DCU Anti-Bullying Centre

DCU Institute of Education

 Religious Identity, Bullying, and Wellbeing in Schools

Multi-disciplinary PhD (3 years, full-time)

DCU Anti-Bullying Centre

DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC) is a university designated research centre located in DCU Institute of Education with members drawn from across the university. In line with DCU’s Strategy, the core mission of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre is to be a future focused and globally connected European centre of excellence for research and education on bullying and digital safety.

Through scholarly outputs, education, and societal engagement, the Centre significantly contributes to DCUs research reputation and impact, while enhancing local and international engagement. The Centre comprises approximately 50 members who are engaged in research and education related to bullying and digital safety. The Centre hosts the UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying and the International Journal of Bullying Prevention. From 2018 to 2022 the Centre published over 200 Scopus ranked papers, achieving a current combined Field Weighted Citation Index of 2.4.

Members of the Centre are drawn from all five faculties of the university and are united by our purpose and the mutual support from our global community to achieve our aims. We take pride in our ethical way of working and the positive social impact our research has on tackling bullying and promoting digital safety. We believe our spirit will flourish because we are ethical, ambitious, collaborative, compassionate and committed to tackling bullying and digital safety for wellbeing in society.

Background

This PhD is linked to the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action project entitled Religious Identity, Bullying and Wellbeing at School: A Transnational Collaboration (ORBIT) based in DCU Anti-Bullying Centre and led by Professor James O’Higgins Norman and Dr Amalee Meehan. ORBIT delves into the correlation between religious identity, bullying, and wellbeing, and the implications for students, school communities, and European societies. The project provides a conduit for researchers, policy makers, and educators to consider the relationship between religious identity, wellbeing and inclusion, and how religious identity contributes to the wellbeing of individuals, family, communities and societies.

The Role

We are looking for an excellent PhD applicant willing to work in this area from a multidisciplinary and/or comparative perspective.

The selected candidate will:

• Receive an annual non-taxable stipendium of €22,000 full-time (a part-time pro rata rate will apply).
• Receive EU full-time or part-time fees covered (per annum €4095 full-time; €2942 part-time).
• Be a member of ORBIT, the European COST Action project on Religious Identity, Bullying, and Wellbeing in Schools
• Travel and Subsistence to attend ORBIT international meetings twice per year.
• Benefit as a member of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre from working within a rich research environment.

The applicant will be supervised by Dr. Amalee Meehan (School of Human Development & DCU Anti-Bullying Centre) and Prof James O’Higgins Norman, UNESCO Chair in Bullying and Cyberbullying and Director of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre. The selected candidate will be based in DCU Anti-Bullying Centre which is located on DCU’s All Hallows Campus. (Part-time PhD students will not be required to be physically present but will be required to give 8 hours per week to support the ORBIT project in the Centre).  In addition the selected candidate will be required to work on their PhD and to contribute to selected research and teaching activities in the context of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre’s contributions to the Faculty and the wider university.

The PhD candidate’s specific duties will include:

• Undertake research leading to a PhD.
• Produce academic papers and reports throughout the course of the PhD.
• Identify and make funding applications for further research on related topics.
• Attend meetings and collaborate with colleagues in the Centre and the ORBIT project.
• Teaching (Full-time PhD only)

Requirements

The ideal candidate will:

• Be interested in/and or have an awareness of the intersection between religious identity, bullying, wellbeing, and schooling.
• Have a background in post-primary education.
• Have experience writing reports, academic papers, proposals.

The successful applicant will meet the eligibility requirements of Postgraduate Research students at IoE, Dublin City University as follows:

• PhD:Candidates holding an appropriate Master’s degree (eg. sociology, religious education, theology, or a related discipline) obtained by research may apply for direct entry to the PhD register to conduct research in a cognate area.
• PhD-track:Candidates with a taught Master’s degree in an appropriate discipline with first or second-class honours, and candidates with a primary degree in an appropriate discipline with first or second-class honours, grade one, may apply and be considered for entry to the PhD-track register with a view to proceeding towards a PhD. Such candidates will undergo a confirmation procedure, as outlined in the Academic Regulations, before being admitted to the PhD register.

Postgraduate Research Study at DCU institute of Education

Committed to academic excellence and innovation, DCU Institute of Education provides a transformative student experience through its PhD Research Programmes.  As a centre of excellence in post-graduate research, the IoE hosts internationally recognised experts in its research centres across all sectors of education, from early childhood right up to and including further and higher education.   It has an ambitious programme of education research and provides a research environment that is student-centred and inclusive.

