Pat Leahy
Research Profile
Pat Leahy
Contact Details
Applied Social Studies
University College Cork
Cork
Ireland
T: +353-21-490-3000
E: P.Leahy@ucc.ie
Biography
Pat Leahy has been with the School of Applied Social Studies since 2001.
Prior to this, Pat was employed for ten years in a diverse range of youth work settings including youth clubs and youth projects. These included the Cork Youth Federation, Midleton Special Project for Youth and a Northside Cork City Local Drugs Task Force Project. Alongside mainstream Youthwork he has had considerable experience in working with specific groups of young people from marginalized circumstances such as young people who are homeless, drug using, early school leaving and from ethnic minority backgrounds. He has also established new youth groups for specific groups in particular areas of Cork city.
He was the chairperson of Youth Work Ireland Cork from 2005 to 2013 http://www.ywicork.com/) and served as a director of Youth Work Ireland (2010 - 2013), the largest youth organization in Ireland. He served as treasurer to the Cork Local Travellers Lottery fund (1996/7) and on the national executive of the Independent Workers Union (2005).
Prior to this, Pat was employed for ten years in a diverse range of youth work settings including youth clubs and youth projects. These included the Cork Youth Federation, Midleton Special Project for Youth and a Northside Cork City Local Drugs Task Force Project. Alongside mainstream Youthwork he has had considerable experience in working with specific groups of young people from marginalized circumstances such as young people who are homeless, drug using, early school leaving and from ethnic minority backgrounds. He has also established new youth groups for specific groups in particular areas of Cork city.
He was the chairperson of Youth Work Ireland Cork from 2005 to 2013 http://www.ywicork.com/) and served as a director of Youth Work Ireland (2010 - 2013), the largest youth organization in Ireland. He served as treasurer to the Cork Local Travellers Lottery fund (1996/7) and on the national executive of the Independent Workers Union (2005).
Pat was the researcher for the Irish contribution to two European Commission funded pan-European research projects; Project YOYO; Youth Policy and Participation; Potentials of Participation and Informal Learning in Young People's Transitions to the Labour Market, A Comparative Analysis Across Ten European Regions (2001-2005), and Project Up2Youth; Youth, Actor of Social Change (2006-2008).
He also drafted the final Up2Youth project briefing for the European Commission. Pat's other research work includes an evaluation for the Gurranabraher drugs task force project (2003) and a Youth Survey of Gurranabraher (1994). With the aid of two students (Aoife Farrell and Emma Bennett), he completed a major study into the effectiveness of youthwork as a response to drug issues in the community (2011).
With his colleague Margaret Buckley Pat reviewed and evaluated the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Service's 'Mobile Garda Youth Diversion Project' in 2019 he also conducted an evaluation for the Springboard Project's motorcycle renovation group in 2017, Knocknaheeny on the Northside of Cork City; this particular project involved Pat working alongside the young people on the motorbikes, hence the title ; Grease, Biscuits and Motorcycles. Pat also serves as the School of Applied Social Studies examinations coordinator and is the school's first aid responder.
He also drafted the final Up2Youth project briefing for the European Commission. Pat's other research work includes an evaluation for the Gurranabraher drugs task force project (2003) and a Youth Survey of Gurranabraher (1994). With the aid of two students (Aoife Farrell and Emma Bennett), he completed a major study into the effectiveness of youthwork as a response to drug issues in the community (2011).
With his colleague Margaret Buckley Pat reviewed and evaluated the Cloyne Diocesan Youth Service's 'Mobile Garda Youth Diversion Project' in 2019 he also conducted an evaluation for the Springboard Project's motorcycle renovation group in 2017, Knocknaheeny on the Northside of Cork City; this particular project involved Pat working alongside the young people on the motorbikes, hence the title ; Grease, Biscuits and Motorcycles. Pat also serves as the School of Applied Social Studies examinations coordinator and is the school's first aid responder.
