Maria R. Da Costa
PhD (1998) Brunel University, London, M Ed (1993) University of Newcastle, PGCE (1989), B.Ed (1978) Univeridad de Chile
Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies
Location:
Priestman Building, City Campus
Phone: 0191 5153628 / 3192 / 2395 / 2201
Email:
maria.dacosta@sunderland.ac.uk
Biography
I joined the Faculty of Education and Society at the University of Sunderland in October 2010. I taught in pre-primary schools in Chile for over 15 years and in Higher Education in the UK and overseas (Chile and South Africa). In 1993 I completed my M.Ed at the University of Newcastle and in 1998 my PhD at Brunel University, London. Since then, I have held academic jobs at LMU, University of Natal, The University of Warwick and the Institute of Education.
Teaching Areas
I currently teach in the Childhood Studies programme.
Previously, I taught at Masters level and supervised Masters and PhD students until completion. My areas of expertise for research supervision are national policy development for children and families; education policy and practice in childhood with reference to developing contexts. I have extensive country knowledge of Chile, South Africa and South Korea and most recent research work on Chinese childhoods.
Research Interests
My research interests are concerned with contemporary constructions of childhood and children in relation to discourses of voices, and participation in society. I am particularly interested in the qualities of private/public spaces in which children live and their types of lives' experiences; post structural analysis of childhood issues with special reference to notions of gender and identities. The significance of globalization and economic transformation for children and childhood in emergent economies.
Selected Publications
Da Costa, M. (2009) 'cause boys like cars and girls like dolls in Soonchunhyang Journal of Humanities Vol.23 pp.279-306.
Da Costa, M (2008) Guest Editor Latin American Perspectives in Education (LAPE) Enfoques Educationales Vol 10 no.1
Da Costa, M (2007) Early childhood from a post-modern perspective: (re) conceptualising early childhood education in Enfoques Educationales Vol 9 no.1 pp.11-32.
Da Costa, M (2005) The Challenges for Teacher training programmes in the XXI century: Post-structuralism, Globalization and its implication for childhood education, in Building the future of Children, MINEDUC, Santiago Chile.
Muthukrishna, N. & Da Costa, M (2002) Implementing the White Paper 6 - Towards Building an Inclusive Education and Training System. What is next for Educational Psychologists in South Africa? In Education and Child Psychology Vol.19 (2).
Da Costa, M (2000) Inter(national) perspectives in Special Needs Education: The cases of two countries in Latin America, in Brock, C. International Perspectives on Special Needs, John Catt Education, Suffolk.
Da Costa, M. (1999) Chile: private versus public system of Education, in Daniels, H, and Garner, P. The World Yearbook of Inclusive Education, Kogan Page London.
I am an editorial Board member of the following international journals:
Perspectivas Educacionales, Journal of the University of Chile ISSN 0717-322
International Journal of Korean Society of Childhood Education ISSN 1226-9557
External Engagement
I am currently an active member of the following professional bodies and organisations:The British Association of International Comparative Education (BAICES), The British Educational Research Association (BERA), OMEP (World Organisation for Pre-school Education).
Guest Speaker and Key notes address
In October 2008, I was invited by Soonchunhyang University, Seoul to give the 9th Lecture on International Education.
In November 2005, I was invited by the Chilean Government to address the International Seminar: Construyendo el futuro de los ni ñas and to join the team of experts to support the new government policy formulation for education.
In february 2004, I was invited by the Post-Graduate office the University of Chile to evaluate the Master Programme: Education and Community Development.
In August 2003, I was invited by the South Africa National Education Department and SCOPE to run a national workshop and to compile pilot experiences on the implementation of white Paper 6 (2002).
In October 2003, I was invited by UNICEF to facilitate an international workshop of 4 countries developing Integrated Early Childhood projects in Africa funded by the Van Leer Foundation.
In November 2003, I was invited by the Botswana UNICEF country office to co-facilitate the Consensus Building Workshop for Early Childhood. This was preparatory work to develop the national Early Childhood Policy Paper in Botswana.
Consultancy work:
I conducted consultancy work on Policy planning for Early Years Education the Ministry of Education in Mozambique in 2009.
I have conducted consultancy work for UNICEF/ESARO on Intergrated Early Childhood Development and Parental Education Programmes and for UNESCO on Inclusive Education in Southern Africa.
