Centre for Human Rights & Citizenship Education header
Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education

About

Overview

 

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The Centre for Human Rights and Citizenship Education (CHRCE) champions educational policy and practice which promotes human rights, children’s rights, global justice and environmental sustainability. Founded in 2004 as a collaboration between St Patrick’s College DCU and Amnesty Ireland, and led by Fionnuala Waldron as Chair and Brian Ruane as Programme Leader, the CHRCE quickly established itself as a leader in the related fields of human rights education and global citizenship education. Brian Ruane joined the staff of St Patrick’s College in 2007 and continued to lead developments in the CHRCE until his untimely death in January 2018. Now in its second decade, the  CHRCE specialises in research, resource creation and professional development which furthers good practice in relation to global and local citizenship and human rights education. The Centre’s expertise extends across early childhood, primary, post-primary and third level education including teacher education.

Committed to creative, cutting-edge and collaborative approaches, both in terms of pedagogy and research methodology, the Centre draws on the varied expertise of its members, steering committee, university context and national and international partnerships. Working with governmental and non-governmental organisations, teachers and schools, the Centre is at the forefront of developments in human rights and global citizenship education both in Ireland and internationally.

 

Research Areas

Human Rights Education: Drawing on expertise in education, law, sociology and psychology the Centre holds a track record in human rights and children’s rights education including having worked in partnership with Amnesty International (Irish division), Pavee Point, Trocaire, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and UNESCO and having published research, resources and edited collections in this area.

Climate Change Education: Recognising climate change as the key issue of this generation, the Centre has been at the forefront of the development of research-based educational responses to the climate change challenge. This includes the recently launched Creating Futures resource.

Global Citizenship Education: The Centre has specialisms in a number of educational approaches developed as a means of tackling social issues at local, national and  global level including those tackling violent conflict, addressing sustainable development and promoting global justice.