Dr. Louise Heeran Flynn

Assistant Professor, Education

Biography

Dr Louise Heeran Flynn is an Assistant Professor in Teacher Education in the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin where she acts as School Placement Coordinator (SPC) on the Professional Master of Education (PME) initial teacher education (ITE) programme. Louise supports student teachers across their mandatory school placements, leading both the School Placement (Year 1) and Advanced School Placement (Year 2) modules. In the role of SPC, Louise liaises extensively with schools and external stakeholders. She has previously held the role of Registrar for the PME programme in the School. Louise also carrier out the role of M.Ed Thesis Coordinator.
Louise supervises student theses at PME, M.Ed and doctoral level.

Over the past twenty-six years, Louise has held a variety of roles in education, gaining fifteen years' experience in senior management positions, and nineteen years' experience working with post primary student teachers. She is a qualified post primary teacher, having been a post primary English teacher and principal before moving in to third level. She has held roles such as Head of School Placement and Director/Coordinator of the Professional Master of Education across three different initial teacher education institutions in Ireland. Louise sits on a number of national and international advisory boards.

Louise's research interests lie in the field of initial teacher education (ITE), its research, policy and practice, viewed through the specific lens of inclusion which underpins all of Louise's work. She has a particular interest in inclusive teaching, learning and assessment practices (such as UDL 3.0, drama in education and digital technologies), disinformation and Media and AI Literacy (MAIL).

In 2026, Louise was appointed to President von der Leyen's Special Panel on children's safety online and she contributed to the Panel's final report presented to President von der Leyen. She has been invited to participate in discussions to inform Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu's upcoming European Education package. Louise was selected to participate in the foresight exercise on Education Beyond 2030, a global consultation process supported by UNESCO to shape a forward-looking vision of education beyond 2030. Louise has also been interviewed for the Think UDL podcast (Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina).

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications

O'Sullivan, C., Clotworthy, E., Nugent, M., Colleary, S., Keane, E., Piazzoli, E., Gubbins, E., Krakaur, L., Kerin, M., McCormick, S., & Heeran Flynn, L., Arts Alive: A literature review to support curriculum specification development for the area of Arts Education, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, October, 2023, p1 - 245Report, 2023, URL , TARA - Full Text
Heeran Flynn, L., Breaking the Code: An Investigation of the use of Drama in Education in the Development of Pupils' Oral Language Skills, Trinity College Dublin, 2013Thesis, 2013
Heeran Flynn, L., - Opening the Gate to Learning - Using Drama in Education to facilitate the implementation of Universal Design for Learning 3.0 for equity and inclusion in the classroom, Education Sciences Special Issue Cross-Cultural Education: Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers, 2025Journal Article, 2025
Heeran Flynn, L., Breaking the Code - Using the (In)CLUDE framework to support the implementation of Universal Design for Learning 3.0 in the classroom through the use of Drama in Education, The International Journal of Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning., 1, (2), 2026, p222 - 241Journal Article, 2026, DOI , TARA - Full Text
Heeran Flynn, Louise, Bridging the Gap : How Parents and Teachers can Talk Digital Creating a Digital Education Partnership Plan using Inclusive and Arts-Based Approaches, Bridging the Gap : How Parents and Teachers can Talk Digital Creating a Digital Education Partnership Plan using Inclusive and Arts-Based Approaches, European Parents' Association (Webinar Held Online), 18/06/26, 2026, European Parents' AssociationInvited Talk, 2026
Heeran Flynn, Louise, Opening the Door to Learning: Drama for Universal Design for Learning in Practice?, III International Conference on Educational Leadership, an international virtual conference organised by the SILEC Network in collaboration with the Universidade Aberta de Lisboa (Portugal)., Online, Augsut 2026, 2026, SILEC Network & Universidade Aberta de Lisboa (Portugal).Invited Talk, 2026
Fegert, J. M., & Melchior, M., Child safety online: Protecting and empowering minors in a digital world [Report by the Co-Chairs of the Special Panel on Child Safety Online]. https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/d833504d-5ec3-4fac-945f-38e7d0bd5326_en?filename=Special-panel-report.pdf, European Commission, July, 2026, p1 - 156Report, 2026

