Global Citizenship Education Research Showcase 2024

Date: Monday 25 November, 10.00am -12.30pm

Location: Online via Zoom 

IDEA and Ubuntu are thrilled to invite you to the second edition of our Global Citizenship Education (GCE) Research Showcase on Monday 25 November, online, 10.00am -12.30pm. This event is free of charge.

The aim of this event is to showcase contemporary GCE research. You will be introduced to thought-provoking and engaging inputs and have an opportunity to reflect with fellow participants on the applicability of the concepts discussed to your GCE practice.

For the purpose of this event, the term research will be taken in its broadest sense, encompassing academic research; action research; documented practice; documented learning; conceptual research articles; case studies etc.

Click here to see the Agenda

Registrations have now closed.

Please email Anya Sparynska at anya@ideaonline.ie if you would like to attend.

Biographies

Prof. Karen Pashby is Professor of Global Citizenship Education, Lead for Research in the School of Education at Manchester Metropolitan University and President of the Comparative International Education Society of Canada (2023-2025). She is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Educational Policy Studies at University of Alberta and Docent in the Faculty of Educational Sciences at University of Helsinki. Her research, funded by the Academy of Finland, British Academy, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and Swedish Research Council draws on decolonial theoretical resources to examine how to engage productive pedagogical tensions in reflexive approaches to ethical global issues in 'global North' contexts. Projects have involved theoretical and policy-based research as well as participatory research with teachers in Canada, England, Finland, and Sweden. A resource for educators co-created with secondary school teachers and used in both formal and non-formal settings has been translated into 9 languages.

Dr. Gertrude Cotter, is a Lecturer in Global Citizenship and Development Education (GCDE) at the School of Education, University College Cork (UCC). With a deep commitment to transformative education, social justice, and interdisciplinary learning, she serves as the Academic Coordinator of the Praxis Project, which promotes GCDE integration across campus through research, pedagogy, and policy initiatives. Gertrude has a distinguished record in development education, advocacy, and community-linked learning, with particular expertise in creative arts, multimedia, and critical pedagogy as tools for social change.

Gertrude's work includes leading research on anti-racism in GCDE and forging equitable North-South partnerships, drawing on her experiences as CEO of the Irish Immigrant Support Centre and involvement in intercultural and development initiatives. Her academic contributions include peer-reviewed articles, educational resources, and community-engaged projects, highlighting her dedication to innovative, inclusive approaches to higher education.

Dr. Maria Barry, is Assistant Professor in the School of STEM Education, Innovation and Global Studies in Dublin City University's IoE. She is a teacher educator and researcher in the fields of history education and global citizenship education. Prior to joining DCU, Maria worked in Trócaire's (NGDO) development education team from 2002-2014 and managed the organisation's team, strategy, funding, programmes and research development for seven years. Maria is a co-Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education in DCU's IoE

Maximiliana Mtenga is a Public Relations Officer at the Irish Development Education Association (IDEA), where she supports capacity development events and communications programs. She also promotes and showcases the work of IDEA members and serves as the staff contact for the IDEA Adult & Community Education Working Group. Maximiliana holds a Master of Arts in Public Advocacy and Activism from the University of Galway and is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Limerick, and a team member of the University of Limerick Ubuntu Network Partnership. Her research focuses on 'Global Citizenship Education in Initial Teacher Education.' Passionate about global citizenship education, Maximiliana is actively involved in the practical implementation of capacity-building programs both in Ireland and internationally. She contributes to STAND News, writing articles that highlight the interconnectedness of global issues. Previously, Maximiliana worked at the Legal and Human Rights Center (LHRC) in Tanzania, supporting the advancement of human rights. Her background in journalism includes working with BBC Swahili in Tanzania reporting on women's issues and other human interest stories, driven by her commitment to being a voice for others.

