Research Working Group

The IDEA Research Development Working Group has been set up to advance and support the research dimension in the development education (DE) sector in Ireland.

It main purpose is to identify appropriate themes and topics for research and to liaise with bodies that commission and undertake research relevant to the DE sector. The members of the group also support the establishment of the IDEA research community.

Mark Tynan (convenor) (UCD)

Carlos Bruen (Ind.)

Stephen McCloskey (CGE)

Su-ming Khoo (Ind.)

Mags Liddy (Ind.)

Minorities Working Group

The IDEA minority working group has been set up to enhance and support multiple perspectives in development education. It seeks to address the need to have the voice and participation for input from development educators from multiple perspectives in order to close the gap that exists in the development education sector to engage with minority voice actors. The objectives of this group are

• to actively engage IDEA members in development education activities with minorities
• to form a platform for sharing good practice in development education
• to organize activities that will encourage the involvement of minorities in development education
• to build a community of minorities involved in development education to ensure they have a clear/strong voice

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Mbemba Jabbi (convenor) (AC)

Anne Garvey (BTAP)

Stephen McCloskey (CGE)

Denis Iliescu (CGE)

Marie Claire (NASC)

Adedotun Adekeye (GOW)

Ali Leahy (Comhlamh)

Charo Lanao (CGE)

Dorothy Maduewesi (WOWC)

Regional Working Group

The IDEA Regional Working Group was set up to strengthen the capacity of DE Centres and other regionally-focused development education organisations. The group works towards the achievement of IDEA’s Strategic Direction 2, ‘Building capacity within the sector’ In the last 2 years the RWG has become a very important part of IDEA’s work, ensuring it reaches all the regions of the island and that the needs of regional members are catered for. 

Responsibilities

• To consult with regionally-focused IDEA members to determine their capacity needs
• To plan regionally-focused seminars which address the identified capacity needs
• To disseminate information about IDEA and its members through regional structures
• To report to the National Council about the activities of the Working Group

Stephen McCloskey (CGE)

Lucy Whittle (WOWC)

Heike Vornhagen (GOWC)

Mary McGillicuddy (KADE)

Formal Education Working Group

This is a new IDEA working group set up to work on the many areas that IDEA is focusing on in this sector. As with all new working groups, the workplan of this group will be decided at the first meeting. Potential areas of engagement for this group are:

• To contribute to IDEA’s work around accreditation and development education
• to plan interventions on the many consultation processes that are going on/ will start in the near future (Review of teacher ed. by the teaching council, NCCA reviews of junior/senior cycle, FETAC review, etc.)
• To work with IDEA to make the case for development education within the formal education setting

Mella Cusack, (convenor) (CDVEC),

Rosalind Duke (CICE),

Darran Irvine (SAB)

Emma Murphy (Amawele)

Eva Creely (WorldWise)

Patsy Toland (SHA)

Maria Barry (Trocaire)

Communications Working Group

IDEA's Communications WG aims to support the implementation of IDEA's Communications Strategy. As such, it will focus on specific areas within communications - such as Social Media, Engaging with the mainstream Media, etc. - to ensure members and IDEA's capacity to effectively and creatively communicate development education issues. A workplan will be decided at the first meeting of this working group.

Carlos Bruen (Convenor)  (Ind.) Marguerite Gallagher (Plan Ire)

Caoimh Kerins (Banúlacht)

Heike Vornhagen (Galway OWC)

Community sector working group

An IDEA community sector working group was formed recently by IDEA members Helena Mc Neill (Lourdes Youth and Community Services), Anne Garvey (freelance development educator in adult community education) and Adrienne Boyle (Age Action Ireland).  We would really like to expand the group.  If you are a member of IDEA and working in community development/community education or are trying to target people in these sectors for your development education work, this could be the group for you!  Please see the attached word document. Contact the group convenor if you are interested: Helena at 01 8230860 or deved@lycs.ie

Helena Mc Neill (Lourdes Youth and Community Services

Anne Garvey (freelance development educator in adult community education)

Adrienne Boyle (Age Action Ireland)