DrRachel Farrell

Rachel took up the role of Head of School at UCD School of Education in September 2026 after serving for three years as Associate Dean at the UCD College of Social Sciences and Law. In addition, Rachel is a scholar and practitioner in the field of teacher education and curriculum innovation and co-directs the Professional Master of Education (PME), equipping future educators with the skills, knowledge, and mindset needed to navigate complex and evolving educational landscapes. With a career spanning over two decades, Rachel specialises in advancing educational practices through the pedagogical partnerships, integration of emerging technologies, fostering equity and promoting sustainability in education.
A passionate advocate for innovative and inclusive teaching methodologies, Rachel has been instrumental in the design and delivery of transformative educational programmes. She has played a significant role in Erasmus+ projects, collaborating with European partners to develop cutting-edge resources and methodologies for teacher education including Alliance4XR, Supporting Student Transition to Higher Education (SART), EU Immersive and TODOS (capacity building in higher education). 
Her research interests include virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), sustainability education, and cybersecurity education. She has co-authored numerous studies and projects on the use of XR technologies in teaching.  Her work draws on theoretical frameworks such as adaptive expertise, expansive learning, and constructionism to explore how technology can enhance teaching and learning experiences.
In addition to her research, Rachel is the founder of the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education (www.cyberwise.ie) an initiative aimed at promoting AI and digital literacy and resilience across the continuum of education. She also leads projects funded by Irish Aid, Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications and Shared Island Civic Society Fund, blending science, arts and humanities to tackle societal challenges, including gender equity in STEM, digital, AI and cybersecurity literacy.