Professor Dympna Devine is a Full Professor of Education, Society and Critical Childhood Studies at University College Dublin's School of Education. She leads the Children’s School Lives (CSL) study, a large-scale longitudinal investigation examining primary schooling experiences in Ireland and rural Sierra Leone. Her research bridges sociologies of education and childhood, focusing on children’s voices, rights, and equalities. She has held roles such as Vice Principal for Research Innovation and Impact in the College of Social Sciences and Law (2021–2024) and served on the National Children’s Advisory Council (2014–2021). Dr. Devine holds a BEd, MEd, and PhD from University College Dublin. Her work spans migrant children’s education, pedagogies for social justice, and policy advocacy for education as a public good. She has secured over €5 million in research grants, including projects funded by the EU, Irish Research Council, and Norwegian Research Council. Her recent studies explore intergenerational learning in coastal communities and the impact of the pandemic on schooling. Her research interests include: Sociologies of Education, Children’s Rights, Migrant Children, and Educational Equity. Key articles analyze teacher professionalism in Sierra Leone, gender dynamics in education, and pandemic-era pedagogies. Awards include a UCD Case Study Impact Award (2023) and Marie Curie Fellowship (2007). Dr. Devine has supervised over 20 PhD students, examining topics from foster care to faith schooling. She currently co-leads studies like 'Child Friendly Cities' and 'Birth Family Contact in Foster Care'. Her grants include the 'Safe Learning Model in Sierra Leone' (2017–2022) and 'Valuing the Past' (2016–2023).