Pat's research into young people and youth work has seen him participate extensively in international research; he has visited youth work interventions and spoke at research conferences in Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, England and Romania. Pat's work in the School of Applied Social Studies is centred on his role as director of the Post Graduate Diploma in Youth Work. This relatively new course (established in 2013) is an NSETs endorsed professional training course in youth work (see https://www.ucc.ie/en/ckc01/).
This innovative program received the Grad Ireland 'Best Course in Humanities' award in 2017 and was selected as of the 'Covid Stimulus' program in 2020. Under Pat's leadership the program has also been choosen by the Education Authority of Northern Ireland to provide professional youth work training for a cohort of 20 students from the Norther Irish Youthwork sector in 2022 -2023.
Along with the students from the course, Pat facilitated an induction and orientation week for UCC's 'Welcome to University' program for displaced Ukrainian students over three days in April 2022.
His teaching for the School is in the areas of young people and youth work, social research, substance use in society and community development.
He also redesigned the Practice Placement Model for the Diploma in Youth and Community Work in Adult and Continuing Education (ACE), UCC, in 2002, and has inputted into the design of the Bachelor of Social Sciences placement modules. Pat developed a link with the Schools undergraduate Social Work course and St Vincent De Paul to provide high quality placements for year two of this program.
This innovative program received the Grad Ireland 'Best Course in Humanities' award in 2017 and was selected as of the 'Covid Stimulus' program in 2020. Under Pat's leadership the program has also been choosen by the Education Authority of Northern Ireland to provide professional youth work training for a cohort of 20 students from the Norther Irish Youthwork sector in 2022 -2023.
Along with the students from the course, Pat facilitated an induction and orientation week for UCC's 'Welcome to University' program for displaced Ukrainian students over three days in April 2022.
His teaching for the School is in the areas of young people and youth work, social research, substance use in society and community development.
He also redesigned the Practice Placement Model for the Diploma in Youth and Community Work in Adult and Continuing Education (ACE), UCC, in 2002, and has inputted into the design of the Bachelor of Social Sciences placement modules. Pat developed a link with the Schools undergraduate Social Work course and St Vincent De Paul to provide high quality placements for year two of this program.
Keeping up the connection with ACE, Pat now acts as the School of Applied Social Science's academic representative on the Diploma in Substance Use and Addiction (see https://www.ucc.ie/en/ace-dsmas/).
Along with Prof Fred Powell, Margaret Scannell, Hilary Jenkinson and Olive Byrne Pat is currently currently working on a book - 'The Making of a Left Behind Class' for Policy Press in Bristol. This text is based on their research project into the non-transference of young people from particular areas into third level education.
In common with some of his colleagues in the school, Pat is a talented musician and has recorded his own material, playing guitar and bass and also singing. He has over 30 years of extensive experience of live and studio performances, playing solo and with various bands encompassing a diverse range of musical styles. Pat left school at 15 years of age (the happiest day of my life) and completed the B. Soc. Sc. (Youth and Community Work) as a mature student from 1998 to 2001. Due to his own educational experiences and professional background Pat subscribes strongly to the School's social justice ethos and commitment to non-traditional learners. His hobbies include climbing mountains, playing guitars, military history and riding loud, fast, smoky and noisy motorcycles.
Research Interests
Pat Leahy's main professional research interests are;
1;Young people and their position in society, youth organisations, and youth work.
2; Psychosubstance use in society.
At the moment (Jan 2015) Pat is involved in a number of research initiative's; In collaboration with Prof Fred Powell, Dr Margaret Scanlon and Dr Etaoine Howlett in UCC, and with Prof Maurice Devlin in Maynooth University Pat has recently completed research for the Irish research Council and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the impact of volunteer led youth work in Ireland.
In association with Dr Howlett he is currently completing a piece of youth led research for the Cork Education and Training Board that involved training and facilitating a group of young people from the Cork County Comhairle na nÓg to conduct their own research.
Pat is involved with the 'Intersections' project coordinated by Ms Eileen Hogan which is looking at the role of music in youth work, and he is also investigating the effects of austerity on youth projects in Cork city from the front line youth worker's perspectives.
Additionally, Pat has long held a personal interest in history, particularly military history.
