Biography
Pat has been a full-time staff member of the School of Applied Social Studies since 2007 prior to that he worked in the Sociology departments of WIT, CIT and in DCU as part of their open education unit ‘Oscail’. Taking the ‘scenic route’ to education Pat, as a mature student, completed the Leaving Certificate, a Diploma in Social Studies, a Bachelor of Social Science, a Masters of Socail Science and a PhD under Professor Arpad Szakolczai of the School of Sociology UCC.
He is a member of the team for the Bachelor of Social Work where he also acts as year one co-ordinator. Other duties include the position of Student Support Officer for the School of Applied Social Studies and he provides lectures to the Early Years and Childhood Studies students. He also acts as external examiner for Waterford Institute of Technology.
Pat is on the board of the Cork Volunteer Centre and he is also chair of both Eagle Athletic club and CCYMS Chess club.
His main research and publication interests lie in the areas of widening participation in education; increasing voluntary activity; and reforming the Irish political system.
Research Interests
Main aim of research is to investigate the principles, ideas and approaches that have been utilised to increase participation and retention rates in third level education. In order to further this aim we (Irish University Retention Network) set up a network of representatives to share ideas and information that relate to the issue of retention and non-completion among Irish university students. The objective of the Irish Retention Network is to improve students' chances of achieving their academic potential. By organising and sharing our research findings the Retention Network have helped to provide a collective and collaborative response to retention issues.
Three members of the Department (Jacqui O'Riordan, Micheal O'hAodain and myself) have also been involved with evaluating a ‘Traveller Mentoring Programme' which has been part funded by the UCC Pluc+ Programme. The main aim of the Traveller Mentoring Programme is to increase the numbers of young Travellers remaining, participating and integrating within the school system by use of a mentoring programme.
Other areas of research interest include Religion, Spirituality and Social Work. Understanding that religion and spirituality can be important variables in the lives of service users need to be recognised in Social Work education and practice.
Publications
Conference Publications
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2008) | New Perspectives on Retention in Further and Higher Education P. Twomey; (2008) Vincent Tinto's Model of Student Departure: Some Theoretical Elaborations New Perspectives on Retention in Further and Higher Education [Details] | |
| (2006) | Planning, Environment and Quality of Life P. Twomey; (2006) 'Reading the Signs: An Interpretive Look at a Cork City Street' Planning, Environment and Quality of Life [Details] | |
| (2005) | Health, Holism and Sustainable Development: Civilizational Crises and Cultural Change P. Twomey; (2005) 'The Pathos of Modernity' Health, Holism and Sustainable Development: Civilizational Crises and Cultural Change [Details] |
Published Reports
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2011) | You Can Do It: Evaluating the Cork Traveller Mentoring Programme. Twomey, P., O'Riordan, J. and O'hAodain, M. (2011) You Can Do It: Evaluating the Cork Traveller Mentoring Programme. Pathways to Education, Cork. [Details] | |
| (2011) | Ten Years On: The story of the Bishopstown Senior Social Centre. O'hAodain, M. and Twomey, P. (2011) Ten Years On: The story of the Bishopstown Senior Social Centre. Bishopstown Senior Social Centre, Cork. [Details] |
Unpublished Reports
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2010) | An Evaluation of the Traveller Mentoring Programme Cork City 2009 - 2010. O'Riordan, J. Twomey, P. and O'hAodain, M. (2010) An Evaluation of the Traveller Mentoring Programme Cork City 2009 - 2010. Unpublished Reports [Details] | |
| (2011) | Evaluating the Traveller Mentoring Programme Cork County 2010 - 2011. O'Riordan, J. Twomey, P. and O'hAodain, M. (2011) Evaluating the Traveller Mentoring Programme Cork County 2010 - 2011. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Title of College Scholar | University College Cork | |
| 2000 | Undergraduate College Prize | University College Cork |
Conference Contributions
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2008) | New Perspectives on Retention in Further and Higher Education, Twomey, P. (2008) Vincent Tinto's model of student departure: Some theoretical elaborations. [Conference Organising Committee Member], New Perspectives on Retention in Further and Higher Education, Absolute Hotel, Limerick on 26th September 2008 , 26-SEP-08 - 26-SEP-08. [Details] |
Committees
| Committee | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter-University Retention Network | 2007 / 2010 |
Employment
| Employer | Position | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCC | Lecturer / Student Support Officer | 01-DEC-07 / 01-JUL-10 | |
| Cork Institute of Technology | Lecturer p/t | 01-JAN-06 / 01-JAN-07 | |
| Oscail Dublin City University | Lecturer p/t | 01-JAN-05 / 01-JAN-07 | |
| Waterford Institute of Technology | Lecturer p/t | 01-JAN-06 / 01-JAN-07 |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | UCC | PHD | * | |
| 2001 | UCC | MASTERS | M Soc Sc | |
| 2000 | UCC | BACHELOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCE | B Soc Sc |
Contact details
- Pat Twomey
Student Support Officer / Lecturer - pat.twomey@ucc.ie
- Applied Social Studies
SCHOOL OF APPLIED SOCIAL STUDIES
University College Cork
Cork
Ireland - +353-21-490-3536