November Empathy education introduced for Transition Year students

A special programme for empathy education developed at University of Galway is to be expanded into Transition Year (TY) in secondary schools nationwide.

Activating Social Empathy is a practical classroom resource designed to help teachers promote empathy skills and understanding among young people in the Senior Cycle.

The programme was developed by researchers at the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at University of Galway, along with colleagues in the University’s School of Education, working closely with a Youth Advisory Panel from Foróige. It is endorsed by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment.

Actor Cillian Murphy is a patron of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at University of Galway and a supporter of the empathy education initiatives.  

Described as a new micro-module, the new TY course complements the existing Junior Cycle Activating Social Empathy resource which was announced in 2020. It offers age-appropriate lessons and activities that challenge TY students to explore empathy in more complex social contexts.

            Dr Charlotte Silke, lead researcher with UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, University of Galway, said: “The core aim is to support young people in becoming more attuned to the feelings and perspectives of others, and more confident in expressing empathy across a variety of real-world contexts.”  

The Activating Social Empathy schools programme is supported by the Irish American Partnership and Lifes2good Foundation, Cillian Murphy and partners of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, Foróige and Penn State. 

The TY micro-module, is informed by theory and practice in the area of social and emotional learning and the resources are underpinned by research evidence relating to the development and expression of empathy during adolescence.

It is designed to strengthen students’ empathy skills through 10 interactive lessons, using scenarios and video and other learning methodologies supplemented by comprehensive sample materials. The programme encompasses three interconnected components: Cognitive Empathy (i.e., awareness or understanding of others’ perspectives); Emotional Empathy (i.e., feeling with, or for, another person), and Empathic Action (i.e., translating understanding and feelings into supportive, helpful actions). Students also learn about strategies to address empathy barriers and engage in empathic actions across diverse contexts.

            Professor John Canavan, UNESCO Chair, Children, Youth and Civic Engagement and Director of the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, University of Galway, said: “For young people growing up in a world marked by rising social polarisation, environmental crises and mental health issues, socio-emotional and behavioural skills are increasingly valued as part of education policies designed to address broad dimensions of learning. Empathy is a process of understanding others' perspectives, feeling for others and taking supportive action."

The Activating Social Empathy Manual is available as a free resource to all schools in Ireland and can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/33rfvmus 

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