DCU Anti-Bullying Centre

DCU Institute of Education

Religious Identity, Bullying, and Wellbeing in Schools

Multi-disciplinary PhD Scholarship (3 years Tuition Only)

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. Candidates may choose to register for full-time or part-time study.

The selected candidate will:

• Receive EU full-time or part-time fees covered (per annum €4095 full-time; €2942 part-time).
• Have an allowance of €2000 per year towards research materials/travel.
• 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 be required to only 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 (e.g. 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 available 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 18^th October 2024. 

All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed.

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 ioe-research-office@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 and COST – Cooperation in Science and Technology and is subject to continued funding over the term of the scholarship.

DCU Institute of Education
Dean’s Research Fellow (One Semester)
DCU Anti-Bullying Centre

Background

DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC) is a university designated research centre located in DCU Institute of Education. 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 192 Scopus ranked papers, achieving a current combined Field Weighted Citation Index of 2.7.

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.

The Role

The Centre is pleased to announce a new and exciting opportunity for an early to mid-career academic in DCU Institute of Education who is interested in pursuing research related to bullying and/or digital safety and education.

The Dean’s Research Fellowship will allow an ambitious individual to be seconded to the Centre from mid-August 2024 to end of January 2025 to undertake a specific study that will enhance their research profile as well as contribute to the canon of research associated with the Centre.

The Fellow will be based in the Centre, which is located on All Hallows Campus, and will work as a full-time researcher for the duration of the fellowship.

The following is an indicative job description:

• Undertake a specific piece of research that relates to bullying and/or digital safety and education
• Submit two papers for publication in Q1 journals.
• Attend Centre meetings and contribute to the wider work of the Centre.
• Identify and apply for funding opportunities.
• Present a seminar on their research.
• Support other research activities in the Centre.

The Fellowship will provide the selected individual with an opportunity to elevate and enhance their research profile. As a member of the Centre, the Fellow will receive significant support from the UNESCO Chair, the Director of Engagement, and the Centre Administrator, as well as collaborate with other members of the Centre.

Requirements

Individuals who are interested in applying for the Dean’s Fellowship should be full-time academic staff members of the Faculty.

If successful in their application, they must engage with their Head of school on sourcing temporary cover for the period of the Fellowship. School placement responsibilities/duties may not be covered by the Fellowship unless otherwise agreed with the Head of School.

Those interested should submit a short research proposal (approx. 1000 words) in which they outline the topic they wish to research. The proposal should explain how the focus of the Fellowship will build on their research to date and how it will contribute to the wider field of study on bullying and/or digital safety. The applicant is not expected to have previously undertaken research in this field but should be able to highlight how their work to-date can be linked to an aspect of bullying and/or digital safety and education.

The applicant should outline what research methods they propose to use and what resources they will require to undertake the study.

While the Fellowship is for one semester, it is hoped that it will allow the individual to maintain an interest in the Centre and remain as an active member after the secondment has finished and they have returned to their School.

More information on the Centre can be found on www.dcu.ie/abc

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof. James O’Higgins Norman

Applications can be emailed to: angela.kinahan@dcu.ie

Closing Date: 26^th April 2024

In a significant stride towards combating bullying in Irish schools, Minister for Education Norma Foley has unveiled a series of initiatives under the Department of Education’s Cineáltas: Action Plan on Bullying, set to begin from September 2024.

The announcement includes the introduction of new anti-bullying modules across primary and post-primary schools, developed by the Anti-Bullying Centre at Dublin City University (DCU). These modules expand on the FUSE programme, which has been actively addressing bullying issues such as bystander intervention, cyberbullying, and online conflict management since 2023.

One notable addition is a resource aimed at assisting first-year students in their transition from primary to post-primary education, covering critical topics such as navigating new environments, technologies, and relationships.

Minister Foley expressed her commitment to eradicating bullying, stating, “Bullying can rob children and young people of happiness and cause lifelong damage. We are dedicated to preventing this scourge in all its forms.”

Professor James O’Higgins Norman, UNESCO Chair on Bullying at DCU, highlighted the research-backed nature of the FUSE program, designed to empower teachers, parents, and students to recognize, respond to, and report bullying behaviour effectively. “FUSE is a research-based anti-bullying programme developed specifically for Irish schools at DCU Anti-Bullying Centre. It is designed to support teachers, parents and students to recognise, respond and report bullying behaviour in person or online” said Prof. Norman.