Pat's teaching role includes research and in this capacity he has integrated undergraduate students into live research projects as researchers on a number of occasions.
Books
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | Grease, Petrol, Biscuits and Bikes A Report on the Springboard Youth Motorcycle Project: Profile, Evaluation, and Future Development.
Leahy, Pat (2017) Grease, Petrol, Biscuits and Bikes A Report on the Springboard Youth Motorcycle Project: Profile, Evaluation, and Future Development. Cork, Ireland: Cumann Spraoi Ltd. [Details] |
|
| (2011) | Youth Participation in the Republic of Ireland.
Leahy, Patrick, and Burgess, Paul (2011) Youth Participation in the Republic of Ireland. Cork City: Youth Work Ireland Cork. [ Publisher's Version] [Details] |
|
| (2011) | Youthwork as a Response to Drugs Issues in the Community: A report on the Gurranabraher Churchfield Drugs Outreach Project, Profile, Evaluation and Future Development.
Pat Leahy (With Emma Bennet and Aoife Farrell) (2011) Youthwork as a Response to Drugs Issues in the Community: A report on the Gurranabraher Churchfield Drugs Outreach Project, Profile, Evaluation and Future Development. Cork City: Youth Work Ireland Cork. [ Publisher's Version] [Details] |
Book Chapters
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2012) | 'Chapter 2: Youth participation: strong discourses, weak policies, a general perspective'
Leahy, P., Loncle, P., Muniglia, V., and Walter, A. (2012) 'Chapter 2: Youth participation: strong discourses, weak policies, a general perspective' In: Youth Participation in Europe, Beyond Discourses, Practices and Realities of Youth Participation. Bristol, England: Policy Press. [Details] |
|
| (2012) | 'Chapter 5: Barriers to Participation within a Recessionary State; Impediments Confronting Irish Youth'
Leahy, Pat, and Burgess, Paul (2012) 'Chapter 5: Barriers to Participation within a Recessionary State; Impediments Confronting Irish Youth' In: Youth Participation in Europe, Beyond Discourses, Practices and Realities of Youth Participation. Bristol, England: Policy Press. [Details] |
|
| (2010) | 'Key Aspects of the European dimension in youth and youth work'
Leahy, Pat (2010) 'Key Aspects of the European dimension in youth and youth work' In: Highways, Crossroads and Cul de Sacs, Journeys into Irish youth and community work. Bremen, Germany: Europaischer Hochschulverlag GmbH & Co. KG. [Details] |
|
| (2008) | 'Youth Work and Young People¿s Transitions to The Labour Market in the Republic of Ireland'
Leahy, P.; (2008) 'Youth Work and Young People¿s Transitions to The Labour Market in the Republic of Ireland' In: Governance and Social Professions, How much Openness is needed and How Much Openness is Possible?. New York: Nova Science Publishers. [Details] |
|
| (2005) | 'Experiences of self-determination. Case studies into biographical effects of participatory practice'
Leahy, P. Stauber, B., Holmboe, A., Bechman-Jenson, T., Lenzi, G., Laasch, C., Blasco, A., Plug, W., and Seifert, H.; (2005) 'Experiences of self-determination. Case studies into biographical effects of participatory practice' In: Participation in Transition, Motivation of Young Adults in Europe for Learning and Working. Frankfurt am Main and Oxford: Peter Lang Publishing. [Details] |
|
| (2012) | 'Barriers to Participation within a recessionary state; impediments confronting Irish Youth'
Burgess T.P. Leahy, P (2012) 'Barriers to Participation within a recessionary state; impediments confronting Irish Youth' In: Loncle .P., Ciconato. M., Muniglia. V., Walther. A. (Eds) (eds). Youth Participation in Europe. UK: Policy Press. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2019) | 'How are we going to do it? An exploration of the'
Margaret Scanlon, Hilary Jenkinson, Pat Leahy, Fred Powell & Olive Byrne (2019) 'How are we going to do it? An exploration of the'. Journal of Irish Educational Studies, :1-16 [Details] |
|
