A Visit to Numberland

As part of Maths Week Ireland 2022, the College was delighted to host the Let’s Visit Numberland  conference; an irresistible co-adventure into the abstract world of number.

Two highly  interactive and enjoyable events were delivered by Co-creator of Let’s visit Numberland – natural maths for 3 to 5 year olds‘, Barbara Schindelhauer, and Stranmillis University College’s Dr Pamela Moffett on how to use the Numberland resource to help develop early number sense in young children. Almost 100 local Nursery and Foundation Stage practitioners attended the conference, with attendees “hoping for many little happy trips to this special Numberland.”

Stranmillis University College leads review of Irish government’s Early Childhood Care and Education Programme

Stranmillis University College’s Centre for Research in Educational Underachievement (CREU) has been appointed by the government in the Republic of Ireland to undertake an independent review of its Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. 

The ECCE programme offers up to two years of free pre-school education and, since it was first introduced in 2010, more than 800,000 children have benefitted from it.  

The core objectives of the programme are:  

  • to provide children with their first formal experience of early learning prior to commencing primary school; 
  • to promote better cognitive and socio-emotional outcomes for children; and  
  • to narrow the gap in attainment between more and less advantaged children. 

The review is being led by Head of Early Years at Stranmillis and Assistant Director at CREU, Dr Glenda Walsh, in collaboration with Dr Thérèse Farrell from Dublin City University.  

The project will assess whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and will identify any changes or improvements that can be made, informing work to introduce a universal legal entitlement to pre-school in the Republic of Ireland. 

The appointment was made by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman. 

Stranmillis project lead Dr Glenda Walsh said: 

I am absolutely delighted to be leading this significant research project where the end product is all about getting it right for our youngest children. The key stakeholders i.e. early years educators, parents and the young children themselves, will play a huge part in every aspect of this study, informing the way forward on what works already and what aspects of ECCE need to be developed.” 

Dr Noel Purdy, Director of CREU, said: 

“Stranmillis has a long history of teaching and research expertise in the Early Years, and I welcome this latest funding awarded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to Dr Walsh and her team.  I wish them well as they embark on this important review of the ECCE programme.” 

The Review will be completed towards the end of 2023. 

The research team from l-r: Dr Franka Winter (SUC), Dr Karen Orr (SUC), Dr Glenda Walsh (SUC), Dr Thérèse Farrell (DCU) and Dr Karen Hanna (SUC).

Recruiting Males in the Early Years

Early Childhood Care and Education is one of the most important and valuable professions anyone can enter; however, males make up less than 2% of the workforce in NI. For a number of years, Stranmillis University College has identified as a priority the need to increase the number of males entering the profession. We feel it is important to recruit men into the sector and we wish to cement its significance for Universities and Colleges, Government and policy makers, Schools, Early Childhood Care and Education Providers and stakeholder organisations, so that they target and prioritise the issue of gender imbalance in the workforce. 

To  address the issue, on Wednesday 14th September, 2022, the Early Childhood Studies department hosted a virtual webinar entitled ‘Males in the Early Years’.

The event, organised and chaired by Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Dr Barbara McConnell, featured a keynote address from Dr David Brody, Associate Professor of Education and former Academic Dean and Chair of the Early Childhood Department of the Efrata College of Education, Jerusalem. This was followed by shorter presentations and discussion from Ms Pauline Walmsley (CEO, Early Years organisation), Dr Joanne McHale (TU Dublin), Mr Conor McArdle (Surestart, South Armagh) Mr Kevin Duggan, Childcare Partnerships) & Stuart Dickinson (Stranmillis University College).

Speaking after the event, Dr McConnell said “Since the conception of the ECS degree in 1996, with the first cohort’s graduation in 2000, we have had 2116 Graduates from Stranmillis with a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies degree, but only 23 of these graduates have been male. This is a very low number, and it is something that we have been thinking about in Stranmillis for a number of years. The Early Childhood Studies team at Stranmillis are really keen to encourage more Males onto the degree, and ultimately, into the sector and we look forward to working with Colleagues who attended the webinar to progress this issue.”

“Following the success of this webinar I hope we can come together as a group of academics, practitioners, training providers and employers, to put together an action plan to address this very important issue. We were delighted that the event reached capacity and that we had over 100 delegates on the webinar. This interest is testament to the need to action this issue and we at Stranmillis will be considering how we can play our part to increase the number of males working in the sector.”

If you would be interested to find out more about the BA (Hons) ECS Degree, or wish to get involved in recruiting more males into the sector, please contact Dr Barbara McConnell; b.mcconnell@stran.ac.uk.

A recording of the seminar is now available to watch here.

Important information regarding the start of term

The new term at Stranmillis was due to commence on Monday 19th September. With the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II taking place on Monday, term will now commence on Tuesday 20th September. All new and returning students should note that:

  • ‘Moving in’ for students staying in Stran Halls will take place on Sunday 18th September as previously advised, and Stran Halls will be operational as normal on Monday 19th September.
  • Teaching for all returning students will commence on Tuesday 20th September at 0900 hours.
  • Welcome and Orientation for all new students will take place on Tuesday 20th September, commencing at 0930 hours in the Drama Theatre, until approximately 1600 hours. It is essential that new students attend all sessions on Tuesday 20th September. Teaching for Year 1 students will commence on Wednesday 21st September.

We look forward to welcoming you next week.

The Passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

On behalf of the Board of Governors, staff and students of Stranmillis University College, we were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Over the course of her 70-year reign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II devoted her life to one of public service. The Queen has been a constant in all of our lives and an inspiration and role model for many of us; an example of dignity, grace and dedication, as she tirelessly performed her duties, both at home and abroad, demonstrating leadership, strength and a commitment to reconciliation.

Many will feel a great sense of loss given that our lives have been marked by events and celebrations involving the Queen and the Royal Family. The news of her death brings sorrow for the United Kingdom and, most particularly, for the members of the Royal Family. Our thoughts go out to a family circle who have lost a mother, a grandmother and a great-grandmother.

As a nation, we have lost a remarkable Head of State, a role model and someone that many of us could relate to, in one way or another.

A book of condolence will be available for staff, students and the wider college community in the Moses Hill room from Monday for those wishing to sign.

Mr Edgar Jardine, Chair of the Board of Governors

Professor Jonathan Heggarty, Principal and CEO

Skill Up: Postgraduate Certificate in Blended Learning

The Department for the Economy, with funding from the Northern Ireland Office and the Department of Finance, has developed a new programme, SKILL UP, to provide upskilling and reskilling opportunities, to improve the skills profile of our local workforce. Working in partnership with the Department for the Economy. The Postgraduate Certificate in Blended Learning at Stranmillis University College is one of the fully funded postgraduate courses available through SKILL UP, the flexible skills fund. We have 30 FREE places available on the programme. You are advised to apply as early as possible due to high demand.

For further information click here.