Secondment host profile: COGG

DOROTHY COFUND fellows are encouraged to undertake a non-academic secondment as part of their fellowship. Fellows are free to arrange secondments with any relevant organisation, in discussion with their supervisor. However, many organisations within Ireland have indicated an interest in acting as hosts. We will profile some of the potential secondment hosts here on the site, to help you learn more about some of the potential opportunities available. 

In this feature, we hear from Jacqueline Ni Fhearghusa, CEO at An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta.

Owing to the nature of COGG’s work and remit, questions and Jacqueline’s responses here are provided in both Irish and English. Any DOROTHY COFUND applicant interested in working with COGG should be fluent in Irish.

• Conas a chuirfeá síos ar obair agus curaimí COGG do dhuine éigin nach bhfuil aon eolas aige ar do chuid oibre? How would you describe COGG’s work and remit to someone unfamiliar with your work? 

Bunaíodh an Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta faoi fhorálacha Alt 31 den Acht Oideachais 1998 tar éis feachtais a chuir Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Gaelscoileanna, agus Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta ar bun le go mbeadh sainstruchtúr ann le freastal a dhéanamh ar riachtanais oideachais na scoileanna Gaeltachta agus na scoileanna lán-Ghaeilge. Tá feidhmeanna in Alt 31 maidir le múineadh na Gaeilge i scoileanna eile na tíre ag an gComhairle chomh maith.

Baineann ról na Comhairle leis an mbunoideachas agus leis an iar-bhunoideachas agus tá trí mhór-réimse oibre ann:

• Soláthar acmhainní teagaisc agus téacsleabhar agus tá acmhainní ar líne san áireamh
• Soláthar seirbhísí tacaíochta do scoileanna agus do mhúinteoirí
• Maoiniú taighde maidir le hoideachas Gaeltachta agus Lán-Ghaeilge agus le múineadh na Gaeilge.

An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta was founded under the provisions of Article 31 of the Education Act of 1998 following a campaign led by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Gaelscoileanna & Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta to establish a structure to cater for the educational needs of Gaeltacht schools and of Gaelscoileanna. There are functions also in Article 31 relating to the teaching of Irish in the country’s other schools.

The Comhairle’s role relates to both primary and post-primary education and the three main areas of work are:

• The provision of teaching resources and textbooks including online resources
• The provision of support services to schools and teachers
• The funding of research in relation to Irish medium and Gaeltacht education and the teaching of Irish.

• An bhfuil aon tionscadail atá ar siúl faoi láthair gur mhaith leat aird a tharraingt orthu? Are there any ongoing projects that you would particularly like to draw attention to? 

Faoi láthair, tá roinnt tionscadal á bhforbairt ag COGG.  Seo sampla de roinnt de na tionscadail a bhfuil baint ag COGG leo:

• Forbairt téacsleabhar le haghaidh Iar-bhunscoileanna Gaeltachta agus Lán-Ghaeilge – aistriúcháin ar théacsleabhair atá ann cheana féin agus forbairt téacsleabhar agus acmhainní eile
• Forbairt straitéis náisiúnta léitheoireachta agus scríbhneoireachta i nGaeilge le haghaidh na scoileanna Gaeilge go léir ó rang a cúig nó a sé sa bhunscoil suas go dtí an tríú leibhéal
• Forbairt sraith modhanna comhordaithe chun tacú le hinstitiúidí tríú leibhéal chun a mic léinn a choinneáil ar an eolas faoi COGG, a seirbhísí agus a n-acmhainní
• Forbairt eolais faoi ghairmthreoir le haghaidh iar-bhunscoileanna Gaeltacht agus lán-Ghaeilge – agus tá clár le haghaidh forbairt ghairmiúil leanúnach do mhúinteoirí san áireamh anseo
• Forbairt ar ardán digiteach ar líne le haghaidh na n-acmhainní digiteacha go léir le haghaidh scoileanna Gaeltachta agus lán-Ghaeilge
• Forbairt ar thionscnaimh Teicneolaíocht Faisnéise le tacú le bunscoileanna agus iar-bhunscoileanna araon
• Forbairt ghairmiúil leanúnach le haghaidh múinteoirí maidir leis an nGaeilge agus le múineadh trí Ghaeilge
• Anailís ar an taighde atá ann cheana féin ar oideachas Gaeltachta agus Lán-Ghaeilge chun na moltaí agus na torthaí tábhachtacha a scaipeadh ar shlí níos éifeachtaí agus níos cuimsithí.

