
PREpare Overseas
Nov 10, 2023
DEADLINE: December 10, 2023
The School of Education is pleased to offer an opportunity for a funded 4-year structured PhD programme (full time) under the supervision of Dr Donatella Camedda to work on the Inclusion of Students with Intellectual Disabilities.
The start of the PhD will be March 2024. The funding is provided by the Trinity Research Doctorate Award and will cover:
€25,000 stipend per year
Tuition fees (either EU or non-EU)
The selected student is liable for all non-tuition costs of registration.
Dr Donatella Camedda is Assistant Professor in Education and Course Coordinator of the Arts Science and Inclusive Applied Practice programme in The Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID). Dr Camedda is the PI of the INSIDE project and will supervise the recruited PhD student.
Applications from interested candidates are open until 10/12/2023, see Application Steps for full details.
For informal enquiries contact Dr Donatella Camedda cameddad@tcd.ie
Project background:
People with intellectual disabilities (ID) have historically faced marginalization, particularly in the realm of education. Inclusive education has made strides in Ireland, but students with ID remain underrepresented in higher education due to limited opportunities, systemic barriers, and admission criteria. To address these inequalities, independent initiatives have emerged to support university education for students with ID, with the recent governmental funding initiative PATH 4 aiming to further expand such provisions. However, little research has been conducted on the impact of attending university courses for students with ID and their broader effect on the university community.
The Inclusion of Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Higher Education (INSIDE) project aims to fill this research gap by investigating the sustainability of university programs for people with ID and their impact on students' lives. The project will be conducted nationwide, involving all Irish higher education institutions providing post-secondary initiatives for students with ID. It consists of two main research objectives: understanding the impact during college attendance and exploring the impact after graduation. The project will employ a mixed-methods approach, incorporating participatory and inclusive research principles, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, and creative methodologies such as photovoice or visual arts. The research tools will be co-designed with input from people with ID who have attended higher education courses.
The project's outputs will include a PhD thesis, journal papers, conference papers, national workshops, and public engagement activities. The study is expected to have both social and academic impact by providing evidence to sustain the future development of higher education courses for people with ID and promoting social justice, equitable access to education, and an inclusive society. It will also contribute to the field of inclusive education and the global agenda of inclusive higher education.
More information can be checked on the link: