Lilian Nwanze
Biography
Hi, my name is Lilian. I migrated from Nigeria many years ago, where I qualified and worked as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My experience in education here in Ireland, triggered my interest in issues of inclusion, social justice, cultural competence and anti-racism in the classroom. After my Masters in International and European Business Law in Trinity College, I moved to Maynooth University where I completed a Higher Diploma in Further Education. I have also recently completed my Doctoral studies. My Doctoral research inquired into the experiences Black migrant women in Ireland have had with racism and I used the insight from the women to propose a culturally responsive anti-racist pedagogy for use in Irish Adult Education.
My broader research interests include social justice in adult learning spaces, the inclusion of underrepresented groups in educational spaces, anti-racist, critical and culturally relevant pedagogies, lifelong learning and exploring diverse ways of knowing.
I currently serve as co-Director of the Higher Diploma in Further Education – A Teaching Council accredited programme that enables successful graduates to register to teach in a range of adult education spaces including Further Education Colleges, Community Education, Youthreach centers, prisons and other spaces that offer QQI awards. I am also a representative member on the Board of Directors of AONTAS and I work alongside various departments to create and implement strategic anti-racism classroom resources and interventions.
Research Interests
My research interests include:
Anti-racism
Inclusion in Education
Experiences of Black migrant learners in Irish classrooms
Critical and Culturally Responsive Pedagogies
Experiences of non-traditional learners in Irish classrooms
Cultural Competence in Initial Teacher Education
Research Projects
Conference Contribution
Book Chapter
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Lilian Nwanze (2024) 'Why we need to speak about race in Further Education and Training' In: Anthem Press. London : Anthem Press. [Link] |
Conference Publication
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Fitzsimons, Camilla and Lilian Nwanze (2021) Diversity . In: Eva Baloch-Kaloianov eds. Let's talk about structural exclusion and racism in Adult Education [Link] |
Peer Reviewed Journal
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Camilla Fitzsimons and Lilian Nwanze (2023) 'Can Critical Education Help Address Racial Discrimination in Irish Maternity Settings?'. Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies, . [Link] [Full-Text] | |
| 2023 | Lilian Nwanze (2023) '“Becoming a White antiracist: a practical guide for educators, leaders and activists” - Book review'. Studies in the Education of Adults, 55 (1). [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Lilian Nwanze Akobo (2022) 'The role of teachers in creating critically inclusive classrooms'. JOURNAL OF LIFELONG LEARNING IN EUROPE, 6 (1). [Link] [DOI] | |
| 2022 | Fitzsimons, Camilla and Nwanze, Lilian (2022) 'Towards, critical, engaged, antiracist learning environments'. The Adult Learner, . [Link] |
Published Report
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Sarah Meaney - Sartori and Lilian Nwanze (2021) A community needs analysis with Refugees and People seeking asylum: Exploring Barriers and Access to Higher Education in Ireland. College Connect, Ireland, . [Link] | |
| 2021 | Fitzsimons, C., Hassan, B., Nwanze, L., Obasi, P. (2021) Researching the Needs of Muslim Women in Irish Maternity Settings: A mother is born too. Amal Women's Association, . [Link] |
Audiovisual material
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Lilian Nwanze and Zoryana Psychk (2021) How to talk about race and racism. [Audiovisual material] [Link] |
Honors and Awards
Committees
Employment
Education
Outreach Activities
| Organisation | Type | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meath African Network (MAN) | Civic Society | Meath African Network is an organization that was formed for the empowerment and community involvement and recognition of Africans in County Meath. [Link] |
Teaching Interests
My identity as a Black migrant woman in Ireland has shaped my interest in education. I am interested in how adults learn in groups and how educators can enact creative, critical, inclusive, culturally responsive and equitable pedagogies. I am also interested in the learning that happens when learners are allowed to share their stories and the potential this has to open up learning groups to new (and previously unexplored) perspectives.
I design and deliver, across various departments (and across various levels) modules that explore various critical anti-racist pedagogies and theories. I use non-traditional methods such as story-telling and parables in my classes. My teaching philosophy is such that believes that the structures and systems in the society replicate themselves in learning spaces. Consequently, learning spaces should be sites of critical conversations, community building and questioning of taken for granted hegemonic ideas.