Currently COGG have several projects in development.  The following is a sample of some of the kinds of projects that COGG engage with:

• Development of textbooks for Irish medium and Gaeltacht post primary schools – translation of existing textbooks and the development of textbooks and other resources
• Development of a national reading and writing strategy in Irish for all Irish medium schools from fifth or sixth class in primary into third level
• Development of a series of co-ordinated approaches to support third level institutions inform their students about COGG, its services and resources
• Development of career guidance information for Irish medium and Gaeltacht post primary schools – including a programme of continuing professional development for teachers
• Development of an on-line digital platform for all digital resources for Irish medium schools
• Development of ongoing IT initiatives to support both primary and post primary schools
• Continuing professional development opportunities for teachers in relation to the Irish language and teaching through Irish
• Analysis of existing research on Irish medium and Gaeltacht education to disseminate the main findings and recommendations in a more coherent and comprehensive manner.

• Dá dtiocfadh comhalta DOROTHY COFUND chugat ar iascacht, an bhféadfá blaiseadh a thabhairt de na cineálacha tionscadal a mbeadh baint aige leo? If a DOROTHY COFUND fellow were to undertake a secondment with COGG, are you able to give a sense of projects they may be working on?

Léiríonn an liosta thuas go measartha soiléir an cineál oibre a bhíonn ar siúl agann chun tacú le scoileanna. An obair a bheadh le déanamh ag comhalta, bhraithfeadh sí ar a riar scileanna. Ach, tá ár réimse cláir oibre leathan go leor go mbeadh muid ábalta teacht ar chlár oibre a bheadh tairbheach dúinn go leir ag brath ar ár dtosaíochtaí ag am ar bith. Bíonn tionscadail nua ag teacht chun tosaigh an t-am ar fad.

The above list of projects is fairly indicative of the kind of work that we engage in to support schools. A fellow’s potential work would depend on their skill set. However, our range of work programmes are broad enough that we would be able to agree a mutually beneficial work programme depending on our priorities at any given time.  New projects come on stream all the time.

• Conas a d’fhéadfadh duine ag teacht ar iasacht ó chomhalta taighde DOROTHY COFUND a bheith tairbheach do COGG? How might a secondment from a DOROTHY COFUND research fellow be beneficial for COGG?

Is eagraíocht bheag sinn agus tá cúraimí an-leathan againn, agus dá bharr sin bíonn muid i gcónaí faoi bhrú chun tionscadail agus obair laethúil a chur i gcrích ar shlí éifeachtach chun na hacmhainní agus na seirbhísí is fearr a sholáthar do scoileanna. Tá muid ag cur lenár bhfoireann faoi láthair, ach tógfaidh sé roinnt blianta foireann níos mó a thógaint de réir a chéile. Tá a lán daoine ag obair linn ar conradh maidir le soláthar seirbhísí, taighde, tacaíocht FGL agus araile. Dá mbeadh duine breise againn ar an bhfoireann fiú dá mbeadh am teoranta i gceist bheadh sin an-luachmhar ag brath ar riar scileanna an duine sin.

We are a small organisation with a very wide remit. As a result, we are always under pressure to deliver on projects and day-to-day work effectively and efficiently with a view to providing the best resources and services for schools. We are building our team currently, but this will take a period of years to achieve. We have a large number of contract staff working with us in relation to delivery of services, research, CPD support etc. An extra person on the team even for a limited period would be very valuable again depending on the skills set of that person.

• Cad é an rud is mó a shíleann tusa atá suimiúil faoi do chuid oibre le COGG? What do you find most interesting about your work with COGG? 

Ó mo dhearcadh féin, taitníonn sé go mór liom a bheith ag obair le COGG mar go bhfuil réimse leathan deiseanna ann chun difríocht shuntasach a dhéanamh chun tacú leis an oideachas Gaeltachta agus Lán-Ghaeilge. Tá foireann bheag ag COGG atá an-spreagtha agus an-tiomanta. Tá muid tiomanta chun na caighdeáin is airde a bhaint amach i ngach rud a dhéanann muid. Bíonn muid i gcónaí ag iarraidh teacht ar bhealaí chun feabhas a chur ar ár dtionscnaimh agus ár seirbhísí le tacaíocht níos fearr a thabhairt don earnáil Ghaeltachta agus lán-Ghaeilge agus do mhúineadh na Gaeilge i scoileanna uile na tíre.

From my own perspective, I really enjoy working with COGG because of the wide range of opportunities to make a significant difference in supporting Irish medium and Gaeltacht Education. We have a small but very highly motivated and committed team. We are dedicated to achieving high standards of excellence in everything that we do. We are always looking for ways in which we can improve on our initiatives and services to better support the Irish medium and Gaeltacht sector and support the teaching of Irish in all schools.

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If you are interested in including a secondment with COGG  as part of your DOROTHY COFUND fellowship, you may want to begin discussion with COGG, along with your main supervisor. Remember that successful fellows can also negotiate a secondment once their fellowship has begun.

Learn more about COGG here.