Dr Deirdre McGillicuddy is Assistant Professor in Education in UCD School of Education and Director of the newly established BEd in Education, Gaeilge and Modern Languages. Deirdre's research is underpinned by the importance of working with and listening to the views of children and young people. She is particularly passionate about inequalities in education which stems from her time working as a primary school teacher in a DEIS school located in one of the most socio-economically challenged areas in the country. Deirdre believes in the transformative power of education.