News

Development research forges ahead

DCU today hosted the third annual conference of the Development Studies Association Ireland (DSAI) which is dedicated to bridging the divide between academic research, government policy makers and practitioners in the very active NGO sector. The conference, attended by nearly 100 delegates from various sectors, was around the theme: Responding to the global crises: Linking research, policy and practice.

Speakers included: Ronan Murphy, Former Director General Irish Aid speaking on "Lessons from a history of Irish Aid", Dr. Duncan Green, Senior Strategic Adviser for Oxfam and Chris Pain, Head of Social and Economic Development Unit, Concern Worldwide as well as a wide range of academic researchers.

A highlight of the event was the presence of Minister of State for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD who was there to launch the book by DSAI member Dr. Rosarii Griffin on Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: Closer Perspectives (Published by Symposium Books, Oxford, 2012). Minister Costello used the occasion to announce the support by his department for the work of the Development Studies Association Ireland which he said had an important role to play.

The newly elected DSAI Chair, DCU academic Professor Ronnie Munck responded to this announcement by saying that 'This support from Irish Aid is extremely important not only in material terms but as a vote of confidence. We intend to develop a dynamic and engaging platform so that Irish development studies achieve the recognition it deserves and establishes a clear role for research in promoting evidence- based policy and practice'.

After the DSAI event, an inter-university consortium, the Irish African Partnership for Research Capacity Building (coordinated by DCU) launched its new mentoring scheme for young African researchers called Brain Retain. This brings together 3U development specialists at DCU, NUI Maynooth and RCSI in a pilot project run in association with the research and graduate studies offices at the University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Makerere University (Uganda) covering a wide range of disciplines but focused around health and education primarily.

For further details see www.irishafricanpartnership.ie.