Vanessa Rutherford

Vanessa Rutherford (PhD, MA, BA, National University of Ireland Maynooth) is a Faculty Member in the School of Education, University College Cork. Previous appointments include Lecturer and Tutor (BA History, BA Local and Community Studies) at NUI Maynooth; Associate Lecturer (MA History) at The Open University; Lecturer (BA History) at Dublin City University; Lecturer and Tutor (Diploma in the Psychology of Adolescent Development), Centre for Adult Continuing Education and Department of Applied Psychology, UCC and Research Associate (Centre for Applied Social Studies), NUI Maynooth. Vanessa has published book chapters and journal articles on the social and cultural history of children and childhood in Ireland, gender and power in Irish history, the history of education in Ireland and, teacher and student identity and learning (19th century, 20th century and Contemporary). Methodologically, her work engages with discourse analysis and historical inquiry that extends to quantitative research. A major focus of her research is bringing an historical awareness to current educational thought and practice.

Research interests focus on the social and cultural history of children and childhood in Ireland, gender and power in Irish history, the history of education in Ireland and, teacher and student identity and learning (19th century, 20th century and Contemporary).

Teaching Experience School of Education, University College Cork ED4104: Conceptual Foundations in the Philosophy and History of Education (Module Co Ordinator)ED4105: Conceptual Foundations in the Psychology and Sociology of Education ED 6359: Professional Research Paper (PME) ED4315: BEd (Hons) Physical Education, Sports Studies and Arts: Y4, Research Methods ED6081: Teachers as Researchers: feminist methods for feminist voices ED1010: Early Years and Childhood: Historical Developments in the Irish Education Sector ED1015: Early Years and Childhood Play and Pedagogy SS4004: Early Years Research Project Cohort PhD in Education Structured PhD in Education WS6004: Dissertation in Women’s Studies The Open University Social Problems, Social Thought and Social Action in Urban Britain 1870 –1914 Dublin City University Land Politics and Society in Ireland, 1840–1922 Maynooth University BA History (NUI Maynooth) BA Local and Community Studies (NUI, Maynooth) Current MEd Thesis Supervision Gillian Fenton-Leogue , Play as Pedagogy; A critical exploration of Curriculum framework intentions and real classroom experiences (2025) Completed M Ed. Thesis Supervision 2016-. Niamh Costelloe, An exploration of Oral Language development in a Senior Infant classroom through coll