CORA
Cork Open Research Archive (CORA) is UCC’s Open Access institutional repository which enables UCC researchers to make their research outputs freely available and accessible.
UCC Research Communities
Recent Submissions
Designing Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate syllabi – the need for a new template
(Education Matters, 2023) Hyland, Áine; Kennedy, Declan; Mooney, Brian
In recent years, concerns have been expressed by practising teachers, university academics, professional bodies, Oireachtas committees, and experts in curriculum design about the design and quality of Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate subject syllabi published by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). * The current design template is minimal, comprising little more than a list of topics and learning outcomes. The Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate are nationally assessed by an external body, the State Examinations Commission (SEC), but unlike in similar jurisdictions, which provide comprehensive guidelines linking syllabi with assessment, no such details are provided in Ireland.
Transitions in the school system
(Education Matters, 2019) Hyland, Áine; Mooney, Brian
The Irish school system is not seamless. From the time children enter pre-school at the age of three until they complete their formal education, they experience a number of transitions – some more visible and challenging than others. The official designation of the various “levels and sectors” of education – pre-primary, primary, junior cycle second-level, senior cycle second-level, further education and higher education - is not unique to Ireland. A formal classification of different levels and sectors (ISCED 0, 1, 2 etc) has been used by the OECD and the European Commission in recent decades in their publications of international data and statistics.
Forum on Patronage and Pluralism – a 10-year review
(Education Matters, 2022) Hyland, Áine; Mooney, Brian
This article reviews the progress to date on the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, chaired by Professor John Coolahan, which submitted its report in April 2012 to the then Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn. The Forum made a number of recommendations on how the Irish education system could provide a sufficiently diverse number and range of primary schools catering for all religions and none, and on how this could be achieved.
A National Children’s Science Centre
(Education Matters, 2024) Hyland, Áine; Mooney, Brian
Ireland is the only country in the OECD and one of the few countries in the developed world without a National Children’s Science Centre. Even countries with less developed economies such as Brazil (https://museudoamanha.org.br/en;), Kazakhstan (https://smithgill.com/work/kazakhstan_pavilion_science_museum/) and Mongolia (https://www.fddb.org/domes/inner-mongolia-science-museum/) have recognised the role such centres play in encouraging and supporting interest in and enthusiasm for science among young people. Happily, this gap in Ireland’s infrastructure is about to be addressed with the development of a national interactive science centre for children in the North Wing of the National Concert Hall building on Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin.
Advancements in GaN-based horizontal-cavity and surface-emitting superluminescent diodes for next-generation holographic displays
(Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE), 2025-03-19) Muhammet, Genc; Li, Zhi; Morales, Juan S. D.; Hazarika, Abhinandan; Hwang, How Yuan; Akşit, Kaan; O'Carroll, Gerry; Roycroft, Brendan; Corbett, Brian M.; Enterprise Ireland
Surface-emitting superluminescent diodes (SLDs) with horizontal cavities in the visible spectrum offer a significant advancement in optoelectronics, combining the benefits of LEDs and laser diodes. Characterized by broad emission spectrum, directionality, and high output power, SLDs are ideal for applications requiring high-brightness, high spatial coherence, and low temporal coherence, such as imaging and projection systems due to their speckle-free emission. This study focuses on SLDs emitting in the blue spectral region using gallium nitride (GaN) materials. Advanced fabrication techniques yielded a surface-emitting architecture using horizontal ridge waveguiding with a 45° total internal reflector on the facets, achieving high power and broad spectral output. The SLDs demonstrated a peak emission wavelength in the 4xx nm range with FWHM of 2-8 nm, depending on cavity length, and peak optical output power up to 1 W under pulse conditions. These features make SLDs cost-effective and suitable for next-gen optical systems, including holographic display applications, highlighting their potential for widespread adoption in high-performance technologies.