| (2019) | 'The Value of Groupwork Knowledge and Skills in Focus Group Research: A Focus Group Approach With Marginalized Teens Regarding Access to Third-Level Education'
Jenkinson H.;Leahy P.;Scanlon M.;Powell F.;Byrne O. (2019) 'The Value of Groupwork Knowledge and Skills in Focus Group Research: A Focus Group Approach With Marginalized Teens Regarding Access to Third-Level Education'. International Journal Of Qualitative Methods, 18 [DOI] [Details] |
|
| (2019) | 'No one in our family ever went to college:Parentsorientations'
Margaret Scanlon,Fred Powell,Pat Leahy,Hilary Jenkinson,Olive Byrne (2019) 'No one in our family ever went to college:Parentsorientations'. International Journal of Educational Research, 93 :13-22 [ Publisher's Version] [DOI] [Details] |
Other Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2019) | 'My biggest fear was whether or not I would make'
Scanlon, Margaret, Leahy, Pat, Jenkinson, Hilary & Powell Fred, (2019) 'My biggest fear was whether or not I would make' European Journal of Higher Education, . [DOI] [Details] |
|
| (2009) | 'Heroin in Cork City'
Leahy, Pat (2009) 'Heroin in Cork City' Irish Youth Work Scene, Issue 61, (61) . [Details] |
CD
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2008) | Use Your Cool Voodoo.
Leahy, Pat. (2008) Use Your Cool Voodoo. CD [Details] |
|
| (1994) | The Alan Rose Band Album.
The Alan Rose Band (1994) The Alan Rose Band Album. Longford: CD [Details] |
|
| (2013) | Electric Landladies.
Pat Leahy/David O'Donovan (2013) Electric Landladies. CD [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2014) | The Irish Welfare State in and after Crisis
Pat Leahy (2014) The Impact of Funding Reductions on the Work with Disadvantaged Young People in Frontline Professional Youth Work Services in Cork City, a case study The Irish Welfare State in and after Crisis , 28-MAR-14 - 28-MAR-14 [Details] |
|
| (2014) | Intersections: Youth Work and Music Education Symposium
Pat Leahy (2014) Defending youth services in crisis and the value of music education-oriented youth work Intersections: Youth Work and Music Education Symposium University College Cork, , 27-JUN-14 - 27-JUN-14 [Details] |
Published Reports
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2020) | Going the distance.
Leahy, Pat, and Buckley, Margaret (2020) Going the distance. Cloyne Diocesan Youth Services Ldt, Cork, Ireland. [ Publisher's Version] [Details] |
|
| (2019) | Fairhill Men's Art Group Evaluation.
Adrian Sheehy and Pat Leahy (2019) Fairhill Men's Art Group Evaluation. Cork City Partnership, Cork City. [Details] |
|
| (2017) | Grease, Petrol, Biscuits and Bikes; A Report on the Springboard Youth Motorcycle Project.
Leahy, Patrick (2017) Grease, Petrol, Biscuits and Bikes; A Report on the Springboard Youth Motorcycle Project. Youth Work Ireland Cork, Cork City. [Details] |
|
| (2008) | UP2YOUTH - Thematic final report - Youth participation; Chapter 6; Youth participation and agency in comparative perspective.
Leahy, Pat,. and Walter, Andreas (2008) UP2YOUTH - Thematic final report - Youth participation; Chapter 6; Youth participation and agency in comparative perspective. IRIS-Egris, Tubingen, Germany. [ Publisher's Version] [Details] |
Newspaper Articles
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (5) | Only Criminals Gain from the Drugs Ban.
Leahy, P; (5) Only Criminals Gain from the Drugs Ban. Newspaper Articles [Details] |
|
| (5) | ASBOS; not the way forward.
Leahy, P; (5) ASBOS; not the way forward. Newspaper Articles [Details] |
Unpublished Reports
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2008) | Proofing of Up2Youth, Participation Sub-Group.
Leahy, P.; (2008) Proofing of Up2Youth, Participation Sub-Group. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2008) | Attractive and Unattractive Youth policies in Europe.
Leahy, P.; (2008) Attractive and Unattractive Youth policies in Europe. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2007) | The Structure and Context of Youth Services in the Republic of Ireland.
