Examination, Quality Assurance, and Expert Review
Conor contributes to academic standards and educational quality through research funding evaluation, programme validation, institutional review, and external examination. His work spans further and higher education, including psychology, education, professional practice, and inclusive provision.
This page brings together selected validation and advisory work, programme examination appointments, and doctoral examinations. Internal and external doctoral roles are listed separately.
Research Funding Evaluation
External Expert in Human Functioning for Portugal’s Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), 2009–present, contributing to the evaluation of research funding proposals.
Programme Validation and Institutional Quality Assurance
Conor serves as panel chair, panel member, and academic subject expert in validation and review processes, including work with Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
Recent Selected Work
2026
- Lean Teams
Panel Chair for validation of the Level 6 Special Purpose Award Certificate in Practical Lean Business Application. - Lir Business Services / MCX Training and Development / The Learning Rooms
Panel Chair for validation of Level 6 awards in Training and Development, Personal and Professional Development, Frontline Leaders, Supervisory Skills, and Management Essentials. - Cork Education and Training Board
Panel Member for validation of the Level 5 Minor Award in Social Policy.
2025
- Open Training College
Panel Chair for validation of the Level 6 microcredential Certificate in Human Service Compliance Management. - Consortium of Centres of Nursing and Midwifery Education
Panel Chair for validation of the Level 8 Certificate in Diabetes Self-management (Adults). - ICEP Europe
Academic Subject Matter Expert for validation of the Level 9 M.Sc. in Psychology and an associated embedded postgraduate exit award. - Hibernia College
Academic Subject Matter Expert for validation of the Level 9 M.A. in Education and an associated embedded postgraduate exit award.
2024
- ICEP Europe
Member of the QQI Initial Access to Validation Expert Panel site visit. - Griffith College
Subject Expert for desk review of the Level 8 B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology. - Open Training College
Panel Chair and Report Writer for desk review of the Level 6 microcredential Certificate in Human Service Manager Skills.
2023
- Microsoft Ireland Operations Ltd, Dream Space Skills Academy
External Member of the Academic Council. - Saint Nicholas Montessori College of Ireland
Panel Member for desk review of a modification request for the Level 8 B.A. (Hons.) in Psychology. - Irish College of Humanities & Applied Sciences
Panel Chair for differential validation of Level 9 certificates in Technologically Facilitated Therapeutic Engagement and Clinical Supervision in Professional Practice, through the QQI Online Pilot Project. - City Education Group
Panel Chair for validation of the Level 7 Certificate in Special Education through the QQI Online Pilot Project.
2022
- The Open College
Panel Chair for validation of the Level 5 Component Certificate in Challenging Behaviour through the QQI Blended Learning pilot project. - American College Dublin
Panel Chair and Liberal Arts Panel Member for programme review across liberal arts and international business provision. - Carlow College
Academic Expert for validation of Level 8 programmes in Psychology and in Philosophy, Politics and Sociology.
2021
- Dublin Business School
Panel Member for validation of the Level 6 Certificate in Social Care Skills microcredential.
2020
- Open Training College
Panel Member for validation of the Level 6 Certificate in Creative Problem Solving and Action Learning through the QQI microcredentials pilot. - Saint Nicholas Montessori College Ireland
Member of the QQI expert panel reviewing internal quality assurance procedures through reengagement. - Coventry University
External Subject Expert for reviews of psychology programmes delivered with partner institutions in Sri Lanka and Egypt.
Earlier Selected Validation and Advisory Work
- External Advisor for the validation of the joint ICEPE (Institute of Child Education and Psychology Europe) / University of East London (UEL) MA programme: MA Special and Additional Learning Needs.
- External Expert for Oscail in relation to the development of the programme documentation for their Psychology undergraduate programme.
- External Reviewer for the Advanced Diploma in Professional Development (Adv. Dip. PD) Inclusive Education, a collaborative programme between the Institute of Child Education and Psychology Europe (ICEPE) and The School of Education at Queen’s University Belfast.
- Mid Life Review Panel for the Open University programmes: DSE212 Exploring Psychology, DXR222 Exploring Psychology Residential School [Project], and DZX222 Exploring Psychology [Online Project] programmes.
