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Katharina Swirak

Lecturer
Sociology
University College Cork
Cork
Ireland

T: +353-21-490-3000
E: K.Swirak@ucc.ie

I joined the School of Sociology and Philosophy as a Criminology lecturer in November 2016. I teach various modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level and supervise students' research, including at PhD level. Previously, I worked as a post-doctoral researcher and part-time lecturer at the School of Applied Social Studies, where I taught amongst other subjects, the Social Policy elements of the inter-disciplinary MA Criminology. Previously, I worked as a programme manager for the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in Ethiopia and Kenya on various projects. I am a graduate of the University of Utrecht (BA Social Sciences) and the London School of Economics (MSc Comparative Politics).  My PhD (UCC) research (completed in 2013) analysed Garda Youth Diversion Projects, a multi-disciplinary youth crime prevention initiative, using Foucauldian discourse analysis. I have co- published the monograph Youth Policy, Civil Society and the Modern Irish State (2012) with Manchester University Press.

My core research and teaching interests are concerned with 

- the intersections of social policy and the criminal justice system 

- the methodological development of governmentality studies for applied policy research

- the implications of neo-liberal constructions of the subject and consequences for offender rehabilitation 

Research Interests

  • Sociology of Youth and Childhood 
  • Youth Justice; Irish youth crime prevention policy
  • Governmentality 
  • Research Methods for Social Policy Analysis 

Books

YearPublication
(2012)Youth policy, civil society and the modern Irish state: The politics of youth.
Powell F., Geoghegan, M., Scanlon, M. and Swirak, K. (2012) Youth policy, civil society and the modern Irish state: The politics of youth. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]

Book Chapters

YearPublication
(2012)'Child outcasts: the Ryan Report into industrial and reformatory schools'
Powell F., Geoghegan, M., Scanlon, M. and Swirak, K, (2012) 'Child outcasts: the Ryan Report into industrial and reformatory schools' In: Children's Rights and Child Protection, Critical Times, Critical Perspectives. Manchester University Press: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2012)'Negotiating tensions and contradictions in youth crime prevention initiatives in Ireland'
Swirak, K. (2012) 'Negotiating tensions and contradictions in youth crime prevention initiatives in Ireland' In: Youth policy, civil society and the modern Irish state. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]
(2012)'The search for an Irish youth narrative: minor citizens or urban tribe?'
Powell, F. and Swirak, K. (2012) 'The search for an Irish youth narrative: minor citizens or urban tribe?' In: Youth policy, civil society and the modern Irish state: The politics of youth. Manchester: Manchester University Press. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

YearPublication
(2016)'Problematising advanced liberal youth crime prevention: the impacts of management reforms on Irish Garda Youth Diversion Projects'
Swirak, K. (2016) 'Problematising advanced liberal youth crime prevention: the impacts of management reforms on Irish Garda Youth Diversion Projects'. Youth Justice: An International Journal, [Details]
(2016)'Book Review: Michael Wyness (2015) Childhood. Cambridge: Polity Press, 201 pp'
Swirak, K. (2016) 'Book Review: Michael Wyness (2015) Childhood. Cambridge: Polity Press, 201 pp'. Critical Social Policy, [Details]
(2011)'Targeted Youth Work in Contemporary Ireland'
M. Scanlon, F. Powell, M. Geoghegan and K. Swirak (2011) 'Targeted Youth Work in Contemporary Ireland'. Youth Studies Ireland, 6 (1):3-17 [Details]
(2013)'The Irish Charity Myth, Child Abuse and Human Rights: Contextualising the Ryan Report into Care Institutions'
Powell, F,Geoghegan, M,Scanlon, M,Swirak, K (2013) 'The Irish Charity Myth, Child Abuse and Human Rights: Contextualising the Ryan Report into Care Institutions'. British Journal of Social Work, 43 :7-23 [DOI] [Details]
(2009)'Review Finding Youth- Exploring theory and experiences of youth in late modern societies'
Katharina Swirak (2009) 'Review Finding Youth- Exploring theory and experiences of youth in late modern societies'. Youth Studies Ireland, 4 (2) [Details]

Published Reports

YearPublication
(2015)Policy and literature review Goal 1 of the National Children’s Children Strategy.
Kilkelly, U., Martin, S., Swirak, K. and Field,S. (2015) Policy and literature review Goal 1 of the National Children’s Children Strategy. Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Dublin. Globe icon [Details]
(2015)Just For Dads-Providing an opportunity for dads to explore their relationships with their children: what have we learned?.
Swirak, K. (2015) Just For Dads-Providing an opportunity for dads to explore their relationships with their children: what have we learned?. Springboard/UCC/TUSLA, Cork. [Details]
(2015)Briefing Note No. 2/2015: Policy and Literature Review of Goal 1 of the National Children’s Strategy, 2000-2010.
Kilkelly, U., Martin, S., Swirak, K. and Field, S. (2015) Briefing Note No. 2/2015: Policy and Literature Review of Goal 1 of the National Children’s Strategy, 2000-2010. Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Dublin. Globe icon [Details]
(2010)Working with Young People: a national study of youth work provision and policy in contemporary Ireland.
Powell, F; Geoghegan, M; Scanlon, M; Swirak, K; (2010) Working with Young People: a national study of youth work provision and policy in contemporary Ireland. Institute for Social Science in the 21st Century, Cork. [Details]
(2013)Briefing Note Department of Children and Youth Affairs Scholarship Programme- Youth Crime Prevention Policy and Practice in Ireland- Implications for Policy and Practice.
Swirak, K. (2013) Briefing Note Department of Children and Youth Affairs Scholarship Programme- Youth Crime Prevention Policy and Practice in Ireland- Implications for Policy and Practice. DCYA, Dublin. [Details]
(2013)Garda Youth Diversion Projects in the Contemporary Youth Justice Landscape- What are some of the implications?.
Swirak, K. (2013) Garda Youth Diversion Projects in the Contemporary Youth Justice Landscape- What are some of the implications?. Youth Work Ireland, Dublin. [Details]

