MIC Thurles Summer School: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the OCO

The Mary Immaculate College, Thurles Summer School returns from 11-13 June this year and will celebrate 20 years of the OCO.

This year’s theme is how children’s voices have changed the landscape of education and participation over the past two decades.

Tickets are free, but spaces are limited so book now!

Day One: Tuesday 11 June

Theme: Student Voices Now and Then

2pm: Welcome by Finn Ó Murchú on behalf of MIC

2.15pm – 2.45pm: Bernie McNally, Secretary General, Department of Education
Keynote Speech – Policy Focus. The importance of the voice if the child within education varies widely. What lies ahead?

2.45pm – 3.15pm: Adam Harris, Founder & CEO, As I Am
Keynote address on student voice in the education system with specific focus on voices from the edge/students who have not always been heard.

3.15pm – 3.30pm: Coffee break

3.30pm – 4pm: Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon.
Discussion on 20 years of the OCO, how education has changed, what lies ahead with a focus on student voice.

4pm – 5pm: Panel Discussion with;
• Dr Niall Muldoon OCO
• Adam Harris AsIam
• Clíodhna O’Neill Assistant Secretary
• Áine Lynch National Parents Council

Day Two: Wednesday 12 June

Theme: Best Practice and Critical Thinking on Student Voice

10am – 10.45am: Professor Laura Lundy Online
Participation in education system. Including the student voice. Learnings, best practice and recommended actions from attendees.

10.45 – 11.15am: Professor Philip Jaffe, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child
Student Voice best practice. International examples. How Ireland is doing. Changes we could make.

11.15 – 11.30am: Tea/Coffee

11.30am – 12pm: Aoife McNamara, OCO Acting Head of Participation, Mohammed Naaem, Former OCO YAP member and Local Schools Student voice and how student voice could be better integrated into the education system.

12pm – 12.30pm: Review of morning session with Suzanne Garcia Imbernon European Network of Ombudsman for Children.

12.30pm – 1.30pm: Lunch

Afternoon Session: Workshops 1.30pm-2:15 and 2:15 – 3.00pm
Attendees will be invited to attend two of the following four sessions:

NCSE	Doctoral Research	Doctoral Research	International Perspective
Accessing Learner Voice	Louise Platt	Katie Chapple	Suzanne Garcia Imbernon
Room TBC	Room TBC	Room TBC	Room TBC

 

3pm – 3.15pm: Tea/Coffee

3.15pm – 3.45pm: Dr Craig Skerritt, Contemporary Issues in Education/ Critical Education Policy

3.45pm – 4.45pm: Moderated Discussion with NCCA/ NCSE/ Craig Skerritt/ Suzanne Garcia Imbernon

Day Three: Thursday 13 June

Theme: Voices from the Edge

9.30 – 10am: Fiacre Ryan, Writer, Poet and non-speaking Student
Featured in RTÉ documentary Speechless Reflections from My Voiceless World

10am – 11am: Panel Discussion – Learnings from the Community; Hannagh McGinley, Traveller Voice; Geraldine McTavish, GAA; Ahmed Hassan, Doras; Gráinne Smyth a Oberstown.Ann Percy, HIV Ireland

11am – 11.15am: Tea/Coffee

11.15am – 12.15pm: Panel Discussion – School Leadership

12.15pm – 1pm: Close of Conference by Dr Niall Muldoon

(*Programme information is subject to change.)

• 30 April 2024