- Validation Panel for the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) in respect of BA (Hons) Arts degree programme (Level 8: National Framework of Qualifications) proposed by Independent Colleges.
- Evaluation Panel for the CertHE in Combined Social and Behavioural Sciences (a level 1 programme: equivalent to Year One of a Degree course) at the Portadown Campus of Southern Regional College, a Partner College of University of Ulster.
External Programme Examination
Selected appointments include:
- ICEPE and Dublin City University
2019
Postgraduate Professional Certificate / Diploma in Special and Inclusive Education. - Dublin Business School
2018
Level 8 and Level 9 programmes in Social Science, Social Studies, Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Psychoanalytic Studies. - Athlone Institute of Technology
2018
Psychological Society of Ireland recognised undergraduate degree in Applied Psychology. - University College Cork
2016
Diploma in Social and Psychological Health Studies. - Coventry University
2015 – 2019
External Examiner for B.A. (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies. - National College of Ireland
2015 – 2018
External Examiner for Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) Recognised Undergraduate Degree in Psychology. - Institute of Child Education and Psychology Europe (ICEPE) and the University of East London
2014 – 2017
External Examiner for Postgraduate Certificate Special Education and Additional Needs / Postgraduate Diploma Special Education and Additional Needs / Masters in Arts Special Education and Additional Needs (including online). - University College Cork
2013 – 2016
External Examiner for Masters in Coaching Practice. - University College Cork
2013 – 2016
External Examiner for Masters in Applied Psychology (Coaching). - University College Cork
2012 – 2015 (2015 – 2018)
External Examiner for Masters in Applied Psychology (Guidance Counselling). - International School of Business
2010 – 2012
External Examiner for HETAC Level 6 programmes.
Doctoral Examination
External Examiner
Mariana Araujo Dantas (Ph.D.), The University of Aveiro, Portugal (2026).
Participation, belonging and learning in higher education: the voices of students with intellectual and developmental difficulties.
Emma O’Keefe (Ph.D.), Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland (2026).
An exploration of the wellbeing of Special Educational Needs Coordinators in Irish mainstream primary schools.
Leanne Connolly (Ph.D.), DCU Institute of Education, Ireland (2025).
Building a vision for life post-school: Views and experiences of students, parents, teachers and principals of post-school transition planning in Irish Special Schools.
Dana Zeides Taubin (D.Phil.), Hebrew University, Israel (2025).
The psychological health, quality of, and lived experiences of women partnered with individuals diagnosed with ADHD.
Aoife Munroe (Ph.D.), Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland (2025).
Autistic girls’ experiences of mainstream education provision.
Tansu Ince Cakan (D.Phil.), Plymouth Institute of Education, Plymouth University, England (2025).
A cross-cultural study of parenting styles and involvement in bullying of children with and without SEN.
Bernadette Gregory (Ed.D.), Canterbury Christchurch University, England (2024).
Listening to their adult voices: two narratives of lived experience beyond the formal provision for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) in England.
Nicola Mannion (Ph.D.), Mary Immaculate College, Ireland (2024).
Making children visible: Using student voice to shape inclusive practice in mainstream post-primary schools in Ireland.
Esperanza Espino Peñate (Ph.D. (International)), University of Seville, Spain (2023).
Bullying and cyberbullying: Poly-involvement, stability, explanatory factors and situations of vulnerability.
Oonagh Steer (D.Phil.), University of Nottingham, England (2023).
Exploring the perception, interpretation, and role of humour in cyberbullying from the perspective of adolescents and emerging adults.
Malathy Krishnan (D.Phil.), University of Nottingham, England (2023).
Investigating Social Emotional Learning in children with Special Educational Needs in mainstream and special schools in Bengaluru, India.
Amal Mohamed Al Koos (D.Phil.), Ulster University, Northern Ireland (2023).
UAE education reform between the fourth industrial revolution and student-centric approach: Achievement and motivation, career aspiration and well-being.
Mubarak Saeed Al Shamsi (Ph.D.), Ulster University, Northern Ireland (2023).
Development and reform of technical and vocational education in the UAE: The role and vision of the UAE leadership.
Mark Gradwell (Ed.D.), Canterbury Christchurch University, England (2022).
An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of interprofessional education; An investigation of the experiences of pre-registration healthcare students.
