The Ubuntu Network supports the integration of Development Education (DE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into post primary Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in Ireland. It is funded by Irish Aid which is located in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The Network is made up of teacher educators from Crawford College of Art and Design, Dublin City University, Mater Dei Institute, the National College of Art and Design, Limerick School of Art and Design, National University of Ireland Maynooth, National University of Ireland Galway, St. Angela’s College, Sligo, Tipperary Institute, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, and the University of Limerick. Representatives of development and environmental NGOs (Just Forests, Eco-UNESCO and Amnesty International) sit on the steering committee, as do representatives from Mary Immaculate College, the DICE Project (Development and Intercultural Education at Primary level) and IDEA (Irish Development Education Association). For further information on The Ubuntu Network project click here
Aim and Objectives
The Ubuntu Network seeks to enable and support post primary teacher educators to effectively integrate Development Education (DE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into their professional practice.
In doing this, the Ubuntu Network has three primary objectives:
- To generate interest and enthusiasm for DE and ESD among the post primary teacher education community and to create a spirit of engagement with the issues.
- To support teacher educators to design, deliver and evaluate DE/ESD based interventions within their teaching and professional practice, and to ensure that an action research element is included where possible.
- To establish and maintain a collaborative environment in which network members share and discuss knowledge and experience of DE/ESD issues and methodologies, and work together on collaborative DE/ESD based initiatives.
Network Structure
The Network staff is made up of a fulltime Network Coordinator – Deirdre Hogan and research support is provided by a dedicated Post Doctoral Researcher - Tamzin J. Batteson.
The Network office is located at the Department of Education and Professional Studies in University of Limerick (UL) Ireland.
The Ubuntu Network is made up of individuals with a particular interest in DE/ESD and its inclusion in initial teacher education. These include:
- Academic participants (teacher educators) – are involved in building their own personal understanding of DE/ESD issues and methogologies. This is achieved through participation in DE/ESD workshops and events, and by engaging in action research that explores ways of embedding DE/ESD into their professional practice. For more information, see the Projects Page.
- NGO participants – provide an insight into DE/ESD conducted in the non-formal education sector. They contribute to DE/ESD interventions within teacher education.
- Other DE/ESD practicioners- e.g. other networks, facilitates sharing of learning on DE/ESD practice, nationally and internationally.