Additionally, Minister Foley announced the inaugural Cineáltas showcase and awards event to be held on September 25, 2024. The event will celebrate the efforts of school communities in fostering environments of equality, inclusion, diversity, and well-being. It will also feature an awards ceremony to honour those who have significantly contributed to these causes within their schools.

Schools from across the country will be randomly selected to participate in this showcase, demonstrating their achievements and the impact of the Cineáltas initiatives within their communities. Nominations for the awards will open in May, inviting schools to recognize individuals or groups who have made outstanding contributions to anti-bullying efforts.

The Cineáltas plan also includes updating anti-bullying procedures and developing a national database for anonymous data collection on bullying, which will support ongoing research and the improvement of anti-bullying programs.

These comprehensive measures affirm the government’s resolve to ensure that Irish schools are safe and supportive environments where all students can thrive.

Dr. Tijana Milosevic was awarded a Facebook Phase Two Content Policy Award for her proposal: “Co-designing with Children: A Rights-Based Approach to Fighting Bullying“.

The research award was granted to researchers who focused on the content policies, specifically around bullying and harassment, and fairness in global enforcement.  Facebook state that this is to support research in these areas that will help develop and assess better content policies and interventions.

Tijana is a postdoctoral researcher at ABC focusing on social media policies, internet governance, and digital media use among children and youth. Her project is in partnership with Tijana’s colleague Dr. Brian Davies on behalf of the ADAPT Centre at Trinity College Dublin.

Read more about Facebook’s Phase Two Content Policy Award here.

The National Anti-Bullying Centre received the Facebook Blue Tick for verification today. The Blue Tick means that Facebook has deemed the content and social media operations for the Centre are of public interest and authentic.

Since 1996, the National Anti-Bullying Centre has been providing comprehensive evidence-based research, policy and practice into bullying prevention and intervention nationally and internationally. The Centre hosts the Springer International Journal of Bullying Prevention, and in June 2019, will host the World Anti-Bullying Forum (@WABForum on Twitter) in Dublin City University.

The Facebook account for the Centre can be accessed here.

New research on inclusion and bullying, led by ABC research fellow Dr. Debbie Ging identified that the majority of students were bullied about body image and weight.

The pilot study research identified that the majority of teenagers were reluctant to report incidents of bullying to school staff.

Teachers highlighted that a focus on body aesthetics – particularly in social media – was a factor behind students being subjected to hurtful names about their physical appearance.

The findings were from a pilot study entitled ‘Taking the Temperature’. Which is available to download at this link

The study included 418 second-level students between the ages of 12 and 17. The study conducted in three schools in the Dublin area – involving an all-girls Catholic school, an all-boys Catholic school and a co-educational community college.

Verbal bullying and threats were common with 32.8% of participants reporting that they had been called hurtful names or threatened at school.

It was considerably higher in the all-boys school (48.5%) than in the all-girls school (22.4%) or the mixed community college (23.8%)

Bullying was most frequently attributed to body type/size.

In relation to promoting an atmosphere of inclusivity for LGBT students, the research found only a small number of participants in the all-boys school (7.5%) felt their school was ‘very accepting’ of LGBT people – compared with the 19.1% in the all-girls school and 38.6% in the mixed school.

In the all-girls school, body type was the most frequently cited reason for having mean rumours or lies spread and for being excluded or ‘left out’.

Physical harassment was considerably more prevalent in the all-boys school, while students in the mixed community college expressed the highest levels of belonging (81.1%) and feeling safe (68.3% felt very safe).

Only 41.8% of students in the all-girls school and 20.7% of students in the all-boys school felt very safe.

Feedback from teachers and principals indicated that schools needed broader instruments to evaluate the diversity climate taking into account a range of issues such as gender, sexuality, ethnicity, class, body image and religion.

Dr Debbie Ging is from the DCU School of Communications and author of the study.

“Other indicators such as ethnicity and sexuality were still very significant factors in bullying behaviour, but the prevalence of body size-based bullying surprised us, in both the boys’ and the girls’ schools.”

“The schools were also surprised by a lot of what the surveys revealed, highlighting the need for ongoing self-assessment instruments to improve the equality and inclusion climate.”

Dr. Debbie Ging discussed the research on Newstalk FM.