Claire O'Reilly

My undergraduate years were spent at the University of Limerick (BA Law and European Studies) and the University of Education Karlsruhe.

Postgraduate studies were completed at the Centre for Irish-German Studies (University of Limerick), Friedrich Schiller University of Jena and the University of Regensburg. I subsequently undertook postdoctoral research under the late Alexander Thomas, Professor of Social- and Cross-Cultural Psychology (funded by the RIA and DAAD). I held a Junior Professorship (Associate Professor) in International Relations and Intercultural Training at Chemnitz University of Technology. My journey with UCC commenced in 2005 (initially on a 3-year Senior Lecturership contract). In 2008, I was appointed a full-time Lecturer in German. I have been Academic Coordinator of the BComm International (German) and it's newer iteration BSc International Business (with German) since 2005. Drawing on my experiences in Germany, I set up new Erasmus+ university collaborations for student and staff exchange with the Universities of Jena, Regensburg, Passau, and more recently in Würzburg and Hildesheim.

I have acted as the Departmental liaison with the German-Irish Lawyer's and Business Association (GILBA), and as coordinator of the GILBA Excellence in German awards since 2021. I am Co-Convenor of the Life-Writing Research Cluster, School of Languages, Literatures and Culture Studies.

Outside of UCC, I have acted as a referee for peer-reviewed journals such as Study Abroad Research (SAR), Info DaF, the Journal of Virtual Exchange and for monographs (Manchester University Press; Peter Lang, Oxford and others). I was Co-Chair of the German Studies Association of Ireland (GSAI) (2014-2016), and am currently External Examiner for German in SETU (2022-2026).

-German-Irish Relations

My research in the field of Irish-German relations has traversed different thematic strands and disciplines over a period of 25 years, from study abroad to contrasting Irish-German business and management approaches and examining images of Self and Other in contemporary literature. Research on biographies in the field of Irish-German relations (such as Daniel Binchy, Christabel Bielenberg, Charlotte von der Schulenburg and others) continue to interest me personally and professionally. In 2020, I organised an international symposium on the theme, entitled “Lives and Legacies: Lesser-Known Biographies in Irish-German Relations”, UCC.

- Exchange Research / Study Abroad Research and Intercultural Communication

Exchange research (Austauschforschung), Study Abroad and Intercultural Communication have been longtime research interests  reflected in two of my books. Understanding the experiences of Irish students in Germany, and seeking to maximise their learning while abroad, has been one of my guiding research questions for which I have secured grants from three funding bodies locally and nationally while working at UL (with Dr G. Holfter), UCC and NAIRTL. This research has sought to understand the experiences of students qualitatively, and chart their socio-cultural learning journeys as a departure from the predominant emphasis in research on language progression and linguistic outcomes. A forthcoming publication on International Mobility (published with Routledge, Taylor and Francis, edited by T. Allen and T. Mammadova) examines learning of students abroad in a holistic way and will ponder future scenarios in Study Abroad (forthcoming 2026). 

- The Role of (Women) Professors of German in Academic History

“Understanding the history of education is vital in establishing an appreciation of human development and the advances that have been made in discourse and pedagogy” (McCorristine, 2010: 1). Acknowledging the role that history plays in shaping current academic discourse, this project is examining the lives of a number of lesser-known female academics in the early 20th century in Irish universities and the contribution they made to German as an academic field of study, and to the advancement of their local communities more widely. Indirectly, by examining archival materials, it notes the remarkable changes that have taken place within Higher Education in Ireland and in society as a whole in the last 100 years (with a submission date in late 2026).

All of my teaching is research-led, connecting to real-life learning outside and beyond the university, and based on students as co-creators of an active learning environment in the classroom.

My current teaching (2025-2026) includes:

-Historical Connections: German-Irish Relations and Biographies from the 9th Century to the 21st Centuries (GE3139). Classes reflect the development of Irish-German relations from the 8th century through the middle ages, spanning the World Wars, and including recent diplomatic interaction. Students are encouraged to research and present on topics that will interest them personally, and will benefit them professionally. In March 2020, students attending this course were a central part of a Symposium I organised entitled “Lives and Legacies: Lesser-Known Figures in Irish-German Relations" (keynote addresses were delivered by Prof Gisela Holfter (UL) and Clodagh Finn, author of "A Time to Risk All", a biography of Mary Elmes).

