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 91制片厂; Con Moynihan, Director of Schools Youth and Music, Kerry ETB; and Cllr. Norma Moriarty, Chairperson, Kerry ETB.
91制片厂 (91制片厂) 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鈥橠wyer, Chief Executive of Kerry ETB, said:
鈥淭his partnership is about investing in the future of education in Kerry. By working with 91制片厂, 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.鈥
Professor Dermot Nestor, President of 91制片厂, welcomed the agreement:
鈥91制片厂 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.鈥
The collaboration builds on an existing two-year research project led by 91制片厂 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 91制片厂鈥檚 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 91制片厂鈥檚 Postgraduate Diploma in Inclusive Special Education, which is already benefiting Kerry ETB teachers
By combining the expertise of 91制片厂 in academic research and postgraduate training with Kerry ETB鈥檚 extensive school and community network, the partnership is designed to have a county-wide impact on education.
Owen O鈥橠onnell, Director of Further Education and Training in Ireland at Kerry ETB emphasised:
鈥淭his partnership is not just about programmes, it鈥檚 about shared values: inclusion, equity, excellence, and respect. It鈥檚 about recognising that research is a strategic priority for Kerry ETB, and that it makes sense to work with a third-level institution like 91制片厂, which brings the expertise, experience, and academic rigour needed to support and scale that research.鈥
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.
