Second Level Education and Young Sociologists

About the SAI and Second Level Education

Established in 2019, the Second-Level Officer is responsible for building greater links between the Sociological Association of Ireland and secondary school teachers and students. Our initiatives aim to support and engage students studying Politics and Society, or A-Level Sociology on the Island of Ireland. We are particularly interested in progressing new and exciting ways that schools and third level institutions can work together to advance politics, society and sociology at post-primary level? There are many lessons that can be learned by sharing insights from teachers, academics and subject level experts alike. Similarly, we believe it’s important to explore the kinds of research methods applied by professional researchers to investigate various aspects of sociological teaching and learning at post-primary level. The second-level officer works to collaborate and support teachers, teacher educators and associations who help promote sociology as a discipline at second level. The role is currently held by Dr Aimie Brennan (MIE).

Recent initiatives include:

  • The Sociology in Schools Conference
  • Young Sociologist of the Year Competition
  • Special Young Scientists podcast episode
  • Special Issue of the Sociological Observer

Young Sociologist of the Year Competition

Young Sociologist Poster

The Young Sociologist of the Year award is an essay-based competition hosted by the Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) and the Department of Sociology and Criminology, UCC. We are delighted to see that so many Leaving Cert students have chosen the Politics and Society option and so many Northern Irish students are pursuing A Level Sociology. We want to encourage and reward students who are learning to think about how the society we live in is structured and organised. The competition is an opportunity for students to address themes relevant within our Society today. The essay will be assessed by a panel of academics from the Department of Sociology and Criminology, UCC, the SAI Second Level Officer and representatives from the SAI. The essay that presents the most insightful analysis of a sociologically relevant theme will win. Top prize is a €500 voucher.

 

Young Sociologist of the Year Award

The Young Sociologist of the Year award is an essay-based competition hosted by the Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) and the Department of Sociology and Criminology, UCC. We are delighted to see that so many Leaving Cert students have chosen the Politics and Society option and so many Northern Irish students are pursuing A Level Sociology. We want to encourage and reward students who are learning to think about how the society we live in is structured and organised.

If you are interested in societal structures, themes such as gender, class, migration, or development, or even if you would just like to have their essay read and assessed by a sociology academic, then this competition is for you!

Competition Prizes

In 2023 the top student entries could win the following prizes:

  • 1st place – €500 gift voucher
  • 2nd place – €100 gift voucher
  • 3rd place (x3) – €50 gift voucher

The teachers of the winning students were awarded:

  • 1st place – €100 gift voucher
  • 2nd place – €50 gift voucher
  • 3rd place (x3) – €50 gift voucher

 

Application Guidelines and Assessment Criteria

  • Students who wish to participate must submit the essay to their teacher
  • This essay can be a piece of work that has already been completed as part of your coursework for the Politics and Society programme or A Level Sociology curriculum.
  • The essay could also be a piece of work that will be relevant to the Leaving Cert citizenship project focusing on one of the following topics:

Strand 1: Power and decision-making
• Topic 1 Power and decision-making in school
• Topic 2 Power and decision-making at national and European level
Strand 2: Active citizenship
• Topic 3 Effectively contributing to communities
• Topic 4 Rights and responsibilities in communication with others
Strand 3: Human rights and responsibilities
• Topic 5 Human rights and responsibilities in Ireland
• Topic 6 Human rights and responsibilities in Europe and the wider world
Strand 4: Globalisation and localisation
• Topic 7 Globalisation and identity
• Topic 8 Sustainable development

  • Word count 800-1,000 words
  • The teacher will select the “top 3” essays from the class and submit to the SAI and Department of Sociology and Criminology, UCC, for assessment.
  • Up to a maximum of 3 essay submissions per class is permitted
  • The names and essay titles of the winner and runner-up will be displayed on the SAI website
  • Feedback will only be provided on winning essay entries
  • Essays can be hand written or typed

This competition is an opportunity for students to address themes relevant within our Society today. The essay will be assessed by a panel of academics from the Department of Sociology and Criminology, UCC, the SAI Second Level Officer and representatives from the SAI. The essay that presents the most insightful analysis of a sociologically relevant theme will win.

Contact Details

Contact: Dr Aimie Brennan

Email: aimie.brennan@mie.ie

Phone: (01) 8057717

 

The 2023 Winners:

First Place: Jack Boland,

  • School: CBS High School, Clonmel
  • Teacher: Mr Tom Ryan.
  • Essay Title: Ireland: is it a Patriarchy?

Second Place: Erin Cassidy,

  • School: Portmarnock Community School, Dublin.
  • Teacher: Ms Deirdre O’Brien.
  • Essay Title: Gender Inequality – why and where does it exist?

Third Place: Caoimhe Greene

  • School: St. Louis High School, Dublin.
  • Teacher: Ms Louise Stenson.
  • Essay Title: Freedom and Equality in Conflict.

Third Place: Molly Nevin

  • School: Hewitt College Cork.
  • Teacher: Declan Hourihan.
  • Essay Title: Evaluate whether Children’s rights to express their views and be heard on matters that affect them (UNCRC, article 12) to seek, receive and impact ideas and information (article 13 and article 17) is enjoyed equally by everyone in Ireland.

Third Place: Aobha Murphy

  • School: Hewitt College Cork.
  • Teacher: Declan Hourihan.
  • Essay Title: Could the rise of nationalism across Europe could spell the end of European democracy?

The Sociology in Schools Conference

This new conference brings together international educational research and teaching experts, to debate the importance of sociology in post-primary schools in Ireland and internationally. It will offer perspectives on the position of social and political education, including sociology, in the educational system of Ireland and of other countries. The conference explores the place and status of the discipline in the second level curriculum; curriculum design and development; pupil engagement with the subject matter; the position of sociology in teacher education and the challenges and opportunities for collaboration between teachers and third-level educators will be explored. The event examines the social, civic, political and ethical education delivered in schools. It produced rich reflection on how citizens are formed, social conscience is shaped, and how sociology expands its voice in society.  Established as a biannual event by Dr Lisa Moran, Dr Aimie Brennan and Dr John O’Brien, in 2022 the conference was supported by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning and was hosted by Marino Institute of Education. Keynote speakers, Dr Roland Tormey and Dr Su Ming Khoo reflected on what is needed at second level to enable students to fulfil their potential, to become actively engaged in social issues, to become ethically conscious and to be contributors to social change in our global world.