Teacher Education for Inclusion

Conference Year: 2010
Conference Location: Hilton Hotel, Belfast

The eighth annual conference in Belfast in October 2010 carried powerful resonances since it conjured up the sense of hope, aspiration and commitment which accompanied the setting up of SCoTENS following an inaugural conference in Belfast 10 years previously. How fitting it was therefore to have ministerial endorsement of SCoTENS’ first decade from Mr Sean Haughey TD, Irish Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, who during his opening address stated that ‘this North-South platform has gone from strength to strength in building professional partnerships and personal networks through its wide ranging activities and research initiatives’.

The point was reiterated by Caitriona Ruane MLA, Minister of Education in N. Ireland, who through her permanent secretary Mr Paul Sweeney, asserted ‘SCoTENS has been acknowledged by commentators as one of the best examples of North-South cooperation.’ She recalled that she had been ‘pleased to hear about the work of SCoTENS at a North South Ministerial Council meeting held last November.’

Date / Time Event Details Watch/Listen
28/10/2010
10.30am

Official Opening by Ms Caitríona Ruane MLA, NI Minister for Education, and Mr Sean Haughey TD, Irish Minister of State for Lifelong Learning.

28/10/2010
11.00am

Mr Renato Opertti, Coordinator, Capacity Building Programme, UNESCO International Bureau of Education: From Inclusive Education to Inclusive Curricula.

28/10/2010
11.45am

Dr Amanda Watkins, Assistant Director, and Dr Verity Donnelly, Project Leader, European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education: Teacher Education for Inclusion – issues and challenges.

28/10/2010
2.30pm

Teacher Education for Inclusion Workshops:
Race: facilitated by Dr Karl Kitching, University College Cork (Lagan Suite)
Special Education: facilitated by Mr Pat Curtin, Chief Executive, National Council for Special Education (RoI) and Dr Jacqueline Lambe, University of Ulster (Boardroom)
Access and Travellers: facilitated by Dr Lisa Keane, Trinity College Dublin and Dr Joe Travers, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. Speakers include Ms Anne Donnellan, Visiting Teacher Service for Travellers, Department of Education and Skills and Ms Mary Forde, Principal of Presentation College, Athenry, Co. Galway (Broadway Suite)
Disability: facilitated by Dr Bronagh Byrne, Queen’s University Belfast (Brookfield Suite)
Professional Development of Teachers: facilitated by Professor Marie Parker Jenkins, University of Limerick. Speakers include Ms Joan McCombe, St Mary’s University College Belfast and Ms Deirdre O’Connor Equality Officer, Irish National Teachers Organisation (Glenbank Suite)

28/10/2010
4.20pm

Report back from workshops and discussion. Panel: Dr Amanda Watkins, Dr Verity Donnelly, Mr Renato Opertti, Mr John Hunter, Managing Inspector for Special Education and Inclusion, NI Education and Training Inspectorate, and Ms Áine Lawlor, Director, The Teaching Council (Ireland).

Mr Renato Opertti podcast available.

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28/10/2010
4.20pm

Report back from workshops and discussion. Panel: Dr Amanda Watkins, Dr Verity Donnelly, Mr Renato Opertti, Mr John Hunter, Managing Inspector for Special Education and Inclusion, NI Education and Training Inspectorate, and Ms Áine Lawlor, Director, The Teaching Council (Ireland).

Dr Amanda Watkins and Dr Verity Donnelly podcast available.

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28/10/2010
7.00pm

Launch of reports in Lagan Suite Reception Area Professor John Coolahan will launch Reflective Practice – Challenges for Teacher Education, North and South: SCoTENS 2009 Conference and Annual Reports
Professor John Furlong, University of Oxford, will launch Valuing Education Technology in Schools in Ireland, North and South.

28/10/2010
7.45pm

Dinner in Lagan Suite After dinner speaker: Professor Sir Tim Brighouse, former Schools Commissioner for London and Chief Education Officer for Birmingham

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29/10/2010
9.00am

Professor Sir Tim Brighouse: The Inclusion Agenda – Challenges for Teacher Education

29/10/2010
10.00am

Perspectives from School Principals and Teachers: Dr Michael Dobbins, Principal, Foyle View Special School, Derry
Secondary Principal (NI): Mr Maurice Doherty, Principal, Ballynahinch High School, Co Down
Primary Principal (RoI): Ms Mary Dunlea Fitzgerald, Principal, St Tola’s National School, Shannon, Co Clare
Ms Anna Fitzgerald, newly qualified teacher, Limerick

29/10/2010
11.30am

HEI Responses to the Teacher Education for Inclusion challenge: Professor Tony Gallagher, Pro Vice Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast.

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29/10/2010
11.30am

HEI Responses to the Teacher Education for Inclusion challenge: Professor Sheelagh Drudy, University College Dublin: Inclusive education, transformation and teacher education in Ireland

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