Dr. Benjamin Mallon

Dr Benjamin Mallon’s research explores the role of education in developing learners' understanding of global challenges and facilitating their participation in actions in response to these issues.

Ben is particularly interested in qualitative, participatory, rights-based educational research which explores how children, young people, teachers and teacher educators understand complex sustainability challenges, perceive and experience educational practices, and consider their own participation in response to these challenges.

Ben has an extensive publication list, including academic articles which have: explored children’s experiences of rights within education; mapped children’s experiences of participation in democratic decision making; surveyed how teachers and understand and teach about global challenges; investigated the role of multiple stakeholders in facilitating teacher education; explored the impact of professional learning on teacher’s sustainability practices, and the learning experiences of children in their classes.

Ben has successfully managed national research programmes and large scale European research projects, including the DEMOCRAT Project (European Union’s HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions under Grant Agreement No. 101095106) which utilised a participatory approach, to elaborate curricula or EfD based on a framework of responsible democratic competences (RDCs), testing them in open, local, innovative learning projects. Ben led the development of an interactive toolbox to support the development of transformative EfD practices in the EU and beyond.

Dr Benjamin Mallon is Assistant Professor in the School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies. Ben coordinates undergraduate modules in children’s rights education, Social and Environmental Education, Education for Sustainability and sits on the Programme Boards of the BEd and PMEP programmes. Ben teaches on the EdD (Taught Doctoral Programme) Avenue of Preferred Focus (APF) on Education for Sustainability (EfS), and contributes towards the Masters in Climate Change.

Ben holds the position of Fellow Advance HE in light of teaching knowledge and commitment to professional values. Ben has particular expertise in Challenge-Based Learning, working with stakeholders including Community groups, Governmental and Non-Governmental Bodies to provide programmes of study which develop students’ disciplinary knowledge and broader skills whilst creating working solutions to real world problems. Ben is a member of the DCU Working Group on Challenge-Based Learning collaborating on work which informs wider university approaches and national teaching developments.

Ben has authored several nationally recognised open access resources to support educational practice in the areas of Human Rights Education (Making Rights Real), Development Education, Education for Democracy,  Global Citizenship Education, and Teaching Controversial Issues. He has also published academic work furthering the advancement of teaching in relation to geography education and biodiversity education. 

Ben has served as external reviewer on undergraduate and postgraduate programme validations in the areas of Education for Sustainability. He has completed professional consultations for national bodies including the Royal Dublin Society, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, and the Department of Environment, Climate, and Communications, providing research informed facilitation to support nationwide programmes of work.