The third major all-island conference of the Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South (SCoTENS) was held in the City Hotel Armagh on Thursday 11 – Friday 12 November 2004.

The conference was addressed by a keynote speaker from the European Commission, Mr Seán Feerick of the Education and Culture Directorate, who spoke about the Commission’s study of the education and training of teachers in Europe. There was also a symposium on Teaching Councils and teacher education, addressed by the heads of the Teaching Councils in Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

On Thursday evening Dr Pauric Travers launched the November 2003 Initial Teacher Education conference report and Professor Richard McMinn launched the Diversity in Early Years Education, North and South: Implications for Teacher Education research report.

Programme

Thursday 11 November
Chairperson: Mr Stephen Costello

2.45 pm Registration
3.30 Official opening
4.00 Mr Sean Feerick, Education and Culture DG, European Commission
5.00 Refreshments
5.30 Response 1: Professor Richard McMinn, Principal, Stranmillis University College, Belfast
5.50 Response 2: Professor Sheelagh Drudy, Professor of Education, University College Dublin/NUI Dublin
7.30 Reception
Launch by Dr Pauric Travers of the November 2003 Initial Teacher Education conference report and by Professor Richard McMinn of the Diversity in Early Years Education, North and South: Implications for Teacher Education research report
8.15 Dinner

Friday 12 November
Chairperson: Professor Anne Moran

9.00 am Professor John Coolahan
Progress report on SCoTENS in 2003-2004 and reflections on the conference’s first day
9.30 Symposium on Teaching Councils and teacher education, followed by discussion Speakers
Ms Áine Lawlor – Director Teaching Council (Ireland)
Mr Matthew MacIver – Chief Executive, General Teaching Council for Scotland
Mr Eddie McArdle – Registrar, General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland
11.15 Refreshments
11.45 Workgroups: first session (six themes)

• Training for educational leadership Facilitators: Dr Tom Hesketh and Dr Jim Gleeson
• Integrating ICT into Teacher Education Facilitators: Dr Roger Austin and Dr Paul Conway
• Attracting, selecting and recruiting student teachers Facilitators: Dr Colette Murphy and Dr Padraig Hogan
• Partnerships between schools and universities in delivering initial, induction and in-service education
  Facilitators: Dr Conor Galvin and Mr Keiron Mellon
• Teacher education and the integration of special needs
  Facilitators: Dr Michael Shevlin and Mr Hugh Kearns
• Teacher education for diversity, citizenship and equality Facilitators: Mr Gerry Jeffers and Ms Una O’Connor

1.00 pm Lunch
2.15 Workgroups: second session (six themes as above)
3.15 Final plenary session, chaired by Dr Pauric Travers, President, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra
4.00 Close of Conference