The MA in Inclusive and Special Education, offered in collaboration between ICEP Europe and Hibernia College, equips educators and professionals to create supportive and inclusive learning environments. A cornerstone of the programme is the Research Methods and Thesis module, led by Dr. Ke Ren (Rita).
With experience spanning early years education, intervention, and psychology, Dr. Ren provides invaluable guidance to students as they take on their thesis projects. Here, she shares her journey, research interests, and advice for learners beginning this important part of the programme.
Rita, can you tell us about your background?
Before moving into academia, I worked as an early intervention specialist, supporting children with additional needs and their families in both school and clinical contexts. I also spent time teaching in early years and primary settings, where I focused strongly on inclusion and collaboration with other professionals. These experiences still shape the way I think about teaching, learning, and research today.
What areas of research interest you most?
My research covers inclusive education, educational psychology, and early intervention. I’m especially interested in:
The role of fathers in supporting children with SEND
The lived experiences of families from migrant or marginalised backgrounds
How education systems can better respond to the needs of children with SEND
I also have a deep interest in research methodologies. I enjoy exploring how different theoretical frameworks and approaches can be applied to practical educational contexts, often drawing on psychology to inform real-world change.
What is your role in the Inclusive & Special Education programme?
I lead the Research Methods and Thesis module. For me, the most rewarding part is supporting students—many of whom are practicing teachers or parents—as they design and carry out their own projects.
I’m always intrigued by the kinds of questions students bring—often meaningful issues that don’t get enough attention in everyday practice. It’s a privilege to walk alongside them as their ideas grow into a project, carried through design, implementation, and finally into a completed thesis. The diversity and depth of these studies continue to inspire me.
What does the Research Methods and Thesis module involve?
The module runs across three semesters and guides students step by step as they complete a small-scale project in their own professional or community setting. Students will:
- Choose a topic that’s meaningful to them
- Design and carry out a research study
- Collect and analyse data
- Write a 12,000-word thesis
What advice would you give to learners when selecting a topic?
Pick something you truly care about. Your thesis is your chance to give voice to a question or issue that matters in your own professional or community context.
It’s important to choose a topic that’s realistic and feasible for a small-scale project. Keep the scope manageable and aim for a clear, focused research question. Very often, the strongest projects come from real challenges you’ve faced in practice—something you want to understand more deeply or improve in your own context. When the topic feels both meaningful and relevant, the research journey becomes much more engaging and rewarding.
What type of support is available when conducting the thesis?
The module is carefully structured so that even learners with little prior research experience can succeed. Support is built into every stage of the journey, including:
Five live webinars and optional drop-in sessions
A face-to-face induction workshop to identify topics and build community
A face-to-face mid-term methodology workshop focusing on ethics and data collection
One-to-one supervision with an assigned academic supervisor
Step-by-step online resources that guide learners through each stage of the process
Everything is designed to ensure that students can complete a research project that is both meaningful and manageable from start to finish.
Can you share some examples of projects students have done?
Our graduates have explored an impressive range of practice-based topics, such as:
- Teacher professional development
- Inclusive schoolyard design for autistic pupils
- Strategies for supporting learners with dyslexia
- Applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to subjects like mathematics
- Creating inclusive strategies through school-based focus groups
These projects are diverse, but they all share a strong commitment to improving educational practice and promoting inclusion.
What pathways are open to graduates of the MA?
Graduates move into many different areas. Some progress into leadership roles within schools or early years services, leading inclusive initiatives or SEN provision. Others work in advocacy or management roles in NGOs and education charities.
Some graduates like Sharon Grady are inspired to continue their academic journey, going on to PhD study, research roles, or lecturing positions in higher education. The programme also provides a solid foundation in both practice and research, which opens pathways into consultancy, policy development, and project work across the broader education and social inclusion sectors.
Begin your journey towards inclusive leadership with the MA in Inclusive and Special Education. Register for a webinar or apply today.