In 2012, the report of an International Review Panel proposed a vision for the restructuring of initial teacher education (ITE) provision so that 'by 2030 Ireland will have a network of teacher education institutions based on a small number of internationally comparable institutes of teacher education. Each of these institutes will offer research-based teacher education in internationally inspiring environments, provided at Masters level initially or through continuing professional development. Each will also offer further professional development services on the continuum ranging from early c
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In 2012, the report of an International Review Panel proposed a vision for the restructuring of initial teacher education (ITE) provision so that 'by 2030 Ireland will have a network of teacher education institutions based on a small number of internationally comparable institutes of teacher education. Each of these institutes will offer research-based teacher education in internationally inspiring environments, provided at Masters level initially or through continuing professional development. Each will also offer further professional development services on the continuum ranging from early childhood to in-service training of teachers and leaders'. The report recommended that the then 19 separate ITE institutions be reconfigured to provide six new institutes or centres for teacher education. It was decided in autumn 2017 that a review be undertaken to report on the extent to which the recommendations of the 2012 report had been implemented. The review was carried out in May 2018. The review team visited all publicly-funded higher education institutions offering ITE in Ireland with a particular focus on the extent of the structural and cultural changes which have taken place since 2012. It also considered the effect of the reforms on the quality of instruction, on pedagogy, and on the educational experience of teacher-education students. It assessed the impact of the reforms on research capacity in the teacher education institutions, as well as linkages between theory and practice from the students' perspective.
The Review outlines the progress in the implementation of the structural reforms identified in the 2012 Report of the International Review Panel on the structure of initial teacher education [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 136.924], by reference to the consolidation of the 19 discrete ITE providers to six centres of teaching. Significant progress has been made, including the full incorporation of Dublin City University (DCU); St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra; Mater Dei Institute; and the Church of Ireland College of Education into DCU Institute of Education and of Froebel College of Teacher Education into Maynooth University. The incorporation of St Angela's College, Sligo into National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway is also nearing finalisation. The Review also considers the effect of the reforms in creating the critical mass and the scale to enhance the quality of teacher education provision. It references the anecdotal evidence provided by the centres to indicate the success of restructured ITE programmes. However, it identifies that there is a lack of empirical evidence to assess the impact of restructured ITE programmes, and states that this should be addressed promptly. It suggests that a survey instrument should be designed to monitor the progress and further development of ITE in Ireland.
Edited excerpts from publication and publisher's website.
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