IDEA Network receives GENE Quality in Global Education Award
The IDEA network received a Global Education Network Europe (GENE) Quality in Global Education Award for the Code of Good Practice for Development Education at a ceremony on 19 May. This was hosted by Chair of GENE, Annette Scheunpflug, with 73 attendees including the Greek Minister for Education, Niki Kerameus, and Áine Doody, Head of Development Education /Global Citizenship, Irish Aid.
47 initiatives were nominated for the award, which was given to 7 Global Education initiatives across Europe. These programmes ranged from a Masters in Global Citizenship Education, to a 'study trip' approach to learn about campaigning on sexual and reproductive health in the Global South, to gathering diverse students and teachers, including Greek and Turkish Cypriots, in the buffer zone in Cyprus to bring about reconciliation.
The Code of Good Practice for Development Education is a trailblazer internationally, providing educators and organisations working in Development Education with a quality framework to strengthen good practice. Key to the award criteria was the active involvement of 'participants', collaboration, learning and networking, all elements that were core to the development and roll-out of the Code.
The IDEA membership began developing this Code 5 years ago, and this award is a wonderful acknowledgement and recognition of their work. The successful roll-out of the Code to date, which has not been disrupted by the challenges posed by Covid-19. highlights the strong commitment to and ownership of the Code by members.
IDEA would like to congratulate all our members whose input and commitment were crucial to the development process and who are now bringing the Code to life. We would particularly like to congratulate and thank Elaine Mahon and Morina O’Neill, for their work on the coordination and development of the Code.
We would like to thank our donors, Irish Aid, Trócaire and Concern, who have supported this initiative. Our strategic partnership with Irish Aid provided us with the time and space to develop the Code. We are grateful to Irish Aid for nominating us for this award.
This is the second Irish initiative to win a GENE Quality in Global Education Award, following WorldWise Global Schools’ win for its Global Passports Award in 2018. WorldWise Global Schools is a member of IDEA.
You can find out more about the Code of Good Practice for Development Education here

Dates: Thursday 10 July,10.00am-6.00pm and Friday 11 July, 10.00am-3.00pm Location: An Tairseach, Wicklow IDEA is thrilled to open applications for our second iteration of the IDEA's Lab. In this first of its kind residential Lab, we will create space where members can bring their ideas for projects and try out new planning and design methods. Participants will have the opportunity to work on an idea from scratch to (almost) finish with the support of expert trainers and learn through group exchange in a welcoming and inspiring setting. Participants will come out of the training with: An early project design proofed, tested and built through group feedback, iteration, trialling and support. New approaches in designing innovative projects they can apply to their workplace Headspace and time to work on the design of an innovative project A chance to actively learn through group exchange and strengthen the sense of an innovative community of practice in Ireland How? Please email anya@ideaonline.ie to request an application form. Requesting an application form does not commit you to applying. The deadline for returning application form (including organisational sign off letter) is Friday 23 May, midnight . You will find further details in the application form. Participants must register as a team of 2min.- 4 max. Participants without a team member will be asked to pair up with other individual participants or find a partner outside their organisation. Cost : This training is funded by Irish Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs and offered at a reduced rate. This training is only available to IDEA members. Non-IDEA members can participant as part of an IDEA member team. Fees for members of IDEA is €50 Irish Aid is the Government’s overseas development programme which supports partners working in some of the world’s poorest countries. Irish Aid also supports global citizenship education in Ireland to encourage learning and public engagement with global issues the ideas, opinions and comments expressed in this training are entirely the responsibility of its author(s) and do not necessarily represent or reflect DFA policy. Timeline: Applications open: 07 May Applications close: 23 May, midnight Preparatory session with trainer (30min, online): Mid June Lab arrival: Where possible we advise arrival on Wednesday 09 July in the evening. Accommodation and food will be provided from 09 July, 5.00pm - 11 July, 3.00pm Lab: 10 July,10.00am-6.00pm. 11 July, 10.00am-3.00pm Please don’t hesitate to get in touch at anya@ideaonline.ie if any of the above pose a barrier to your participation, or if you have any other questions.