Belonging to an academic community is central to any research student’s experience here. Working with, and learning from, global leaders in education research, ensures our students participate in an active academic community. We are committed to a culture of career readiness, providing an education that will equip our research graduates to develop valuable transferable skills. In a world of new opportunities, today’s research graduates need to be adaptable, flexible and innovative. We are confident our research graduates will flourish in the challenging and complex contexts of 21st century societies.

Conditions of the Institute of Education Anti-Bullying Centre ORBIT PhD Studentship

Applicants should have a specialised interest in an area of education and have developed a research proposal that will lead to a research degree of PhD.  The successful candidate will be required to register for a part-time or full-time research degree (PhD) at DCU Institute of Education..    The successful candidate will be allocated a supervisory panel for the duration of their studies including an Independent Panel member.

To Apply: 

Please email the following documents to Angela Kinahan, Centre Administrator, DCU Anti-Bullying Centre angela.kinahan@dcu.ie.

• Cover letter (indicating if you are interested in part-time or full-time)
• Full Curriculum Vitae
• Copy of transcripts of qualifications
• Research proposal – please use Institute of Education Research Proposal Form which is available to download here
• Please put ABC ORBIT PhD Scholarship in the subject bar of all email communications.

Closing date for receipt of application documentation is 5pm on Friday 23^rd August 2024 

All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed. Interviews will take place week commencing 2^nd September 2024

Informal Enquiries regarding the focus of this PhD scholarship can be made to Dr. Amalee Meehan amalee.meehan@dcu.ie or Prof. James O’Higgins Norman james.ohigginsnorman@dcu.ie

Enquiries regarding the process of completing a PhD at DCU can be made to Dr. Maura Coulter maura.coulter@dcu.ie 

NOTE: Qualifications/eligibility may not be verified by Dublin City University until the final stage of the process. Therefore, those candidates who do not possess the eligibility requirements, and proceed with their application, are putting themselves to unnecessary effort/expense and will not be offered a position from this campaign. An invitation to interview or any element of the selection process is not acceptance of eligibility.

This role is part funded by DCU Office of the Vice President for Research, the Government of Ireland, and COST – Cooperation in Science and Technology and is subject to continued funding over the term of the scholarship.

Yesterday, Facebook and the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre (ABC) at DCU launch a three-year partnership which will see an anti-bullying and online safety training programme offered to every post-primary school in Ireland.

Supported by Facebook leading ABC experts will offer this training and research programme to teachers and parents of 12 – 17-year-old students across the country. Through face-to-face workshops and online modules, participants will be equipped with the tools to identify and understand bullying and develop the skills to support students when it comes to online safety.

Speaking at the launch, Professor James O’Higgins Norman, ABC Director and UNESCO Chair on Tackling Bullying in Schools and Cyberspace said,

In a study we conducted in 2017, school principals cited a lack of time and resources available to train teachers and the need for additional support as the main challenges in tackling bullying and online safety in schools. Through this partnership we are aiming to deliver much-needed training in tackling bullying and online safety for both teachers and parents in schools nationwide. By adopting a train-the-trainer approach this programme will empower teachers and parents to further educate whole-school communities in bullying, cyberbullying and online safety issues.

Upon completion of this programme, parents and teachers will be able to:

●       Define and identify bullying, cyberbullying, and online safety;

●       Engage empathically with children and young people;

●       Investigate and resolve reported incidents;

●       Teach children and adolescents how to nurture respectful relationships, and develop better communication skills offline and online; and

●       Support colleagues in strengthening their abilities to educate young people about bullying, cyberbullying, and online safety.

Julie de Bailliencourt, Facebook Global Safety Policy Manager commented: “We are delighted to support the work of the National Anti-Bullying Centre through this partnership.  Making sure people feel safe when they come to Facebook is our most important responsibility, especially when it comes to young people.  Through partnerships like this one, we know we can all better tackle the issue of bullying, whether offline or online.

 Over the last 14 years, we have built and continued to improve our safety policies and reporting processes and we want everybody who uses Facebook to feel safe and supported when they connect online with their friends and family. Over the three years of this initiative, we aim to help teachers and parents understand the complexities of bullying and develop the skills to support students when it comes to online safety.

The programme, which is scheduled to begin in January 2019, will be offered to an estimated 800 post primary schools across Ireland and will operate within the framework of the Department of Education & Skills recently published Wellbeing Policy for schools and the Government’s Action Plan for Online Safety. It is also designed to support the implementation of the Government’s Action Plan on Bullying (2013) and will be delivered to teachers with support from the Association of Teachers’ Education Centres in Ireland.

