Research & Interests

• Anita is a qualified nurse, midwife and tutor with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Anita completed her Doctorate in Midwifery through Queens University Belfast in 2016. Her research study focused on evaluating student engagement, enjoyment and learning through authentic enquiry based learning. Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) is an innovative and inclusive pedagogy that responds and adapts to individual learning preferences/styles and empowers students to develop knowledge and skills related to self-discovery, peer teaching, self and peer assessment, team work and ‘real-world’ application of learning.  Anita has presented her EBL research at several national and international conferences and continues to develop her EBL praxis through research, scholarship and curriculum development.
• Anita was a member of the multidisciplinary steering group that developed the Certificate in the Fundamentals of Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse delivered by DkIT. In addition, she teaches and assesses students on this programme. More recently, Anita was a member of the advisory panel for the Border Counties Sexual Violence Services Needs Analysis Project. She presented two research papers at the 3rd European Conference On Domestic Violence in Oslo and has had several conference abstracts accepted for this year in the area of Domestic Abuse education 
• Anita was a member of the multidisciplinary steering group that developed the Level 9 Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health delivered by DkIT. In addition, she is programme director and also teaches and assesses students on this programme. 
• Anita is on the steering group of Facilitate, The Irish Enquiry/ Problem Based Learning Network. She is currently part of a research team exploring EBL/PBL in digital spaces
• Anita is Lead Supervisor on a TUTF study exploring Trauma Informed Care in Perinatal Services
• Anita was a member of the multidisciplinary steering group that developed the Level 9 Certificate in Advanced Comprehensive Health Assessment for Midwives delivered by DkIT. In addition, she is programme director and also teaches and assesses students on this programme. 

• • Godage, P., Giggins, O.M., Doyle, J. and Byrne, A., (2025). The effectiveness of mHealth mindfulness interventions on perinatal psychological health: a systematic review. Oxford Open Digital Health, p.oqaf006.
  • Byrne, A.  (2024) RCSI Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery 43rd Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference  'Longitudinal impact of an interdisciplinary perinatal mental health programme',  Awarded Best Oral Presentation 2024
  • Byrne, A. (2024) Longitudinal impact of an online interdisciplinary perinatal mental health module on Healthcare Professionals’ knowledge, skills, attitudes and confidence: A qualitative evaluation'  Nurse Education in Practice, 75, p.103879, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1471595324000088
  • Byrne, A.  (2023) AHEAD Conference 2023 Unity: How Staff and Learner Communities Drive Inclusion in Tertiary Education, Croke Park Dublin   |  Mar 2023 |  UDL in Midwifery Education: Nurturing Students’ Sense of Coherence Towards Learning
  • Byrne, A.  (2023) 42nd Annual International Nursing & Midwifery Research and Education Conference 'Nursing and Midwifery – Leading the World to Better Health, RCSI, Dublin   |  Mar 2023 |  Nurturing Inclusion Through Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Within Midwifery Education 
  • Byrne, A.  (2022) John Kelly Award: Individual UDL Excellence   |  Oct 2022 |  Implementation and Evaluation of UDL in Midwifery – Award Winner
  • Byrne, A. et al  (2022) QQI 10th anniversary conference, Croke Park, Dublin |  Oct 2022 |  Poster Presentation: Making Cross-Sectoral Initiatives Work: Impact of a Cross-Sectoral Educational Initiative for Domestic Abuse 
  • Byrne, A. et al (2022) QQI 10th anniversary conference, Croke Park, Dublin   |  Oct 2022 |  Poster Presentation: Digital Transformations Impacting on Programme Delivery and Student Experience: Student & Staff Experiences of Enquiry/Problem Based Learning in Digital Spaces  
  • Byrne, A. (2021) Association for Higher Education Access and Disability’ ‘Universal Design For Learning National Conference – Climbing the Ladder: Building a Culture of Inclusion in Higher Education’   |  May 2021 |  Poster Presentation: Responding to and Accommodating  Students’ Learning Preferences through Enquiry Based Learning (EBL)
  • Byrne, A. ‘Benefits and challenges of peer and self-assessment’: FACILITATE Problem Based Learning Network: Winter Webinar Series December 2020   |  2020 |  Benefits and Challenges of Peer and Self- Assessment
  • Byrne, A, ‘Domestic violence in pregnancy – the midwife’s role’: Maternity and Midwifery Forum, May 16th 2020   |  2020 |  Domestic violence in pregnancy – the midwife’s role’
  • Byrne, A., McNeill, J and Porter, S. ‘6th European Midwives Association Education Conference: Midwifery education - fit for the 21st century’ Malmo, Sweden, November 29th -39th 2019   |  2019 |  Using Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) To Facilitate Student-centred Learning In Midwifery Education
  • Byrne, A., and O’Connor, G. ‘The Changing Landscape of Domestic Abuse – a Multiagency Perspective', Dundalk Institute of Technology, 29th October 2019   |  2019 |  Evaluation of the Fundamentals in Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse Programme (FURDA Study)  
  • Byrne, A., Nallen, K., O’ Connor, G., Hackett, M., Healy, E., Woods, T., Marmion, L., McDonald, M., and Rahill, P. (2019) ‘3rd European Conference on Domestic Violence’ Oslo, Norway 1st- 4th September 2019   |  2019 |  Evaluation of an Accredited Multidisciplinary Education Programme Related to Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse in Ireland
  • Byrne, A., Nallen, K., O’ Connor, G., Hackett, M., Healy, E., Woods, T., Marmion, L., McDonald, M., and Rahill, P. (2019) ‘3rd European Conference on Domestic Violence’ Oslo, Norway 1st- 4th September 2019   |  2019 |  Development of Accredited Multidisciplinary Education Programme Related to Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse in Ireland
  • Byrne, A. and McNeill, J. (2019) Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (AHEAD ‘Journey to Oz: Traveling Together towards Inclusive Education’ Croke Park, 20th and 21st March 2019.   |  2019 |  Accommodating Students’ Learning Preferences through Enquiry Based Learning (EBL)
  • Byrne, A. and McNeill, J. (2019) The 38th RCSI Annual International Nursing and Midwifery Research and Education Conference 2019   |  2019 |  Fostering Authentic Learning Through Enquiry Based Learning (EBL)  Awarded Best Oral Presentation 2019
  • Byrne, A. and McNeill, J. (2018) All Ireland Conference on Learning, Teaching and Assessment in Further and Higher Education   |  2018 |  Students as Partners in Assessment: Employing Self and Peer Assessment in Enquiry Based Learning with Student Midwives
  • Byrne, A. and McNeill, J. (2018) Poster Presentation:, Second International Midwifery Education Conference, Bournemouth University   |  2018 |  Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) in Midwifery: A Learning and Teaching Approach to Enhance Clinical CareByrne, A. and McNeill, J. (2018) Facilitate: Irish Network for Problem Based Learning: Symposium 2018   |  2018 |  Students as Partners in Assessment: Employing Peer and Self-Assessment in EBL with Student Midwives.   
  • Byrne, A., McNeill, J. and Porter, S. (2018) Midwifery (International Peer Reviewed Journal)   |  2018 |  Impact of Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) on Student Midwife Praxis
  • Byrne, A. and McNeill, J. (2018) The 37th RCSI Annual International Nursing & Midwifery Research and Education Conference 2018 |  2018 |  Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) in Midwifery: An Authentic Learning and Teaching Approach to Enhance Understanding of Clinical Care  
  • Byrne, A. and McNeill, J. (2017) The Irish Network of Medical Educators Conference 2017(INMED)   |  2017 |  Impact of Enquiry Based Learning in Preparing Student Midwives for Real World Practice. Dublin
  • Byrne, A. and  Nallen, K. (2014) National Seminar Series, National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education   |  2014 |  Enquiry Based Learning (EBL) for Health Sciences. Dundalk Institute of Technology
  • Byrne, A., Nallen, K., McNeill, J. and Spence, D. (2014) International Confederation of Midwives International Conference 2014 (Prague)   |  2014 |  Evaluation of Midwifery Student’s engagement, enjoyment  and learning through EBL
  • Byrne, A., Nallen, K., McNeill, J. and Spence, D. (2012) Nottingham International Conference for Education and Research in Midwifery (NICER)   |  2012 |  Evaluation of Midwifery Student’s engagement, enjoyment  and learning through EBL
  • Byrne, A. (2004)Interdisciplinary Research Conference, Trinity College Dublin 2004   |  2004 |  Knowledge of Preconception Healthcare among Female School-Leavers in County Louth 

