Dr Deirdre Curran
Lecturer in Employment Rights and Vice Dean of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, University of Galway
"I'm passionate about my subject, I think that communicates ... I've taught very big classes, but they get it and you can connect with them even in the very large classes. So I've been lucky enough to be able to develop what I think is good quality education as it relates to real life"
Deirdre's work contributes to these SDGs
Actively involved in researching the lived experience of hospitality workers in Ireland with a view to highlighting issues and promoting positive change, Deidre is a founding member of the Global Hospitality Research Alliance (GHRA).
Deirdre is a Steering Committee member for the University of Sanctuary initiative aimed at making University of Galway a welcoming place for refugees, asylum-seekers and members of the Travelling Community.
Target 8.8 Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments of all workers
Deirdre was awarded a National Teaching Hero Award in 2014 and 2021.
Teaching
Employment Relations Rights & Obligation is about employment law. It takes a critical look at the legal rights available to employees in the workplace and the corresponding legal obligations on employers. The objective of this module is to familiarise students with the range of employment rights available in Ireland, covering primarily individual aspects of employment. The module also explores the role of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), as well as how legislation affects the practices and processes of human resource management. Legal instruments are very technical by nature but it is our aim to focus on how the law impacts the working lives of people.
Contributing toward Targets 5.1 End discrimination against women and girls; 8.5 Full employment and decent work with equal pay; 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms
Sustainable Leadership in Customer Experience is a new micro-credential for current and aspirational leaders who wish to future-proof their company's Customer Experience in a sustainable way, protecting people, planet and profit.
Contemporary Issues in Work and Organisations critically examines core and contemporary aspects of the world of work from a human perspective. The course is framed around the five core themes of justice and fairness, conflict management, recruiting the right talent and competency development, precarious work and HR analytics. The theories and practices that govern each of these core themes will be explored, along with the impacts on the employee and the organisation. This course gives students the opportunity to develop their critical thinking skills and apply them to the way work is organised and managed. The course is a final-year programme of learning in which theoretical concepts and models are unpacked, broken down and questioned in a critical and applied way.
Focused on Target 8.8 Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments of all workers
Engagement
Deirdre has introduced Student Diversity Champions, who have produced a video called "We Are One". Another initiative, "In Their Words", presents clips from hospitality workers and is an important example of how Deirdre's work brings the lived experience to the forefront.
Sharing information in open and accessible formats highlights the lived experience of hospitality workers in Ireland with a view to promoting positive change. Deirdre also leads a national-level workplace mediation research group, housed within the Kennedy Institute of Conflict Intervention at Maynooth University.
Direct impact SDG Targets
Target: 1.3 - Implement social protection systems
Target: 1.B - Create pro-poor and gender-sensitive policy frameworks
Target: 3.4 - Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health
Target: 4.4 - Increase the number of people with relevant skills for financial success
Target: 5.1 - End discrimination against women and girls
Target: 5.5 - Ensure full participation in leadership and decision-making
Target: 8.5 - Full employment and decent work with equal pay
Target: 8.8 - Protect labour rights and promote safe working environments
Target: 10.2 - Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion
Target: 10.4 - Adopt fiscal and social policies that promotes equality
Target: 16.7 - Ensure responsive, inclusive and representative decision-making
Target: 16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms
Research
Featured Publications
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References |
SDGs |
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Curran, D., Bouchier, M. (2022). The challenge of balancing confidentiality and transparency in an Ombudsman Mediation Service. Journal of Mediation and Applied Conflict Analysis, 8(1), 72-106. http://ojs.maynoothuniversity.ie/ojs/index.php/jmaca/article/view/58 |
16.0, 16.3; 10.3, 10.7; 8.10; 9.3 |
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Curran, D., Coakley, A. (2021). The importance of apology to mediation: A mixed-methods study of role, effectiveness and implications for practice. Journal of Mediation & Applied Conflict Analysis, 7(1). |
16.0, 16.a; 10.3; 4.4 |
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Curran, D., Quinn, M. (2012). Attitudes to employment law and the consequent impact of legislation on employment relations practice. Employee Relations, 34(5), 464-480. |
10.3; 8.5, 8.8; 16.10, 16.b; 3.8; 5.0 |