Tackling Ireland’s Psychologist Shortage: The Need for Educational Innovation
In Ireland, a critical shortage of psychologists is impacting health, education, and social care services. This deficit, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to prolonged waiting times for psychological services, adversely affecting the timely support and wellbeing of individuals in need....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Irish Learning Technology Association
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning |
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| Online Access: | https://journal.ilta.ie/index.php/telji/article/view/162 |
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| author | Aleksandra Szproch Rebecca Kummer Ke Ren Eileen Winter Deirdre MacIntyre Moya O'Brien |
| author_facet | Aleksandra Szproch Rebecca Kummer Ke Ren Eileen Winter Deirdre MacIntyre Moya O'Brien |
| author_sort | Aleksandra Szproch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
In Ireland, a critical shortage of psychologists is impacting health, education, and social care services. This deficit, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to prolonged waiting times for psychological services, adversely affecting the timely support and wellbeing of individuals in need. Despite government initiatives to reduce waiting lists, such as the recent funding for additional private Assessments of Need (AON), long-term solutions, including increased investment in innovative training opportunities, remain undeveloped. This paper advocates for expanding access to psychology education and training through blended and online learning models. Such an approach would enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and flexibility in training, addressing both immediate and systemic challenges. By drawing on the UK's 'Psychological Professions Workforce Plan for England' (National Health Service, 2021) and integrating blended and online learning into psychology education, Ireland can build a sustainable and diverse psychological workforce.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6f13fe71d9dc44a5abcf01e8897c730f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2009-972X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Irish Learning Technology Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning |
| spelling | doaj-art-6f13fe71d9dc44a5abcf01e8897c730f2025-08-20T02:48:10ZengIrish Learning Technology AssociationIrish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning2009-972X2024-12-018110.22554/mgkx8n83Tackling Ireland’s Psychologist Shortage: The Need for Educational InnovationAleksandra Szproch0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6834-8175Rebecca Kummer1https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1185-1199Ke Ren2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3103-6551Eileen Winter3Deirdre MacIntyreMoya O'Brien4Institute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) EuropeInstitute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) EuropeInstitute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) EuropeInstitute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) EuropeInstitute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) Europe In Ireland, a critical shortage of psychologists is impacting health, education, and social care services. This deficit, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to prolonged waiting times for psychological services, adversely affecting the timely support and wellbeing of individuals in need. Despite government initiatives to reduce waiting lists, such as the recent funding for additional private Assessments of Need (AON), long-term solutions, including increased investment in innovative training opportunities, remain undeveloped. This paper advocates for expanding access to psychology education and training through blended and online learning models. Such an approach would enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and flexibility in training, addressing both immediate and systemic challenges. By drawing on the UK's 'Psychological Professions Workforce Plan for England' (National Health Service, 2021) and integrating blended and online learning into psychology education, Ireland can build a sustainable and diverse psychological workforce. https://journal.ilta.ie/index.php/telji/article/view/162Psychologist shortageOnline educationBlended educationEducational accessibilityWellbeingDiverse workforce |
| spellingShingle | Aleksandra Szproch Rebecca Kummer Ke Ren Eileen Winter Deirdre MacIntyre Moya O'Brien Tackling Ireland’s Psychologist Shortage: The Need for Educational Innovation Irish Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning Psychologist shortage Online education Blended education Educational accessibility Wellbeing Diverse workforce |
| title | Tackling Ireland’s Psychologist Shortage: The Need for Educational Innovation |
| title_full | Tackling Ireland’s Psychologist Shortage: The Need for Educational Innovation |
| title_fullStr | Tackling Ireland’s Psychologist Shortage: The Need for Educational Innovation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Tackling Ireland’s Psychologist Shortage: The Need for Educational Innovation |
| title_short | Tackling Ireland’s Psychologist Shortage: The Need for Educational Innovation |
| title_sort | tackling ireland s psychologist shortage the need for educational innovation |
| topic | Psychologist shortage Online education Blended education Educational accessibility Wellbeing Diverse workforce |
| url | https://journal.ilta.ie/index.php/telji/article/view/162 |
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