Pavee Beoir leaders: Traveller women in higher education

Cummins, Annie; Leane, Máire; McGovern, Sheila; Byrne, Olive

Pavee Beoir leaders: Traveller women in higher education

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Publishes Version

Date

2025

Authors

Cummins, Annie

Leane, Máire

McGovern, Sheila

Byrne, Olive

Publisher

SOAR Project, Access UCC, University College Cork

Abstract

Introduction The Leadership in the Community course was a one-year part-time Level 6 course delivered during the 2019/20 academic year. The course was held on two consecutive mornings a week and students also attended an additional study morning in their local Traveller organisation. The course was divided into four modules: Social Analysis of Community, Principles and Practices of Community Work, History and Theory of Community Development, and Group Work Skills. Initially, twenty-seven enrolled in the course, but five needed to step out during the first semester due to personal reasons. Seventeen of the twenty-two women who completed the Level 6 course plan to progress to the Level 7 Diploma course in Leadership in the Community next year. Research Aims This research aimed to capture the needs and experiences of the Traveller women participating in the initiative and to examine how higher education institutes can best meet the needs of this cohort of adult learners in the future. Informed and guided by the transformational goals set out by the SOAR project, the Leadership in the Community course strived to create an optimal environment for Traveller women to engage in adult learning in University College Cork. The five transformational goals set out by the SOAR project are illustrated in the figure below. Structure of Research This research began by gathering and reviewing the literature on Travellers and their engagement in the Irish education system. The empirical strand of the research consisted of two phases of focus groups with twelve Traveller women on the Leadership in the Community course. These focus groups were conducted in the Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) premises in Cork City. Eight interviews were carried out with education and community stakeholders. These interviews were conducted either in UCC, TVG or online. All interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data gathered during the research process was coded and analysed using NVIVO 12, a qualitative data management software programme. Emerging issues were divided into three themes: prior educational experiences; experience of engaging in the Leadership course; and plans or recommendations to support progression. Findings Historically, the field of education has perpetuated disadvantage for Travellers through practices of segregation, exclusion and disempowerment. The majority of Travellers leave school before completing the Junior Cycle. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) (2016) found that 8% of Travellers completed the Senior Cycle in post-primary school and only 1% progress to third-level education.

Keywords

Traveller women , Higher education , Segregation , Exclusion , Disempowerment

Citation

Cummins, A., Leane, M., McGovern, S. and Byrne, O. (2025) Pavee Beoir leaders: Traveller women in higher education. Cork: SOAR Project, Access UCC, University College Cork.