ATU Research Showcase: Meet ATU's Education Researchers

To mark the United Nations International Day of Education 2026 (January 24th), the Research Coordinator team at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), funded through RISE@ATU, have produced the third edition of the ATU Research Showcase Series. This edition highlights the work of ATU researchers whose scholarship is advancing educational practice, innovation and social transformation through research.

Spanning inclusive education, digital pedagogies, education for sustainable development, wellbeing, creative methodologies and evidence-informed teaching practice, this Showcase illustrates how education research at ATU is responding to contemporary challenges facing learners, educators and communities across the west and north-west of Ireland and beyond. It reflects interdisciplinary research and collaboration across ATU’s faculties and Research Centres, where educational research is closely connected to practice, policy and societal impact.

As the technological university for the west and north-west, ATU grounds its education research in regional, national and international priorities. In alignment with Ireland’s National Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) for Innovation 2022–2027 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ATU contributes to strengthening inclusive, equitable and future-focused education systems at a time of rapid technological, social and economic change.

This booklet presents a representative sample of 12 researchers whose profiles demonstrate ATU’s growing expertise in education research that meaningfully engages students, educators and communities in shaping learning futures. Their work highlights the importance of co-creation, inclusivity and innovation in education. Many other colleagues across ATU are making equally valuable contributions in this field, and this Showcase is intended to reflect a cross-section of that collective strength rather than provide an exhaustive account.