IDEA to Honour President Higgins at Annual Conference

IDEA to Honour President Higgins with Inaugural Global Voice for Humanity Award at Annual Conference

Man speaking at a podium indoors, with a blurred flag and greenery in the background.

IDEA is deeply honoured to announce that we will be presenting President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins with our inaugural Global Voice for Humanity Award at the IDEA annual conference on Wednesday, 28 May at the Grand Hotel, Malahide, Dublin. 
The Global Voice for Humanity Award has been created by IDEA to honour individuals whose life and work exemplify the values at the heart of Global Citizenship Education and Development Education - values such as justice, human dignity, solidarity, critical thinking, and the power of education to transform lives and societies. 
As Ireland’s national network for Development Education and Global Citizenship Education, IDEA represents over 100 organisations and educators working to foster global justice through learning. The award seeks to celebrate those who have used their voice, leadership, and vision to inspire positive change - both within Ireland and globally. 
It is difficult to imagine a more fitting first recipient than President Higgins . A former academic and lecturer, poet, parliamentarian, Minister for the Arts, and now President of Ireland, he has spent his life standing up for the marginalised, promoting peace and equality, and advocating for a fairer world. Through his words and his actions, he has consistently reflected the values that guide the Global Citizenship Education community. 
“President Higgins has long been a rare kind of leader - someone who combines intellectual courage with deep humanity. He has spent a lifetime speaking out against injustice, standing with the marginalised, and challenging us to think critically and act with compassion. Through his words, his leadership, and his example, he has inspired generations across Ireland and beyond to believe in the power of education and the responsibility of citizenship. In honouring him with the Global Voice for Humanity Award, we’re not only recognising his legacy - we’re celebrating the values that drive our work every day: justice, dignity, solidarity, and hope. It’s a privilege to honour him in the company of our members and the wider community at a time when those values are needed more than ever.”   Ruairí McKiernan, CEO of IDEA 
The award will be presented during a special ceremony from 12-1pm , as part of IDEA’s all-day Annual Conference 2025 .
Neale Richmond, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora will address the conference, which will be attended by organisations and educators across the Global Citizenship Education and Development Education sector. 

IDEA Conference 2025  
The theme of this year’s conference, “Reclaiming Ground for Hope, Alternatives, and Action” invites us to come together to reflect, reconnect, and reimagine the role of transformative education in building a better future. 
The IDEA Annual Conference 2025 brings together educators, community leaders, artists, activists, and change-makers for a day of music, workshops, fireside chats, panel discussions , and shared learning. 
This year’s powerful line-up of speakers includes : 
Grace Dyas - award-winning artist, activist, and director  Joe Caslin - street artist and educator whose public work has inspired national conversations  Dean Oke - youth worker and spoken word artist using creativity for social impact  Neale Richmond - Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora  Senator Lynn Ruane - Senator and lifelong campaigner for equality and community justice  Seán McCabe - Head of Climate Justice at Bohemian FC, bridging sport and social change  Donnah Vuma - human rights advocate and migrant justice leader  And many more contributors across education, activism, and creative practice. 
This will be a landmark moment for the IDEA community - a day to pause, honour, connect, and gather strength for the work ahead. It will also be an opportunity to come together in deep appreciation of a President whose life’s work reflects the very spirit of global solidarity and justice we strive to nurture every day - through education, community, and courageous action. We hope you’ll join us. 
Please note: Attendance is by registration only and spaces are almost fully booked. A few final places remain - once full, a waiting list will be established. 
Conference details ®gistration  
For any questions relating specifically to the awards ceremony , please contact: ruairi@ideaonline.ie  

