International team to review Development Education in Ireland

Peer Review team of the Global Education Network of Europe: Mr. Eddie O’ Loughlin, Ms. Alexandra Allen, Dr. Helmuth Hartmeyer, Ms. Liisa Jääskeläinen, and Mr. Dirk Bockens .

An international team from the Global Education Network of Europe (GENE) are in Dublin this week to conduct a Peer Review of Development Education in Ireland. The Review will inform the next Irish Aid Development Education Strategy.

The GENE Peer Review is taking place over four days from Monday 27th April to Thursday 30th April 2015.  The purpose of the Review is to assess the Development Education landscape in Ireland, and make recommendations for Irish Aid’s next Development Education Strategy.  It involves a series of bilateral meetings between the GENE Peer Review team and key stakeholders involved in Development Education in Ireland. As part of this, Irish Aid is hosting a large consultation event on Development Education on Wednesday 29th April in Farmleigh, which will include a wide range of development education actors.

The findings of the GENE Peer Review will be published in a ‘National Report on Global Education in Ireland’ towards the end of this year, with a new Irish Aid Development Education Strategy expected in 2016.

Development Education is an important part of Irish Aid’s efforts to tackle global poverty and injustice, to promote peace and democracy and safeguard human rights. It deepens the Irish public’s understanding of the underlying causes and consequence of global inequality; and encourages greater awareness of the links between individuals, their communities and the wider world. It also empowers people to take actions that have a positive impact both locally and globally.

Irish Aid’s current Development Education Strategy (2007-2015) supports this work and aims to reach a wide audience throughout Ireland. It includes strategies for development education across the formal education system and in non-formal settings such as the youth sector, and adult and community education. This work is carried out in partnership with a range of civil society organisations and education institutions.

As the current Strategy expires this year, Irish Aid invited GENE to conduct a European Peer Review of Development Education in Ireland. The findings of the GENE Peer Review will be published in a ‘National Report on Global Education in Ireland’ towards the end of this year, with a new Irish Aid Development Education Strategy expected in 2016.

Agenda for Irish Aid Development Education Consultation Day

Read more about Irish Aid’s support to Development Education

Read more about the Global Education Network of Europe