Image: Oleksandr Berezko/Shutterstock
Prof Joe O’Hara of DCU is about to make his mark on a European level, having been named the new president of the EERA.
From within the confines of Dublin City University (DCU), Prof Joe O’Hara has led much of the institution’s education policy in his current position as the inaugural professor of education, and as a member of the School of Policy and Practice in the DCU Institute of Education.
Some of his previous accomplishments include being the president of the Educational Studies Association of Ireland as well as a member of the Teaching Council of Ireland, from 2012 up until last year.
Starting in 2018, O’Hara will be leading education research policy throughout much of Europe as the new president of the European Educational Research Association (EERA).
Founded in 1994, the EERA is a European-wide network of educational associations that includes more than 40 regional and national organisations from 35 different countries as members.
The EERA is also involved in worldwide partnerships with educational associations such as the World Education Research Association, and takes part in discussions within European networks on the development of programmes in support of research.
The new president of the EERA, Prof Joe O’Hara. Image: DCU
‘Exciting and challenging times for education’
The biggest event of the year for the EERA is the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER), which annually hosts up to 2,500 researchers.
The key objective of the EERA is to support high-quality educational research that is aware of its own context as well as transnational ones, and reflects political and cultural differences.
This is not O’Hara’s first time working with the EERA, having represented Ireland in the organisation between 2008 and 2013.
Speaking of his appointment, O’Hara said: “I am personally very honoured to have been elected to the post of incoming EERA president.
“These are exciting and challenging times for education and educational research, and I am greatly looking forward to helping shape responses to a rapidly changing educational landscape with colleagues from all over Europe.”