Leahy, P.; (2007) The Structure and Context of Youth Services in the Republic of Ireland. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2006) | Case Study Report; Youth in Cork City and Limerick City.
Leahy, P.; (2006) Case Study Report; Youth in Cork City and Limerick City. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2006) | Youth Participation in the Republic of Ireland.
Leahy, P.; (2006) Youth Participation in the Republic of Ireland. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2003) | Work Package 5, Irish Longitudinal Interviews.
Leahy, P.; (2003) Work Package 5, Irish Longitudinal Interviews. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2003) | Work package 6, Irish Final Report.
Leahy, P.; (2003) Work package 6, Irish Final Report. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2003) | Work Package 4, Irish Video report.
Leahy, P.; (2003) Work Package 4, Irish Video report. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2002) | Work Package 2 Irish Exploratory Interviews.
Leahy, P.; (2002) Work Package 2 Irish Exploratory Interviews. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2002) | Work Package 3 Irish Expert Interviews.
Leahy, P.; (2002) Work Package 3 Irish Expert Interviews. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (1994) | Youth Survey of Gurranabraher.
Leahy, Pat, Cork Youth Federation (1994) Youth Survey of Gurranabraher. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (1992) | Cork Youth Federation; Child Abuse Guidelines.
Leahy, Pat (1992) Cork Youth Federation; Child Abuse Guidelines. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
|
| (2005) | Work Packages 2-6
2002-2005.
Leahy, P; (2005) Work Packages 2-6 2002-2005. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
Research Report
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2018) | Volunteer Led Youthwork in Ireland, A Qualitative and Quantitative Study.
Devlin, M., Howlett, E., Keating, K., Leahy, P., McGarry, K., Powell, F., Scanlon, M., Tierney, H., (2018) Volunteer Led Youthwork in Ireland, A Qualitative and Quantitative Study. Dublin: Research Report [Details] |
Thesis/Dissertation
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2001) | A Radical Critique of Irish Youthwork.
Leahy, Pat (2001) A Radical Critique of Irish Youthwork. Thesis/Dissertation [Details] |
|
| (2006) | Alternative Transitions; Disadvantaged Young People, Youthwork Provision and Labour Market Entry.
Pat Leahy (2006) Alternative Transitions; Disadvantaged Young People, Youthwork Provision and Labour Market Entry. Thesis/Dissertation [Details] |
Conference Contributions
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2012) | Evidence based practice in Youth Work,
Pat Leahy (2012) VEC organised presentation. [N/A], Evidence based practice in Youth Work, Cork City , 08-NOV-12 - 08-NOV-12. [Details] |
|
| (2012) | Youth Work Ireland Consensus Conference 2012,
Pat Leahy (2012) Member of Organising Committee. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Youth Work Ireland Consensus Conference 2012, Dublin , 22-SEP-12 - 22-SEP-12. [Details] |
|
| (2012) | The Position of Young People in Contemporary Europe,
Pat Leahy (2012) Youth Problems and Youth Policy. [Invited Oral Presentation], The Position of Young People in Contemporary Europe, HAW University, Hamburg, Germany , 27-JUN-12 - 27-JUN-12. [Details] |
|
| (2010) | Meeting Youth Needs in the 21st Century: Youth Work, Young People and Youth Policy,
Leahy, Pat. 2010 (2010) Youth Policy at the Municipal Level in Europe. [Oral Presentation], Meeting Youth Needs in the 21st Century: Youth Work, Young People and Youth Policy, University College Cork , 12-MAY-10 - 12-MAY-10. [Details] |
|
| (2010) | National Drugs Conference 2010; A Continuum of Care within drug Services,
Pat Leahy (2010) A Local and Social Approach to Drugs Praxis in Youth Work. [Oral Presentation], National Drugs Conference 2010; A Continuum of Care within drug Services, Dublion , 04-NOV-10 - 05-NOV-11. [Details] |
|
| (2014) | Cork County Comhairle na nÓg ETB AGM,
Pat Leahy (2014) Research into Young People's Lives in County Cork. [Invited Oral Presentation], Cork County Comhairle na nÓg ETB AGM, County Hall, Cork City , 06-NOV-14 - 06-JAN-15. [Details] |
Committees
