Module: Children's Rights & Participation

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Children's Rights & Participation
Module Code	HEA1034 (ITS: NS5108)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module is designed for students to develop a deeper appreciation of contemporary debates and subject knowledge of theory and research related to children’s rights, participation and advocacy, why this is important in society and how to apply the skills of a rights based approach to practice in various interdisciplinary contexts. The implications of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for children and young people’s positioning as rights bearers and citizens in society in the context of child protection, health and well-being in local and national policies and legislation is also considered.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically examine childhood as a social phenomenon and how constructs of childhood are shaped in a cultural and social context.
2. Critically consider the UNCRC and children’s rights to provision, protection and participation.
3. Explore differing models of child participation in policy /research that impacts children and their families daily lives.
4. Examine the concept of wellbeing from a critical perspective informed by current discourse on the relationship between wellbeing and statutory rights
5. From the perspective of children’s rights and well-being, consider and contrast professional practice with children across a range of children’s services from the perspective of children’s rights and well-being

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	6	Face-to-face lecture
Lecture	12	Synchronous online class
Group work	4	Group work for group presentatiions
Fieldwork	40	Weekly readings
Independent Study	188	Students are given specific readings, both book chapters and journal articles for each lecture. They are expected to review them during their independent learning time.
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	11309	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Carol Barron	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group presentation	Critique of contemporary participation model	20%	Week 6
Assignment	Critique interrogation of an Article of the UNCRC related to the students workplace (3.500 words)	80%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

The social construction of children and childhood
We will explore what is meant by ‘childhood’ and the changing perspectives about children and childhood in a cultural and social context over time and space.

Children's Rights
We will examine the history to children’s rights and draw up on the UNCRC and how this is reflected in Irish legislation and relevant policy and strategies at the national and local level

Policy and Practice
We will examine how children’s rights, well being and participation are realised and incorporated within local and national policy and strategies. In addition we will arrange a field-trip to the Ombudsman for children’s Office

Professional Practice
We will examine how constructs and concepts of childhood in the context of national and international policy development related to children's rights and well-being are applicable from a multi disciplinary perspective within differing children’s services

Indicative Reading List

Books:

James, A: 2013, Socialising Children, Palgrave Macmillan, 978-1-137-317
Allison James,Alan Prout: 2014, Constructing and Reconstructing Childhood, Routledge, 246, 9781138818804
James, A., James, A: 2017, Key Concepts in Childhood Studies, Sage Publications,
Ben-Arieh, A., Casas, F., FrÃ¸nes, I., Korbin, J.: 2014, Handbook of Child Well-Being: Theories, Methods and Policies in Global Perspective, Springer Link, 978-90-481-90
Kilkelly, U.: 2016, Children's Rights in Ireland., Bloomsbury,
Horgan, D., Keenan, D.: 2022, Child and Youth Participation in Policy, Practice and Research, Routledge,
Martin D. Ruck,Michael Freeman,Michele Petersen-Badali,Professor of French Language and Literature Michael Freeman: 2016, Handbook of Children's Rights, Psychology Press, 620, 9781848724792

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None