معرفی
Dr Tracy Irwin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Ulster University, Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences. She is affiliated with the Social Work and Social Policy Research group and has been a lecturer since September 2006. Her work is deeply connected to further education, prison education, and social inclusion.
Tracy Irwin's research centers on educational disaffection and social exclusion, with a strong emphasis on prison education and informal learning in custodial settings. She explores the formal and non-formal dimensions of learning among incarcerated individuals and contributes to policy development in post-conflict societies like Northern Ireland. Her expertise spans continuing education, educational policy, and adult learning.
The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on further education policy, prison-based learning, and post-conflict educational integration. Her work bridges academic research with practical policy applications, particularly in the UK and Northern Ireland. Themes such as social integration, correctional education, and expansive policy learning recur across her scholarly output.
- International Grundtvig Grant for Effective Induction for Prison Teachers
- Current ScoTENS Grant to Review Assessment in Further Education
Tracy Irwin has supervised PhD researchers, including Sarah McCann, and serves as Course Director for the Certificate in Teaching and PGCE(FE) programmes, which accredit lecturers and tutors in further and adult education in Northern Ireland. Her work is supported by active research grants and has influenced policy, as evidenced by citations in policy documents. She maintains strong links with the FE sector and prison education services.
She is involved in research teams focusing on social inclusion, lifelong learning, and educational policy, contributing to a broader network of scholars in correctional and adult education. Her fingerprint analysis shows strong activity in Continuing Education, Informal Learning, and Correctional Education.