| Committee | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Executive of the Independent Workers Union of Ireland. | Member (2004 - 2005) | 2004 / 2005 | |
| Chair; Youth Work Ireland Cork | Chairperson | 2005 / 1999 | |
| Cork Local Drugs Task Force | Member | 2011 / | |
| Director; Youth Work Ireland; The National Youth Federation | Director | 2010 / | |
| School of Applied Social Studies Executive Committee | Vice Chair | 2009 / 2011 |
Employment
| Employer | Position | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glen Neighbourhood Youth Project | Youth Worker | 01-APR-00 / 01-SEP-01 | |
| Cloyne Youth Federation | Youth Worker | 01-MAR-97 / 01-NOV-97 | |
| Cork Youth Federation | Youth Worker | 01-OCT-91 / 01-MAR-97 | |
| University College Cork | Lecturer | 21-SEP-01 / 01-DEC-10 | |
| Roof Sealers Ltd. | Serf | 02-JAN-83 / 03-JAN-85 |
Education
| Year | Institution | Qualification | Subject | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | University College Cork | MSocSc | Social Science | |
| 2001 | University College Cork | BSocSc | Social Science | |
| 1996 | University College Cork | Diploma in Community & Youth Work | Social Science |
Consultancy
| Client | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of Gurranabraher Youth Project | |
Other Activities
| Description | |
|---|---|
1986; Scarlet Page; The Demolition Tapes; 3 Track EP |
|
1987; Alibi; Open Verdict; 4 Track EP |
|
1992; China Whyte; Moy Mell; 4 Track EP |
|
1993; The Alan Rose Band; Ireland's On The Ball; Chart Single (no 7) Irish Charts |
|
1994; The Alan Rose Band; Alan Rose; 14 Track Album |
|
1998; Raven's Wing; Sparkles of Steel; 4 Track EP |
|
2008; Pat Leahy; Use Your Cool Voodoo; 12 Track Album |
|
1997; On My Own Two Feet; Drugswork Training Course |
|
1997; Community Music Training; Cloyne Youth Federation |
|
1995 1997; Supervisor, |
|
1993; The Alan Rose Band; No One But You; 3 Track Single |
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1993; Cappanalea Mountain Leadership Course |
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1991 1995; Youth Worker, |
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1997; Youth Worker, Cloyne Youth Federation Responsible for the Midleton SPY project. Generic youth work with disengaged young people. |
|
1998; Placement, Youghal Youthreach;Responsible for the development of an NCVA accredited music course and generic youth work. |
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1999; Placement, |
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2000 2001; The Glen NYP (Neighbourhood Youth Project); Drugs Task Force Project Drugs work with young people in a highly marginalised community; I know this area well, as I grew up there and know every rock, bush and blade of grass. |
|
1996 St Helens Youth Service, |
|
1997 Youth for Europe Seminar, |
Teaching Interests
Pat's teaching work consist's of a variety of modules and covers a number of subject areas within the social science remit. He teachs research, substance use, youth work and community development both within and outside the School of Applied Social Sciences.
Pat is an advocate of Freirian education and values interactive and lively discourse in learning; in this respect his youthwork background of group facillitation is a tremendous professional asset. He also values the 'hedge school approach'; i.e., the view that learning is best facillitated by students and pedagogues literally sitting on the grass together and discussing and debating ideas and events in a social fashion. This does not conflict with an internet based remote or virtual learning environment; it is however a much better environment that features human interaction and warmth.
Pat is an advocate of Freirian education and values interactive and lively discourse in learning; in this respect his youthwork background of group facillitation is a tremendous professional asset. He also values the 'hedge school approach'; i.e., the view that learning is best facillitated by students and pedagogues literally sitting on the grass together and discussing and debating ideas and events in a social fashion. This does not conflict with an internet based remote or virtual learning environment; it is however a much better environment that features human interaction and warmth.