• River Project DkIT |  2024 |  MSc. Principal Supervisor: Mixed Methods Evaluation of a Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) Education Programme.  
• Dundalk Institute of Technology |  Sep 23 (Ongoing) |  PhD Co-Supervisor: Evaluating the efficacy and impact of digital health-based mindfulness intervention on psychological Health and glycaemic control in women/people with gestational diabetes  
• Research Working Group: River Project DkIT   |  March 23 (Ongoing) |  Evaluation of Existing Educational Programme on Domestic Abuse, Implementation of New Programme, Evaluation of New Programme  
• Dundalk Institute of Technology   |  Oct 2022 - Sep 2023 |  Longitudinal Impact of an Interdisciplinary Perinatal Mental Health Programme on Participant Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Confidence: A Descriptive Qualitative Evaluation  
• Technological Universities Transformation Fund (DkIT) |  2022 |  Principal Supervisor: Mixed Methods Evaluation of Trauma-Informed Approach to Care (TIAC) Knowledge and Practices in Midwifery/Perinatal Settings in Ireland   
• Dundalk Institute of Technology, Maynooth University, University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Mary Immaculate College Limerick   |  2021 – to date |  Exploring Transitions to Digital Problem Based Learning / Enquiry Based Learning
• Dundalk Institute of Technology |  2017-2019 |  Impact of the ‘Certificate in Fundamentals of Understanding and Responding to Domestic Abuse’ on Students’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills  - The FURDA Study  
• Queens University Belfast |  2014-2016 |  Mixed Methods Evaluation of Enquiry Based Learning (EBL)within Undergraduate Midwifery Education in Ireland   
• Queens University Belfast |  2010 |  Pilot Survey of Midwifery student’s engagement, enjoyment  and learning through EBL  
• Trinity College Dublin |  2001-2003 |  Knowledge of Preconception Healthcare among Female School-Leavers in County Louth