Commenting on the partnership, DCU President Professor Brian MacCraith said:

This partnership between Facebook and the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at DCU is an excellent initiative and will have a profound impact on the lives of thousands of students and their families. I welcome the fact that the focus is on providing training for teachers and parents who are both faced with the growing challenge of supporting students dealing with all the complexities and dangers associated with bullying, cyberbullying, and online safety. The award of the prestigious UNESCO Chair on Tackling Bullying in Cyberspace and Schools earlier this year is a measure of the global scale of the problem and of the expertise developed by Prof. O’Higgins and his team. This project is an excellent manifestation of the public good that can derive from that.

 John Church, CEO of the ISPCC also supported the partnership, saying, The ISPCC is delighted to support this new evidence-based schools’ programme to be delivered by Dublin City University and funded by Facebook. Through our work with children and young people, the ISPCC is acutely aware of how bullying and online safety issues can impact upon a young person’s life, their self-esteem and their ability to grow. These issues are not something that any person, but particularly any child or young person, should ever have to experience.

Adding, The Action Plan on Bullying requires schools to address the issue of bullying across their entire school community, while the first National Action Plan for Online Safety highlights the need for improved online safety education for all. This approach in the delivery of the programme is very much welcome – children, parents, teachers and the wider school community all have an important role to play in tackling bullying and helping children and young people to stay safe online.

UNESCO International Day Against Violence and Bullying at School including Cyberbullying

Postdoctoral Researcher Position

DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC)

Postdoctoral Researcher in Bullying

(12 Months, Fixed-Term Contract)

Dublin City University

Dublin City University (DCU) is a leading innovative European University, proud to be one of the world’s leading Young Universities. DCU is known as Ireland’s University of Impact, with a mission to ‘transform lives and societies’ and focuses on addressing global challenges in collaboration with key national and international partners and stakeholders.

DCU has over 20,000 students in five faculties spread across three academic campuses in the Glasnevin-Drumcondra area of North Dublin. Thanks to its innovative approach to teaching and learning, the University offers a ‘transformative student experience’ that helps to develop highly sought-after graduates. DCU is currently No. 1 in Ireland for Graduate Employment Rate, and for graduate income (CSO).

DCU is a research-intensive University and is home to a number of SFI-funded Research Centres. The University participates in a range of European and international research partnerships. DCU is also the leading Irish university in the area of technology transfer as reflected by licensing of intellectual property.

As a ‘People First’ institution, DCU is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion – a University that helps staff and students to thrive. The University is a leader in terms of its work to increase access to education, and is placed in the world’s Top 10 for reducing inequalities in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Research Career Framework

As part of this role the researcher will be required to participate in the DCU Research Career Framework. This framework is designed to provide significant professional development opportunities to Researchers and offer the best opportunities in terms of a wider career path.

Background & Role

DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC) is a national university designated research centre located in DCU’s Institute of Education. The Centre is known globally for its research excellence in bullying and online safety. It hosts the prestigious UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying and International Journal on Bullying Prevention. It is home to scholars with a global reputation as leaders in the field.

The aim of ABC is to contribute to solving the real-world problems of bullying and online safety through engagement and innovation with an extensive community of academic and industry partnerships. The extent of our resources and the collaboration between disciplines drive quality education, understanding and innovation in this field. The objectives of the Centre are aligned to support the United Nations overarching goal to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030” (SDG4) and supports the implementation of the Government of Ireland’s Action Plan on Bullying (2013), Action Plan for Online Safety (2018-2019), Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice (2018-2024), and the WRC/HSA Joint Code of Practice on the Prevention and Resolution of Bullying at Work (2021).

The Centre is looking to appoint a post-doctoral researcher(s) to work as part of our dynamic team of researchers and educators on a number of research and education projects focused on bullying and online safety.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The successful individual will work with the Principal Investigator(s) and others within the research team in DCU Anti Bullying Centre on research focused on bullying and related issues including digital wellbeing. The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not restricted to, the following:

