Lana McCarthy

Lana McCarthy is an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Education at South East Technological University (SETU), where she lectures in the Literacy Development Centre. With over twenty-five years of experience, she has served as a literacy tutor and coordinator of family literacy programmes, managing community-based initiatives and developing successful frameworks for practice.

Her academic qualifications include a PhD in progress at Trinity College Dublin, a Master's by Research, and multiple degrees in adult and further education. Educational background is rooted in practitioner development and adult learning.

• PhD, The Dance of Effective Parental Engagement, Trinity College Dublin (Award Date: 13 Jun 2025)
• Masters by Research (Award Date: 01 Jun 2017)
• B.A. in Teaching in Further and Adult Education (Award Date: 01 Jun 2013)
• BA Adult Education (Award Date: 01 Jun 2009)
• Higher Certificate in Arts in Adult Education (Award Date: 01 Jun 2006)

Lana's research is centered on family literacy provision and effective parental engagement, drawing from years of immersion in practice, training, and programme development. Her work employs qualitative methodologies such as grounded theory, action research, and focus groups, emphasizing lived experience and intervention design in educational settings. Key areas include child development, school-community relationships, and practitioner know-how.

Her published research output includes a 2017 Master's thesis titled "Family Literacy: Developing a framework for practice," which explores the design and implementation of family literacy programmes using qualitative research methods. The work contributes significantly to understanding how parental involvement can be structured and enhanced within community and educational contexts.

Lana McCarthy’s contributions align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal on Quality Education, reflecting her commitment to equitable and inclusive learning opportunities.

She has not received any listed scientific awards or fellowships. There is no mention of formal student supervision or grant funding in the available text. She is actively involved in research and teaching within the Literacy Development Centre at SETU, contributing to both academic and community-oriented literacy initiatives.