Stage 1 Seminars

Opening address with introduction to the Department of Education and welcome to the Conference.

Schools must be designed to be used creatively and imaginatively; where learning is not exclusively confined to formal teaching spaces. Learning, social interaction and a sense of belonging come together to form positive attitudes in an inclusive environment.

Bringing together, the voices of Student, School Management, Energy Training and Educators, Policy Developers and Implementers.

This session will focus on the journey towards zero carbon, energy efficiency design approaches, the potential for schools engaging in a whole school approach to energy, the wider impacts for a school regarding an energy efficiency upgrade, the community ripple effect and the Student voice with the individual and collective perspective on making a difference.

• Welcome and Overview: John Dolan, Department of Education
• Climate Action - Transitioning Schools to Zero: John Dolan
• Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder Programme: Michael Walsh, Department of Education
• School Support Programmes: Alan Ryan, SEAI

• • • Energy in Education Programme, a partnership between SEAI / Department of Education
    • SEAI Education Programme

• Education for Sustainable Development and SDG 4/4.7: Leona De Khors, Department of Education
• A School Perspective: Colm Mac Cinna, Principal St. Mary’s BNS Monaghan
• Youth Climate Education Experience
• Q & A

An Roinn Breisoideachais Oideachais | Department of Education

This session will provide a sharing of experiences and challenges in respect of school accommodation across the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and England.  Challenges including capacity pressures, evolving accommodation requirements, and sustainability will be outlined and the emerging responses to these challenges will be discussed.  This session presents an opportunity for collective learning and the prompting of strategic thinking across the sector.

An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta | Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Welcome address with emphasis on the importance of supporting the school system with modern educational facilities.

Introduction to DFHERIS including the role and responsibilities in funding and policy creation in the higher and further education and research sectors.

Further and Higher Education Infrastructure and systems must be designed to be inclusive, responsive, accessible and connected to society. Investment in infrastructure should reflect the diversity of the population, take a holistic view of the future, and open pathways to education and lifelong learning through inclusive and inspiring design.

• Universal Design in Education across the Human Life Course: Chair, Dr Gerald Craddock
• Designing the environment for children and teenagers to access and participate in Educational Settings: Tom Grey, Research Fellow, TrinityHaus
• FET college of the future: From Refurbishment to Universal Design in Education: Dr Rory o Sullivan, Principal, Killester College of Further Education
• Think Human First: Universal Design in Higher Education: Margaret Kinsella, Senior Lecturer TU Dublin, Blancherstown Campus
• Designing the Environment for all people to access and participate in a University Setting: Dr Anna Kelly, DipEd(HEc), MEd(SEN), MSc(Mgt), PhD(Inclusive Design), Director, UCD Access & Lifelong Learning/Chair, PATH Leinster Cluster

Managing your Estate effectively will help save money and ensure you have a healthy, safe and sustainable environment. In this session we will have speakers from Department of Education in the UK (DfE), Atlantic Technological University Donegal, University College Cork and the Health Service Executive (HSE) on how they implement effective estate management and the challenges being faced.