DCU welcomes new teaching fellows to shape the future of teacher education

Dublin City University has welcomed five new teaching fellows to its Institute of Education, enhancing the link between classroom experience and teacher preparation. Over the next two years, the fellows will collaborate with staff and student teachers to develop fresh, practice-led approaches to education.

Among the new appointees are Kildare educators Aislinn Nic Pháidín and Niamh Haughton, both bringing extensive teaching experience and a commitment to inclusive, creative learning. Nic Pháidín, a teacher at Gaelscoil Átha Í in Athy, has led national award-winning initiatives including FIRST Lego League and the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, while also volunteering with Nurture Africa. Haughton, with nearly two decades in the classroom, has mentored new teachers and contributed to national training for special needs assistants.

The fellowship programme, which includes professional development and hands-on collaboration with DCU’s academic community, aims to strengthen the university’s mission to prepare adaptable, reflective, and innovative educators for 21st-century classrooms.

Dean of the Institute of Education Anne Looney said the classroom insight these teachers bring is “invaluable” to DCU students. “I look forward to seeing the innovation they will bring to their engagements with students and staff,” she added.

This initiative reinforces DCU’s position as a leader in teacher education, blending research excellence with real-world teaching expertise.

Read the full article to learn how DCU is shaping the future of teacher education.