Thesis/Dissertation

YearPublication
(2013)A post-structuralist analysis of Irish youth crime prevention policy with special emphasis on the Garda Youth Diversion Projects.
Swirak, K. (2013) A post-structuralist analysis of Irish youth crime prevention policy with special emphasis on the Garda Youth Diversion Projects. Thesis/Dissertation [Details]

Honours and Awards

 YearTitleAwarding Body
2010PhD Scholarship Social Policy Department of Children and Youth Affairs
1999Scholarship for Talented Undergraduate Students Government of Lower Austria

Conference Contributions

YearPublication
(2015)EuroSoTL 2015: Bridging Boundaries through the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning,
Swirak, K. and Bantry-White, E., Hurley, M. and Mackey, S. (2015) Building bridges in social work professional education. [Oral Presentation], EuroSoTL 2015: Bridging Boundaries through the Scholarship of Teaching & Learning, Cork, UCC . [Details]
(2015)Just for Dads- An Opportunity for Dads to build Relationships with their Children- Evaluation meeting,
Swirak, K. (2015) Just for Dads – providing an opportunity for Dads to explore their relationships with their children: what have we learned?. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Just for Dads- An Opportunity for Dads to build Relationships with their Children- Evaluation meeting, Cork . [Details]
(2015)UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre 7th Biennial International Conference: Building Family Support Systems,
Jenkinson, H., Casey, D. Monahan, L., Magee, D. and Swirak, K. (2015) Engaging with fathers in practice – challenges, achievements, and lessons learnt. [Oral Presentation], UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre 7th Biennial International Conference: Building Family Support Systems, NUIG Galway . [Details]
(2015)5th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference,
Jenkison, H., Magee, D., Monahan, L., Swirak, K. and Casey, D. (2015) Benefits for all: Combining academic and practice resources to develop and evaluate ‘Just for Dad’s – a groupwork programme for fathers in a family support setting. [Oral Presentation], 5th National Child Protection and Welfare Social Work Conference, UCC, Cork . [Details]
(2014)IYJS Managers Forum Event,
Swirak, K. (2014) Garda Youth Diversion Projects, the State and the Voluntary Sector: Critical Issues. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], IYJS Managers Forum Event, Youth Work Ireland, Dublin . [Details]
(2009)International youth studies conference, ‘All Change for Young People?’, NUI Maynooth,
Swirak, K. (2009) Youth, Youth Policy And Civil Society in Ireland. [Oral Presentation], International youth studies conference, ‘All Change for Young People?’, NUI Maynooth, Maynooth , 14-JUL-09 - 15-JUL-10. [Details]
(2010)International youth work conference, UCC,
Swirak, K. and Powell, F. (2010) Working with Young People – A National Study of Youth Work Provision and Policy in Contemporary Ireland. [Oral Presentation], International youth work conference, UCC, UCC , 11-MAY-10 - 12-MAY-10. [Details]
(2009)9th European Sociological Association,
Katharina Swirak (2009) Negotiating Tensions and Contradictions in Youth Crime Prevention Initiatives in Ireland. 9th European Sociological Association, Lisbon , 05-SEP-10 - 10-SEP-09. [Details]

Employment

 EmployerPositionFrom / To
United Nations Development Programme (Latvia) Resident Coordination Assistant01-OCT-02 / 31-DEC-03
University College Cork Research Officer01-JUL-08 / 30-JUN-10
University College Cork Lecturer (part-time)01-JUL-12 / 05-OCT-15
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO Ethiopia and Kenya) Programme Manager01-JUL-05 / 31-MAR-08
Austrian Ministry of European and International Affairs Desk Officer (Humanitarian Affairs)01-JAN-04 / 30-JUN-05

Education

 YearInstitutionQualificationSubject
2013UCC PhDSocial Policy
2002London School of Economics MScComparative Politics
2001Utrecht BASocial Science

Languages

 LanguageReadingWritingSpeaking
French FluentFunctionalFluent
German FluentFluentFluent

Outreach Activities

 Description

I got involved on a voluntary basis with Just for Dads, an innovative support programme for fathers (UCC/TUSLA/Springboard collaboration) to build their relationships with their children. I was mainly involved in evaluating the pilot programme. 
I am currently also involved on a voluntary basis in developing and co-facilitating I-Girls , a new initiative aimed at encouraging teenage girls to 'be themselves'. 


Other Activities

 Description

External Examiner, Blanchardstown Institute of Technology, 2015 

Quercus Mentor 2014-2015 for Talented Students 

Modules Taught

 Term (ID))TitleLinkSubject
2017Crime prevention and society: policies, governance and interventions SS6113Crime prevention and society: policies, governance and interventions
2017Key Issues in Criminology SC6612Key Issues in Criminology
2017Research Design and Methods SC6610Research Design and Methods
2017Crime Prevention and Society: Policies, Governance and Interventions SS6111Crime Prevention and Society: Policies, Governance and Interventions
2017Action Research Study SS4214Action Research Study
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