Cillian Murphy (Ed.D.), DCU Institute of Education, Ireland (2022).
The role of Disability Service staff in supporting students with dyslexia in Irish higher education institutions: a mixed methods study.
Sarah Brock (Ph.D.), Dundalk Institute of Technology, Ireland (2021).
An examination of an area-based approach to supporting emotional and behavioural difficulties in early childhood: A community response.
Roisin Devenney (Ph.D.), Maynooth University, Ireland (2021).
Exploring perspectives of school refusal in second-level education in Ireland.
Lloyd Hughes (Ed.D.), Canterbury Christ Church University, England (2020).
An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the ecological interface between teacher and disruptive student.
Brian Devitt (Ph.D.), University of Limerick, Ireland (2019).
Exploring the influence of Irish post primary teachers’ profession on their perceived stress.
Warren Symes (Ed.D.), Canterbury Christ Church University, England (2019).
Personalised learning in gifted education: Students’ and teachers’ perceptions of challenge in mathematics.
Clara O’Byrne (Ph.D.), University of Limerick, Ireland (2018).
“Being special”: Intellectual disability, stigma and special education.
Niels Jacob (Ph.D.), Open University of the Netherlands, The Netherlands (2015).
Online Pestkoppenstoppen: Development and evaluation of an online computer-tailored intervention for low-educated cyberbullying victims.
Theresa Cleary (Ph.D.), University of Ulster, Northern Ireland (2013).
Music performance anxiety in children within the context of practical music exams.
Justin Rami (Ph.D.), Dublin City University, Ireland (2012).
The influence of Europe’s education policies on the development of learning & assessment in the context of a higher education Institution in Ireland.
Margaret Denny (Ph.D.), University College Cork, Ireland (2008).
Exploring how teaching for multiple intelligence using a multiple intelligence teaching approach affected student achievement in an undergraduate nursing education programme in Ireland.
Internal Examiner at Trinity College Dublin
Xiaohui Yang (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2025).
Investigating the role of feedback in digitally mediated formative assessment (FA) in high school chemistry in international schools in China.
Rosemarie Stynes (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2023).
The opportunities and challenges of inclusive education: Centring student voice in Irish primary schools.
Richard Hogan (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2023).
The lived experience of teachers working inclusively in the modern classroom, a systemic approach.
Joan McGrath (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2021).
Curriculum, accreditation and transition pathways; pupils with intellectual disability in special schools (Ireland).
Vivian Rath (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2020).
The social engagement experiences of disabled students in higher education in Ireland.
Sereen Talal Bakri (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2018).
Reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities / learning disabilities: Perspectives of university faculty, staff, and students.
Ashling Ryan Mangan (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2018).
“It’ll always be a part of him but it’s not going to define him”: Parental incarceration and the academic lives of primary and pre-school children in Ireland, pathways to resilience or maladaptation?
Colin McElroy (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2018).
The spectrum of inclusive practice for pupils with Autism attending mainstream primary schools.
Carol-Ann O’Síoráin (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2018).
An enquiry into the literacy practices of pupils with autism in mainstream primary settings in the Republic of Ireland.
Jeremiah Lynch (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2017).
Hell in Connaught: Surviving St. Joseph’s Industrial School, Letterfrack, Co. Galway.
Karen Mahony (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2016).
Pupils as change agents: an Irish conceptualisation of children’s participation in decision-making and governance in primary school.
Jolanta Burke (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2015).
Measuring well-being of adolescents displaying cyber aggression.
Silvia Gallagher (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2015).
A cross-cultural investigation of online community newcomer behaviour.
Paul Condell (D.Ed.), Trinity College Dublin (2015).
Inclusion at ground level in Further Education: Are students with disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties being supported by inclusive practices in Further Education?
Michele Joan Dunleavy-Lavin (D.Ed.), Trinity College Dublin (2013).
The inclusion of pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder in mainstream primary schools in Ireland.
Patricia Mc Carthy (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2013).
Expectations you encounter: The educational experiences and transition choices / opportunities of blind / vision impaired people in the Republic of Ireland.
Genevieve Murray (Ph.D.), Trinity College Dublin (2013).
Teacher-on-teacher workplace bullying in the post-primary sector of the Irish education system.
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