Related Articles

Related Articles

October 27, 2026
The 2027 Irish Aid GCE Grants Call for Proposals is now open
October 20, 2026
Date: 25 November, 10.00am - 4.00pm Location: Brandsma Room, Carmelite Centre, Aungier St, Dublin 2 This workshop will provide an opportunity to explore the findings and recommendations of the Global North-Global South Partnerships in GCE Research , commissioned by Concern Worldwide . The event will bring together organisations working in Global Citizenship Education (GCE) to discuss the research findings, share experiences of partnership-building, and reflect on good practices for equitable and meaningful collaboration. Participants will also have the opportunity to consider how partnerships can be developed and strengthened to support GCE work and contribute to mutual learning across different contexts. The workshop is open to organisations and practitioners with an interest in Global Citizenship Education, research, and international partnership development.
October 20, 2026
18 November, 11.00am -1.00pm Hybrid - IDEA Office, 6 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1
By Maximiliana Eligi Mtenga • October 15, 2026
Friday, 06 November, 12.30pm–2.30pm IDEA Offices, 6 Gardiner Row, Dublin 1
October 7, 2026
Thursday 12 November, 11.00am – 1.00pm Online
October 7, 2026
Tuesday 03 November, 2.00 - 4.00pm Online
October 6, 2026
The statement calls on the Minister to focus instead on building a cohesive society that recognises the people who live, work and build Ireland together.
October 6, 2026
IDEA calls for GCE to be included in Northern Ireland’s new curriculum framework IDEA recently shared its views on the new draft Northern Ireland Curriculum Framework as part of the public consultation, which closed on 30 September. Our submission welcomed the framework’s aim to give learners “access to powerful knowledge and develop the skills needed to participate fully in society, the economy and civic life.” However, we also highlighted a key gap: “global” has been dropped from the scope of citizenship education within the curriculum. Global Citizenship Education (GCE) is not mentioned at all. Alongside an important focus on the local reality in the North, we consider it vital that the curriculum also addresses the global reality. As UNESCO puts it, “economically, environmentally, socially and politically, we are linked to other people on the planet as never before” (UNESCO, 2026). We recommended integrating key dimensions of GCE and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into the framework without creating a new strand or making widespread amendments. Changes to the language and framing could embed GCE and ESD principles in the core capabilities and in subjects such as Geography, History, English and Drama, and Personal, Social, Civic and Careers (PSCC). Our recommendations echoed the key asks of the CADA submission . IDEA also contributed to that submission through a focus group discussion and by reviewing and providing feedback on the draft. Our recommendations were to: Include GCE and ESD as concepts in the capabilities document and cross-reference them in the subjects for Geography, History, English and Drama and PSCC. Include the concept of global citizenship in the capabilities document and in PSCC, as a distinct but complementary concept to citizenship and civic understanding. Include the concepts of solidarity, justice and local-global interconnection and interdependence (and thus shared responsibility) in the subjects English and Drama and PSCC. Increase the progression of human rights knowledge in PSCC across Stages towards its global application by Key Stage 3. Add shared responsibility and justice as key dimensions of sustainable development and global inequality to the environmental and ecological responsibility capability, as well as to Geography. Include addressing misinformation, disinformation and factchecking under the language and communication capability and in English and PSCC. Build on Northern Ireland’s experience of peace education by including opportunities, particularly in History and PSCC, for pupils to explore connections between peace and reconciliation locally and globally as part of GCE and ESD.  Thank you to IDEA members who reviewed our submission and provided feedback. You can read our full submission here .
September 26, 2026
Date: Tuesday 01 December, 10.00am – 4.00pm Location: Richmond Barracks, Inchicore, Dublin 8, D08 YY05 IDEA is looking forward to welcoming all members of the Code of Good Practice for Development Education to our next Code network meeting on Tuesday 1 December, in Richmond Barracks in Inchicore, Dublin. There are places for two representatives, staff, volunteers, etc., from each Code member. One of the commitments in joining the Code is to contribute to the Community of Practice for this Code, including sharing successes and learning with other Code members and attending at least one of two Code network meetings annually. If you have questions, please contact code@ideaonline.ie.