European Commission, Meeting with Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu regarding EU Education Package., 2026Invited Talk
Heeran Flynn, Louise, 'Think UDL Podcast Louise Heeran Flynn in Conversation with Lillian Nave', 2026, -Broadcast
Heeran Flynn. Louise, Inclusion - How to Teach about Inclusion and How to Teach Inclusively, Inclusion - How to Teach about Inclusion and How to Teach Inclusively - Talk Delivered to Teachers through the Girls Go STEM project (, Online, August, 2026Invited Talk
Heeran Flynn, Louise, Motivation - How to Motivate your Students to Learn and How to Create a Motivating Classroom, Motivation - How to Motivate your Students to Learn and How to Create a Motivating Classroom - Webinar organised for Girls Go STEM teachers, Online, 2026, 2026, Girls Go STEMInvited Talk
Heeran Flynn, Louise, Second meeting of Special Panel to advise President von der Leyen on child online safety https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_831, Second meeting of Special Panel to advise President von der Leyen on child online safety, Berlaymont Building, Brussels, 16 April 2026, 2026Invited Talk
Heeran Flynn, Louise, 3rd Meeting of President von der Leyen's Special Panel for child safety online https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_1361, 3rd Meeting of President von der Leyen's Special Panel for child safety online https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_1361, Berlaymont Building, Brussels, 16 June 2026, 2026, European CommissionInvited Talk

School placement is a period of significant importance and challenge for student teachers. It is a core, mandatory part of all teacher education programmes, both nationally and internationally. School placement in Ireland encompasses both a school-based element (direct teaching and other school-based activities in a post primary school) and a range of university-directed activities, conducted on campus. As such, it places specific, challenging demands on the student teacher. Operating across two sites of learning, the student teacher must navigate the dual role of student (on campus) and teacher (in school), where they are at once teachers and learners; they are negotiating professional, academic and personal aspects; intellectual and emotional issues arise for them and have to be managed (Hall et al, 2012; Conway et al, 2010). Today's student teachers are also 'becoming' teacher in a digital ecosystem unprecedented in terms of its ubiquity and complexity.

Concomitantly, in recent years, major global developments have contributed to increasing diversity in our countries, communities and classrooms (OECD, 2023). Education systems the world over are being challenged to respond to diverse student populations. Consequently, international education policy increasingly emphasises the need for national education systems to provide inclusive and equitable education for every student (Heinz et al., 2025). With teachers at the front line of enacting inclusive education, many education systems have begun to explore ways in which innovative pedagogies can promote more inclusive educational practice (Takacs & Zhang, 2020).

Research internationally therefore, continues to highlight the importance of school placement for the effective formation of teachers of the future. School placement is seen as vital for the growth of professional competence of the student teacher, has been referred to as the core of the teacher education programme (Tillema, 2007) and as 'the most powerful site of integration for student learning' (Waldron, 2014, 37).

Louise's research interests sit within this context, where she has specific research interests in initial teacher education (with a specific interest in digital professional identity) and inclusion, and their associated policies and practices. Believing that education is a transformative right, inclusion underpins all of Louise's work as she explores inclusive policies and practices both in the analogue and digital worlds which afford students equal access to the curriculum.

Louise welcomes enquiries from prospective students for D.Ed., Ph.D. and M.Ed. studies in these areas.

