Cork teacher recognised as "champion of prison education and learning"

Head teacher at the education unit at Cork Prison, Edel Cunningham, has been recognised as a “champion of prison education and learning” by receiving the Bertram Windle Award from University College Cork.

The award, which honours outstanding contributions to adult education, lifelong learning, and the advocacy of access for non-traditional students, was presented to Ms Cunningham this week.

UCC said that for many years Ms Cunningham has been a “leader in education within the prison itself and a driver behind extending educational opportunities for the female relatives of prisoners and ex-prisoners, through the innovative Dillon’s Cross Project”, adding that her approach has been “life-changing”, not only for prisoners and ex-prisoners, but for their families and their communities.

Ms Cunningham said that she was “thrilled” to receive the award.

“Education plays such a vital role in people’s lives and truly has the potential to change them for the better, be it through learning to read and write, studying for a Leaving Cert, or gaining a better understanding of the nature of addictions,” she said.

“It is wonderful to work for an organisation such as Cork ETB, which understands the importance of supporting students at every level, and epitomises their motto, ‘a pathway for every learner’.

“It is really beneficial to our non-mainstream learners to have the support of UCC and the team in the adult continuing education section.

“It is also wonderful to be part of the wider Cork Lifelong Learning network, where our students can study at different levels with ETB’s further education section, MTU, UCC, and more.”

The educator was presented with the award at the annual Alfred O’Rahilly lecture, which was hosted by UCC’s Adult Continuing Education (ACE).

This year’s event featured a keynote lecture, titled ‘Beyond the University: Learning from Life, Exclusion and Discrimination in the Education System’ by Ann Burke, a prominent advocate for human rights and inclusive education opportunities for Travellers.

Speaking ahead of the lecture, Ms Burke, who works with the Southern Traveller Health Network (STHN), said she was “delighted” to deliver the keynote address.

As a co-ordinator and lecturer for a groundbreaking education initiative, Ms Burke has played a pivotal role in enabling 21 Traveller women to graduate from University College Cork with a third-level diploma in leadership in the community in 2022.

The diploma was the product of a co-design process that included UCC academics in the School of Applied Social Studies, representatives of the STHN, adult continuing education, and Access UCC.