• Undertaking a specified programme of research and fieldwork on bullying and related issues including digital wellbeing
• Delivering research outputs and preparing reports as required in line with project funding timelines
• Writing/preparation of academic articles and other scholarly and dissemination outputs for non-academic stakeholders
• Attending and presenting results at project progress meetings (nationally and internationally)
• Deliver conference presentations, training and seminars on research topics
• Liaising with both internal and external national and international stakeholders
• Supporting the Centre Direct, UNESCO Chair, project Managers, PIs and wider research teams in the design, development, and implementation of a broader research programme
• Contributing to all aspects of the Centre’s research programme under the supervision and direction of the Centre Director
• Contributing to teaching and outreach activities of the Centre
• Carrying out administrative work associated with the programme of research and training as necessary
• Engage with media in research dissemination, via the Centre’s social media account blog and communicating research to national and international media outlets as needed
• Assisting with funding applications for new projects

Minimum Criteria

Individuals should have a PhD in a relevant discipline (e.g. Sociology, Psychology, Technology, Education, Communications)

Desirable Criteria

In addition, it is desirable that candidates have a subset of the following:

• Familiarity with existing research on bullying, cyberbullying, and digital safety
• A team player, capable of contributing to the research and policy agenda and the activities of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre
• Excellent communication (oral and written) skills
• Strong organisational and administrative skills
• Knowledge of bullying and/or digital safety
• Strong publication track record, and/or with experience in the management of research projects

Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:

Discipline knowledge and Research skills – Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and the ability to conduct a specific programme of research within that discipline

Understanding the Research Environment – Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies) and the ability to contribute to grant applications

Communicating Research – Demonstrates the ability to communicate their research with their peers and the wider research community (for example presenting at conferences and publishing research in relevant journals) and the potential to teach and tutor students

Managing & Leadership skills – Demonstrates the potential to manage a research project including the supervision of undergraduate students

Essential Training

The successful individual will be required to undertake the following essential compliance training: Orientation, Health & Safety, Data Protection (GDPR) and all Cyber Security Awareness Training. Other training may need to be undertaken when required.

Please note this appointment will be subject to the candidate successfully completing the Garda Vetting and Foreign Police Certification processes where applicable.

Salary Scale:

IUA Postdoctoral Researcher Salary (Level 1) Scale: €31,462 – €41,443

Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and in line with current Government pay policy

Closing date: Friday, 18th October 2024

Pilot Remote Working Policy

DCU is currently operating a pilot remote working policy for staff which consists of 1 day a week and 2 days a week for a period of up to 21 weeks per year. Such weeks are determined by the Head of each Unit in conjunction with HR and will take cognisance of the academic calendar, business needs and the service provision of the particular area. The terms of the pilot remote working policy will apply.

For more information on DCU and benefits, please visit Why work at DCU?

Informal Enquiries in relation to this role should be directed to:

Professor, James O Higgins Norman, Director of DCU Anti-Bullying Centre

Email: james.ohigginsnorman@dcu.ie

Please do not send applications to this email address, instead apply as described below.

Application Procedure:

Please submit your application through the online system. In order to be considered for the role to which you are applying for, you must upload:

1) Curriculum Vitae

2) Cover Letter

3) Completed application form (blank forms can be downloaded from the bottom of the Vacancy).

Please note, if all items are not uploaded, the application will be deemed incomplete, and will not be processed.

DCU UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying, Prof. James O’Higgins Norman, has been awarded the Freedom of the City of London.

Prof. O’Higgins Norman was nominated for the award by the Educators Livery Company in London. At the ceremony which took place in the Chamberlain’s Court at the Guildhall, the Clerk of the Court Laura Miller highlighted Prof. O’Higgins Norman’s achievements in education particularly in relation to bullying prevention in schools and his long standing relationship with the City.

Freedom of the City of London is an ancient honour that confers traditional rights on the men and women who receive it, most notably, the right to drive their flock over London Bridge. At the ceremony James said he has no immediate plans to take up that opportunity and looks forward to continuing his work at DCU Institute of Education.

DCU’s National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre, in partnership with Facebook, calls on Teachers to Register for FUSE, the Anti-Bullying Training Programme for Post-Primary Schools. The National Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC) at Dublin City University is announcing the first set of dates for FUSE, a research based programme to train teachers in how to tackle bullying both online and offline. ABC is urging teachers in post-primary schools to register for one day of training on either September 24th, 25th or 26th.

The programme, supported by Facebook, is grounded in Irish and international best practice research, consisting of an in-person training session, online workshops and projects aimed at second year junior cycle students across Ireland. This is the second phase in the programme following an investment of €1m by Facebook.

The training will contain six modules, including bullying, cyber bullying, and online safety with a range of resources available to teachers to educate them on how to deal with the scenarios that are likely to occur within the classroom, the school and online.

