link]
	2023	Eivers, E. (2023) An evaluation of iScoil and School Completion Programme Blended Learning Centres 2020 – 2021. iScoil, .
	2021	Eivers, E. (2021) The efficacy of iScoil’s home-based provision. iScoil, . [Link]
	2020	Eivers, E. (2020) Identification of students at risk of early school leaving in Malta. Ministry of Education and Employment, . [Link] [DOI]
	2020	Kettlewell, K., Sharp, C. and Eivers, E. (2020) International Early Learning and Child Well-being Study (IELS): National Summary Report for England. NFER, .
	2020	Eivers, E., Worth, J. & Ghosh, A. (2020) Home learning during Covid-19: findings from the Understanding Society longitudinal study. NFER, . [Link]
	2020	Eivers, E. (2020) Reducing early school leaving in Malta. Ministry of Education and Employment, . [DOI]
	2019	Eivers, E. (2019) Left to their own devices: Trends in ICT at primary level. Irish Primary Principals’ Network, . [Link]
	2018	Eivers, E. & Delaney, M. (2018) PIRLS and ePIRLS: Test content and Irish pupils’ performance. ERC Research Series (4). Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2017	Eivers, E. & Chubb, E. (2017) Shaping Schools: What TIMSS tells us about education systems. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2017	Eivers, E. Gilleece, L. & Delaney, E. (2017) Reading achievement in PIRLS 2016: Initial report for Ireland. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2016	Eivers, E. (2016) Educational Research Centre: new status and new tests. Guideline, .
	2012	Eivers, E., & Clerkin, A. (2012) PIRLS & TIMSS 2011: Reading, mathematics and science outcomes for Ireland. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2012	Robert Salisbury; Evan Bates; Eemer Eivers (2012) Independent review of the common funding-scheme. Department of Education Northern Ireland, . [Link]
	2012	Eivers, E., & Clerkin, A. (2012) PIRLS and TIMSS 2011: Technical information for Ireland. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2010	Eivers, E., Clerkin, A., Millar, D., & Close, S. (2010) The 2009 National Assessments Technical Report. Government Stationery Office, . [Link]
	2010	Eivers, E. et al. (2010) The 2009 national assessments of mathematics and English reading. Government Stationery Office, . [Link]
	2008	Eivers, E., Shiel, G., & Pybus, E. (2008) A teacher’s guide to PISA science. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2008	Eivers, E., Shiel, G., & Cunningham, R. (2008) Ready for tomorrow’s world? The competencies of Irish 15-year-olds in PISA 2006.Main report. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2007	Eivers, E., Shiel, G., & Cunningham, R. (2007) Ready for tomorrow’s world? The competencies of Irish 15-year-olds in PISA 2006. Summary report. Government Stationery Office, . [Link]
	2006	Eivers, E., Shiel, G., & Cheevers, C. (2006) Implementing the revised Junior Certificate Science Syllabus: A survey of teachers. Government Stationery Office, . [Link]
	2005	Eivers, E., Shiel, G., Perkins, R., & Cosgrove, J. (2005) The 2004 National Assessment of English Reading. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2005	Eivers, E., Shiel, G., Perkins, R., & Cosgrove, J. (2005) Succeeding in reading? Reading standards in Irish primary schools. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2004	Eivers, E., Shiel, G., & Shortt, F. (2004) Literacy in disadvantaged primary schools: Problems and solutions. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2004	Eivers, E., Shiel, G., & Shortt, F. (2004) Reading literacy in disadvantaged primary schools. Educational Research Centre, .
	2002	Eivers, E., Flanagan, R., & Morgan, M. (2002) Non-completion in Institutes of Technology: An investigation of preparation, attitudes and behaviours among first year students. Report to the Council of Directors of Institutes of Technology. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2000	Eivers, E., Ryan, E., & Brinkley, A. (2000) Characteristics of early school leavers: Results of the research strand of the 8-15 year old Early School Leavers Initiative. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]
	2000	Eivers, E., & Ryan, E. (2000) A case study analysis of service provision for at risk children and young people. Report to the Department of Education and Science. Educational Research Centre, . [Link]

Book Chapter

	Year	Publication
	2024	Eemer Eivers (2024) 'Funding and equity in education: The role of system structures' In: The Routledge International Handbook of Equity and Inclusion in Education. London : Routledge. [Link] [DOI]
	2017	Eivers, E. (2017) 'Ireland' In: PIRLS 2016 Encyclopedia: Education Policy and Curriculum in Reading. Boston : Boston College.
	2013	Eivers, E. (2013) 'Pupils’ languages' In: National Schools, international contexts: Beyond the PIRLS and TIMSS test results. : Educational Research Centre. [Link]
	2013	Eivers, E., & Clerkin, A. (2013) 'PIRLS and TIMSS 2011: Overview' In: National Schools, international contexts: Beyond the PIRLS and TIMSS test results. Dublin : Educational Research Centre. [Link]
	2013	Eivers, E., & Creaven, A-M. (2013) 'Home-school interaction' In: National Schools, international contexts: Beyond the PIRLS and TIMSS test results. Dublin : Educational Research Centre. [Link]
	2012	DES, NCCA, & Eivers, E. (2012) 'Ireland' In: TIMSS 2011 Encyclopedia: Education policy and curriculum in mathematics and science (Vol. 1). Boston : TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Boston College.
	2012	DES, NCCA, & Eivers, E. (2012) 'Ireland' In: PIRLS 2011 Encyclopedia: Education policy and curriculum in reading (Vol. 1). Boston : TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Boston College.
	2010	Shiel, G. & Eivers, E. (2010) 'International comparisons of literacy: what have they revealed?' In: The Routledge International Handbook Of English, Language And Literacy Teaching. London : Routledge.
	2005	Eivers, E. (2005) 'Reading Achievement in Children from Disadvantaged Areas: Views of Teachers and Parents' In: Learning to read and reading to learn. Dublin : Reading Association of Ireland.