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Call for Tender: Design of an Interactive Data Visualisation Tool, Theory of Impact for Global Citizenship Education in Ireland

October 8, 2025

We are looking for a consultant to design an interactive data visualisation tool for our Theory of Impact for Global Citizenship Education in Ireland. The consultant will lead the design or tailoring of off-the-shelf survey software and analytics software to our needs, in collaboration with IDEA staff. Please submit a tender including a description of stages in the development process, number of days, expected fee, and experience of relevant personnel for the work to be carried out to anya@ideaonline.ie . The deadline for application is Wednesday, 29 October, 5.00pm. Read the full terms of reference here.

Anya’s Next Chapter: Farewell, Legacy, and Our New Recruitment

October 6, 2025

After three remarkable years with IDEA, we are sad to share that Anya Sparynska is moving abroad to begin a new adventure. During her time with us, Anya made an indelible mark - first by shaping a pioneering programme role, and later by guiding us in a capacity development role that strengthened our impact across Ireland’s development education sector. From designing and implementing innovative initiatives to building partnerships and capacity across our member organisations, Anya has left IDEA stronger, more connected, and more ambitious for the future. “I am sad to leave at such a pivotal time in IDEA: we are faced with unspeakable horror, as the need for justice and accountability grows ever more urgent. I have seen, however, our members and staff respond with creativity, humanity and dedication to these challenging times and find inspiration in it, even at this darkest hour. A desire to be close to my family and the pressure of the housing crisis have driven me to Brussels, but I know I will be back as Ireland - it’s passionate, brave and kind people - now feels like home. I will be sure to follow IDEA and our members’ work closely in the coming year and hope to stay in touch! “Working at IDEA has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Seeing ideas and passion turn into real impact and change has been incredibly fulfilling - I’ll carry those lessons, and the very special friendships made along the way with me always.”

Launch of IDEA's Theory of Impact for GCE

September 26, 2025

Date: Tuesday, 04 November, from 3.30–4.30pm Location: Online via Zoom IDEA is thrilled to invite members to the online launch of our new “Theory of Impact for Global Citizenship Education” on Tuesday, 04 November, from 3.30–4.30pm, Online via Zoom. During this session, we will present the model, share insights into the process behind its development, and explore how it will be used to strengthen impact across the sector. We will also introduce a new tool in progress, an interactive data visualisation map designed to showcase our collective impact as a network. For many years, IDEA and its members have been grappling with the concept of impact in Development Education/Global Citizenship Education (GCE). As GCE practitioners, tracking impact helps us to identify how, where and with whom our work is creating positive change, as well as investigating areas in which our impact could be stronger. Furthermore, we can also benefit from examining the collective impact of GCE carried out by the wide-ranging work of IDEA members, and from exploring how these impacts contribute to the major social changes to which the GCE community aspires. Driven therefore by the need to understand how projects and programmes are collectively “making a difference” in IDEA we looked at models that could help us visualise and capture GCE “impact networks”. We formulated our vision of impact and then a theory of how we expect this desired impact to be achieved to allow us to map our activities and collect data to corroborate that theory. This Theory of Impact model is how we hope to illustrate this complex GCE impact network. Building on work done by IDEA over many years including building sectoral capacity in using Results Frameworks for GCE, our Quality & Impact working group, engagement with Irish Aid on their Performance Measurement Framework (PMF), and the successful roll-out of a Code of Good Practice for DE/GCE, this Theory of Impact represent the next stage of our effort to ‘develop a consistent approach to measuring impact among the sector’. We are therefore thrilled to invite you to the presentation of our ‘Theory of Impact for GCE’. At this online presentation, we will tell you about the process that led to the creation of this model, how it will be used and what we hope it could bring to the sector. We will also touch on a new tool being developed based on the model, which should allow the creation of an interactive data visualisation map of our collective impact as a network. Join us as we launch into this exciting new phase of our Impact Measurement work. Join us as we begin this exciting new phase of our Impact Measurement work. Register below!