This programme is designed to create champions within each post primary school in Ireland, who can then peer train other teachers, and parents, in how best to tackle a range of online and offline bullying issues. Over the course of the academic year, FUSE aims to increase reporting and reduce levels of bullying in schools. Collectively, this will enable school staff, students and parents, to tackle bullying and online safety together.

Professor James O’Higgins Norman, ABC Director and UNESCO Chair on Tackling Bullying in Schools and Cyberspace said, “We’re very excited to now move into the delivery phase of this initiative. Based on academic research and feedback from those on the ground, the course has been specifically designed to meet the needs of principals, teachers and parents, all while being youth led. By adopting a train-the-trainer approach, this programme will empower teachers and parents to further educate whole school communities in bullying, cyberbullying, and online safety issues. Education and understanding are key to tackling bullying in the school environment and this initiative will deliver both”.

Amy McArdle, Facebook’s Safety Policy Manager commented: “There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our users. That is why we have made a considerable investment in support of our safety partners, ABC. We always listen to the experts when it comes to online safety and are delighted to enable the ABC team tackle bullying in Ireland through the school environment. Over the three years of this initiative, we aim to help teachers and parents understand the complexities of bullying and develop the skills to support students when it comes to online safety.“

The FUSE programme is part of the Department of Education and Skills Wellbeing Framework and supported by the NABC, ISPCC and Dublin City University, and funded by Facebook. To run FUSE in your school and learn more about the programme please visit the FUSE website: https://antibullyingcentre.ie/fuse/ or please contact us on Tel: 01 884 2012.

To learn more about online safety and tackling bullying, please visit Facebook’s Safety Centre with a range of information and resources for parents, teachers and students: Facebook Safety Centre:

Facebook’s Safety Expert Tips on Tackling Bullying

If you handle it in the right way, online bullying can be confronted to help students to deal with it.

Prepare

• Take the student seriously.
• Find the best space to have the conversation.
• Try to stay calm and keep the conversation positive.
• Make sure you talk with the affected person as soon as possible after the incident.

Talk

• Be a good listener; try not to put words in the student mouth or jump to conclusions.
• Avoid using harsh or accusatory language, which can result in the student either shutting down or becoming more upset.
• Avoid being judgmental or critical about what behaviour they were engaged in before the bullying incident.
• Don’t blame your student for being the target of bullying.
• Reassure your student that you want to help find a successful resolution to the problem.

Act

• Based on what you learned from talking to your student, decide on next steps.
• If you and your student both agree that the situation isn’t that serious and doesn’t need to be escalated, still offer to help them.
• If the incident is serious enough to be reported, explain the school policies to your student and help them report the situation.
• If you think it’s appropriate for the bully and the student to talk, you can hold a conversation or a mediation session.
• If you think the student could be in danger, reach out to the authorities or principal immediately.

Follow Up

• Check in with your student to see how they’re doing. Ask if the situation has been resolved and if they feel comfortable at school.
• Make sure your students know what behaviours are acceptable in the classroom. Promote positive relationships and consider teaching conflict resolution skills.

Tacklebullying.ie Poster Competition

Students from eight secondary schools around the country have been awarded for their outstanding entries to the www.TackleBullying.ie poster competition run by the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at Dublin City University.

The initiative, which aims to raise awareness of the anti-bullying website among teenagers, challenged students to design a poster under five central themes: combating bullying; promoting bystanders; combating cyberbullying; combating disablist bullying; and LGBT bullying.

11 winners were selected in total from over 250 entries, with three overall category winners. All finalist posters have been made available to download via tacklebullying.ie and can be used as a classroom resource. Photos from the event can be found at this link

The competition was supported by Facebook Ireland, McAfee, O’Neills, ShoutOut, Education Publishing Company of Ireland and the Department of Education & Skills. ISPCC ambassador, Sinéad Bourke, was on hand to present the prizes at an awards ceremony held at Facebook HQ, Dublin.

In congratulating the winners, Dr. James O’Higgins Norman, Director of the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at DCU, said:

“This competition has given pupils across the country a chance to explore the theme of bullying in a creative way and to spread the tackle bullying message among their peers and beyond. Congratulations to all who took part.”

Developed by the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre at Dublin City University and supported by the Department of Education & Skills, TackleBullying.ie is an online resource for young people affected by bullying, parents and teachers. It offers a forum, supervised by trained moderators, in which teenagers can share their experiences with their peers or offer support to others. The site also contains useful information on the subject, such as tips on staying cyber-safe, and relevant newspaper articles which might be useful for school projects.

ABC Oireachtas Opening Statement_15.06.21