Dr Helen Murphy

Helen is responsible for the Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning at SETU and this involves the education programme portfolio (undergraduate and postgraduate), research and lifelong learning across the University. The Faculty has a presence across four campus locations in the South East and supports over 5,000 lifelong learners.

Helen recently led the development of a new strategy for Lifelong Learning at SETU with a strong focus on future skills needs in the South East. She is a member of the South East Regional Skills Forum and has led a number of studies into current and future skills needs nationally and though EU projects. She has been Principal Investigator on a number of funded research projects relating to Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for Lifelong Learning, Professional Development for Adult Educators, Micro-credentials and Access to Higher Education. She is a member of HELLIN (Higher Education Lifelong Learning Ireland Network) and ESREA (European Society for Research into Adult Education) and is a current member of the Editorial Board for the Adult Learner, Aontas.

Helens’ research interests are in the field of education policy specifically policy relating to lifelong learning, using RPL for access to higher education, adult education and teacher education. Current research projects include micro-credential development in Higher Education, RPL in Higher education and Innovation in Digital Literacy.