- An Intercultural Journey: Preparation and Reflective Writing for the Year Abroad (GE2106)

I have designed and delivered preparatory courses, integrating best practice in study abroad, for students since 2005. Moving past linguistic preparation, students are prepared also for cultural and academic adjustment of studying abroad and the many life-changes that the year entails. The aim is to empower them in a holistic way to become purposeful and intentional learners and develop a personal roadmap to realise their year abroad goals. In the latest iteration, the course draws on studies in intercultural communication, cross-cultural psychology, year abroad studies, language role-plays, reflective writing and goal-setting strategies to achieve its aims.

I also teach on the following modules:  Travel Writing (LL3002, and module coordinator 2026); Applied Linguistics (Linguistik II); Professional Development for International Business (BU1001); Integrated Written & Oral Language Course for German (GE1101) and German Film in Focus: A Thematic Approach (GE3126).

This year I am working on a new module arising from research on resistance in the period of National Socialism and WWII, using emerging technologies to teach the Holocaust and reflecting on such  dark periods of history within the context of current societal challenges. This module will also reflect on lesser-known figures in the resistance. It will be offered from September.

Past Teaching includes topics such as 

• Virtual Exchange (which emerged from the more well known concept of telecollaboration). The module, which has since been through four iterations, adopts a novel approach of integrating life writing and biography exchange with peers in Germany (based on a collaboration with Professor Maik Arnold, University of Applied Sciences, Nordhausen) (see publications list, 2019-2023).  
• German Studies: First year German Literature; German Business and IHRM; German Film on screen in the 20th century; Discussion and Essay-writing in German, German Grammar and German-English Translation.  
• At postgraduate level: Intercultural Communication, Academic Writing and Research Methods in various programmes (MA in German Studies 2009-2012; MITRA Masters 2013-2015, as well as the more recent government-funded Springboard programmes, 2022-2025). 

MA Thesis Supervision (sample)  

2021: Bláthnaid Long, "Coronavirus in the news: a critical discourse analysis of selected Die Zeit and Le Monde articles" with Margot Spencer, Department of French.

 2014: Anouchka Eichmann, “Staying or leaving? A cross national study of the cultural and socio-economic factors influencing the mobility of repatriates in France, Ireland and Poland” (MITRA student, co-supervised with Dr Marcelina Zuber, University of University in Wrocław).  
 2014: Dana Saltykova, “Intercultural Training and Cross-Cultural Adaptation: Lived Experiences of Expatriates” (MITRA student, co-supervised with Dr Marcelina Zuber, University of University in Wrocław).  
 2010: Siobhan Horan, “How Valid is it to Speak of an Irish-German Palatine Identity?” (MA in German Studies).  
 2009: Jennifer Holt, “Evaluation MA Intercultural Communication Between the Military and NGHOs: An Approach to the use of culture standards for intercultural training” (MA in German Studies).

Project: "Digital Champion UCC" (Funding Body: The National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education)  18-JAN-16 / 01-JUL-16 Award: €1,500.00

Project: Cross-Border Business Transactions: Considerations of Culture, Business Communication and Training with particular reference to Ireland and Germany (Funding Body: Irish-American Partnership) 01-SEP-96 / 01-SEP-98 Award: €5,500.00

Project: Mapping Learning Milestones: During and After the Study Abroad Period (Funding Body: Higher Education Authority via NAIRTL) 08-FEB-16 / 30-NOV-16 Award: €5,000.00

Project: Intercultural Competence for Exchange Students (Funding Body: Royal Irish Academy) 01-FEB-02 / 31-JUL-02 Award: €2,348.00

Project: The Importance of Intercultural Studies for German-Irish Business Transactions (Funding Body: UL Foundation Research Seed Fund) 01-MAR-97 / 30-JUN-98 Award: €5,500.00

Project: The Expatriate Life: A Study of German Expatriates (Funding Body: Würth GmbH)  01-OCT-99 / 31-AUG-01 Award: €17,000.00

Buerger Julia Maria, Doctoral Degree (completed 2026)