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 where I completed a Higher Diploma in Further Education and where I am currently rounding up my Doctoral studies.  My Doctoral research explores the experiences Black migrant women have had with racism and the impact these experiences have had on their 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  coordinate 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. 

Conference Contribution

Year Publication
2022 Camilla Fitzsimons and Lilian Nwanze (2022) Erasmus+ Space for Connection and Sharing Stories for Adult Educators Erasmus+ Space for Connection and Sharing Stories for Adult Educators Leargas, Dublin, .
2021 Lilian Nwanze (2021) College Connect Website Launch and Seminar, 17/11/2021 We are Here Hear Seminar online, .
2021 Lilian Nwanze (2021) EPALE Online Seminar, 31/03/2021 Representation Matters Online, .
2021 Lilian Nwanze (2021) EUCEN University Lifelong Open Fora Panel Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education: What we have and what we need Online, .
2021 Lilian Nwanze (2021) AONTAS Lifelong Learning Conference Educational Equality and Flexible Learning Online, .

Book Chapter

Year Publication
2022 Lilian Nwanze (2022) 'Teaching Race in Further Eduucation' In: Critical Perspectives on Further Education and Training. London : Anthem Press.

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]

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]
Certain data included herein are derived from the © Web of Science (2024) of Clarivate. All rights reserved.

Professional Associations

Description Function From / To
Teaching Council Member -
Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, United Kingdom Graduate Member -

Honors and Awards

Date Title Awarding Body
01/06/2021 USI-IRC Why Research Matters Competition Union of Students Ireland and Irish Research Council
01/09/2020 Irish Research Council Scholarship Irish Research Council (IRC)
01/10/2020 3 minute Thesis Competition Maynooth University
02/09/2019 John Hume Scholarship Maynooth University
02/10/2006 Dean's Prize for the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Law University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

Committees

Committee Function From / To
Maynooth University Sanctuary Committee Member -
AONTAS Member of the Board of Directors 01/06/2023 -
HEA Advisory Group on Anti-Racism in Irish Higher Education Member 10/04/2024 -

Employment

Employer Position From / To
Maynooth University Associate Lecturer, Department of Adult and Community Education 18/11/2019 - 04/12/2023
Maynooth University Assistant Lecturer 05/12/2023 -

Teaching Interests

I am interested in how adults learn in groups, creative critical, inclusive, culturally sensitive and equitable pedagogies.  I am also interested in experiential learning and the potential it has to open up learning groups to new perspectives.