Arts (arts, history of arts, performing arts, music), architecture and design, Education assessment and evaluation, Performing arts, Teacher education and professional development of educators, Inclusive education, Humanities and the arts, Education,

Recognition

I was awarded the National Children's Strategy (Office of the Minister for Children) award for my PhD (three awarded nationally). Annual maintenance grant of €16,000 and university fees paid in full by the Office of the Minister for Children. 2004-2008
I was awarded the Trinity College Scholarship (for my PhD) 2004
I was nominated by PME student teachers for the Teaching Excellence Award 2022-23 2022-23
I was nominated by the School of Education for Inspiring Educator Award February 2025 February 2025
I was nominated by PME students for the Teaching Excellence Award 2023-24 2023-24

Member of the Association for Teacher Education in Europe (ATEE) Academic Committee for the ATEE Annual Conference 2025, acting as abstract reviewer and session chair Present
Member of School of Education's Arts in Education Research Group (AERG) Present
Founding and inaugural member of the School of Education's Teacher Education and Development Research Group Present

I was invited by the National Tertiary Office to participate as subject expert on the validation panel for Ireland's first tertiary pathway to primary teaching (February, 2026). February, 2026
I am a co-opted member of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA)'s Senior Cycle English Development Group working on the new English specification for use at Senior Cycle. As opposed to other seats on the Group, which are ex officio members from relevant bodies such as teacher unions or subject associations, two co-opted seats were awarded from 85 applications (since Feb. 2024). February 2024
Invited by Human Rights Watch (Children's Division) to sign a letter to government to support the process at the UN for a new Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child with other influential academics working on Education in Ireland. July 2026
I am an invited member of the Scientific Committee of the Scientific International Leaders For Educational Challenges (SILEC). SILEC is an international network of academics and researchers from across Europe and Latin America, focusing on emerging challenges in education must specifically Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies, and inclusion. June 2026
I was invited to meet with the French High Commissioner for Youth Mrs Sarah El Haïry (July, 2026). July 2026
I am a member of the Tobar committee, a joint TCD/Marino initiative to increase participation rates of travellers in initial teacher education in Ireland (March 2022 - ongoing). March 2022
I am a member of the Schools Workforce Development Meitheal/ Working Group, established as part of the development of the Our Schools Our Future (OSOF) Strategy (June 2026). June 2026
I was selected to participate in the foresight exercise on Education beyond 2030, a global consultation process supported by UNESCO to shape a forward-looking vision of education beyond 2030 (July, 2026). July, 2026
I am a member of the National Working Group on Teacher Supply (led by Department of Education and Teaching Council) to tackle teacher shortages, aiming to create a sustainable supply of qualified teachers in Ireland (since 2022 and ongoing). November 2022
I am a member of the European Working Group and one of four core experts appointed to update the guidelines for teachers and educators on tackling disinformation and promoting digital literacy through education and training across Europe (since Feb. 2025). February 2025
I chaired the Peer Review Group (PRG) for the external quality review of DCU's Centre for Talented Youth Ireland (March 2025). March 2025
I am an invited expert evaluator of the EU strategy for a Better Internet for Kids (BIK+) (the EU strategy for protecting, empowering and respecting children online) (June, 2026). June, 2026
I was invited to participate in discussions to inform Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu's upcoming EU Education package (August, 2026). August 2026
I was invited as expert evaluator on the design of a standardised framework of media literacy indicators for EU-wide policy implementation (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) (June, 2026). June, 2026
I was a member of the Association for Teacher Education in Europe (ATEE) Academic Committee for the ATEE Annual Conference 2025, acting as abstract reviewer and session chair (August, 2025). December 2024
I am the chair of iScoil's Results Approval Panel. iScoil is a non-profit online learning service that offers young people a pathway to learning, accreditation and progression. May 2025
I was invited to participate in the Department of Education's first Periodic Critical Review (PCR) of the Teaching Council of Ireland (2024). November 2023
I am a member of the Strategic Workforce Planning Group for Teachers in Ireland (implemented by UNESCO, in cooperation with the European Commission, to support the Department of Education in further understanding the main factors contributing to teacher supply issues in primary and post primary schools and to provide recommendations on how to address these issues) (since 2024 and ongoing). December 2024
I am a member of President von der Leyen's Special Panel on children's safety online (since March, 2026). March 2026