Pictured Back L-R: Maria Brennan, Director of Organisation Support and Development, Kerry ETB and Owen O'Donnell, Director of Further Education and Training, Kerry ETB. Front L-R: Dermot Nestor, President at MIC; Con Moynihan, Director of Schools Youth and Music, Kerry ETB; and Cllr. Norma Moriarty, Chairperson, Kerry ETB.
Mary Immaculate College (MIC) and Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will open new opportunities for teachers, school leaders, and students across Kerry.
The agreement will see both organisations collaborate on key areas including school leadership development, the roll-out of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and advancing research and training in inclusive and special education.
Speaking at the signing, Ann O’Dwyer, Chief Executive of Kerry ETB, said:
“This partnership is about investing in the future of education in Kerry. By working with Mary Immaculate College, we are giving our teachers and school leaders access to progression routes, research opportunities, and new tools that directly benefit our classrooms. The ultimate winners here are our students, who will experience more inclusive, innovative, and supportive learning environments.”
Professor Dermot Nestor, President of MIC, welcomed the agreement:
“MIC is delighted to formalise this partnership with Kerry ETB. Our shared vision for excellence in teaching, learning, and leadership will not only strengthen professional development opportunities but also ensure that best practice in areas like UDL and special education is firmly embedded in schools. Together, we can make a real and lasting difference.”
The collaboration builds on an existing two-year research project led by MIC that supported the introduction of UDL in Kerry ETB schools and provided training for primary, post-primary, and further education teachers.
The MOU now paves the way for a range of opportunities, including progression routes for teachers and aspiring school leaders into MIC’s postgraduate programmes. It will also support action research on embedding inclusive practices such as UDL across schools and further education settings, while advancing special education development through further collaboration on initiatives like Provision Mapping and MIC’s Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Special Education, which is already benefiting Kerry ETB teachers
By combining the expertise of MIC in academic research and postgraduate training with Kerry ETB’s extensive school and community network, the partnership is designed to have a county-wide impact on education.
Owen O’Donnell, Director of Further Education and Training in Ireland at Kerry ETB emphasised:
“This partnership is not just about programmes, it’s about shared values: inclusion, equity, excellence, and respect. It’s about recognising that research is a strategic priority for Kerry ETB, and that it makes sense to work with a third-level institution like MIC, which brings the expertise, experience, and academic rigour needed to support and scale that research.”
The agreement will run for five years and will be overseen by a joint committee, with both partners committed to developing innovative projects that support equality, inclusion, and excellence in education.