Peer Reviewed Journal

	Year	Publication
	2023	Stephen Roulston; Martin Brown; Samuel Taggart; Eemer Eivers (2023) 'A Century of Growing Apart and Challenges of Coming Together: Education Across the Island of Ireland'. Irish Studies in International Affairs, 34 (2):78-121. [DOI]
	2018	Gilleece, L. & Eivers, E. (2018) 'Characteristics associated with paper-based and online reading in Ireland: Findings from PIRLS and ePIRLS 2016'. International Journal of Educational Research, 91 :16-27. [Link] [DOI]
	2018	Gilleece, L. & Eivers, E. (2018) 'Primary school websites in Ireland: are they used to inform and involve parents'. Irish Educational Studies, . https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2018.1498366
	2010	Eivers, E. (2010) 'PISA: Issues in implementation and interpretation'. Irish Journal of Education, 38 :94-118. [Link]
	2009	Gerry Shiel; Eemer Eivers; (2009) 'International comparisons of reading literacy: what can they tell us?'. Cambridge Journal of Education, . [DOI]
	2006	Eivers, E. & Kennedy, D. (2006) 'The PISA assessment of scientific literacy'. Irish Journal of Education, 37 :101-119. [Link]
	2001	Eivers, E. (2001) 'Integrated service provision for at risk children and their families'. Irish Journal of Education, 32 :44-62. [Link]

Book

	Year	Publication
	2014	Eivers, E., Delaney, E. & Close, S. (2014) An evaluation of a JUMP Math pilot programme in Ireland. Dublin: ERC. [Link]
	2013	Eivers, E., & Clerkin, A. (2013) National Schools, international contexts: Beyond the PIRLS and TIMSS test results. Dublin: ERC. [Link]

Conference Publication

	Year	Publication
	2020	Eivers, E. (2020) Conference: Early Leaving from Education and Training: The Way Forward *Monitoring and reducing early school leaving in Malta: Why it matters even more now* [Link] [DOI]
	2020	Eivers, E. (2020) ELET SYMPOSIUM, Early Leaving from Education and Training Conference Proceedings *The way forward: Early monitoring and prevention of students at risk of Early School Leaving in Malta* Malta, [Link]

Blog

	Year	Publication
	2020	Eivers, E. (2020) Oh look, Santa brought me an ILSA!. BLOG [Link]

Electronic Journal

	Year	Publication
	2020	Eivers, E. (2020) Using ICT in class and at home. ELEC [Link]
	2020	Eivers, E. (2020) ICT resources in school and in the home. ELEC
	2017	Eivers, E. & Gilleece, L. (2017) PIRLS 2016. Reading achievement of Fourth Class pupils. ELEC

Conference Contribution

	Year	Publication
	2019	Eivers, E. (2019) ELET Symposium: The Way Forward The way forward: Early monitoring and prevention of students at risk of Early School Leaving in Malta Malta, . [Link]

Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	Board: Museum of Childhood Ireland	The Museum of Childhood Ireland puts children and childhood – past and present – at the centre of life. The museum gathers together the wonderful, challenging and diverse strands of the ever-evolving story of childhood.	13/04/2023 -

Enterprise Engagement

Year	Engagement Type	Client	Description
2022	Consultancy	Ministry for Education, Malta	Advice to Ministry on how to adapt HSCL scheme for use in Malta
2022	Consultancy	iScoil	Advice on streamlining application and review process. Organisation supports students who have left mainstream education before age 16, using asynchronous, blended learning system.
2021	Consultancy	Ministry for Education, Malta	External consultant advising Malta's Education Ministry on the new 10-year national strategy to combat early school leaving
2021	Consultancy	iScoil	Advice on improving parental engagement. Organisation supports students who have left mainstream education before age 16, using asynchronous, blended learning system.
2019	Continuous Professional Development/Training	IPPN	Advice on long-term research strategy and research methodologies

Media

Title	Year	Type	Authors
Pupils show gender bias in identifying authors	2018	Newspaper column (Print)	Murray
Joining the DOTS	2017	Newspaper article (online)	Donnelly
Was deutsche Grundschulen von den Iren lernen können	2018	Newspaper article (Print)	Volkery
24 Jun, 2013. 9th Level	2013	Podcast	Delaney
Some are top class, but most primary schools get by with low-speed internet	2020	Newspaper article (Print)	Casey
Sharp drop in primary pupils using computers in school	2019	Newspaper article (Print)	O'Brien

Research Interests

Programme evaluation, educational assessment, international large-scale assessments (ILSAs), educational disadvantage, early school leaving.