Abstract:

As the demand for flexibility in education grows, psychology training in Ireland remains largely constrained to traditional campus-based formats. This structure presents significant barriers for professionals and contemporary learners. Currently, Ireland faces an acute shortage of psychologists, significantly affecting essential health, education and social care services. Exclusively relying on campus-based educational pathways into the field has the potential of further exacerbating the issue.

The Institute of Child Education and Psychology (ICEP) Europe is an online training and research institute established in 2001. As part of our commitment to expand the research into the qualifications and training of psychologists, this presentation will examine the current landscape and training around gaining an initial qualification in psychology within the Irish context.

Next, we will discuss the demand for flexible training as evidenced by a recent ICEP Europe alumni survey (N=102). This survey revealed critical insights into the need for accessible education, advocating for a transformation in the training landscape to better align with the needs of an underrepresented diverse demographic of learners interested in psychology.

Findings reveal that 68% of respondents express an interest in pursuing additional psychology courses, with over one-third interested in a psychology degree. A compelling 96% favour a part-time degree structure, while 67% prefer online delivery. Notably, a substantial portion of respondents represent mid-to-late career professionals seeking advancement or transition into psychology, of which a majority were female and/or professionals in special education. These groups often face unique challenges in accessing traditional full-time, campus-based education.

Our survey findings suggest that there is a growing demand for flexible online and part-time psychology training programmes in Ireland. Such programmes have the potential to better serve the diverse and evolving needs of contemporary learners. Recommendations include more flexible training models adopting a part-time, online approach to meet the demand for flexibility, supporting a broader demographic in pursuing psychology in higher education.

Keywords:

Higher education, Psychology training, Online leaning, Flexible learning, Accessible education, Professional development.