Dr. Paul Conway:

An important part of the work of the Centre for Global Development in supporting students in understanding global development and developing an ethical framework, as Senator Norris mentioned, is the creation of contexts, such as seminars and public lectures that involve and are done in partnership with NGOs. For example, we have a lecture series in partnership with Front Line Defenders. James Kofi Annan came and spoke to a packed house in UCC. He was one of the speakers we had last year, and we have planned others. We work closely with Dóchas, the umbrella body for NGOs in the development area. We have also worked closely in the last year with Suas, whose agenda is to promote development education in the third level sector. It has recently undertaken a national survey, which has been very informative. One of the key findings from that survey - this would probably resonate with people - was that third level students have a great openness and willingness to engage with global development. That is across the third level sector, but what they often struggle with is seeing how their personal actions will make a positive impact on global development. There is an opportunity there with regard to their openness and willingness to engage, on the one hand, and on the other, their sense that it is not clear to them exactly how they can make an impact. This represents an opportunity within the third level sector. Part of our work in the Centre for Global Development, in collaboration with the four colleges and the various departments across them, is to support staff in working to foster that kind of global ethic in terms of what students get from a university education.