UNESCO News & Notices

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  2009

Event - "UNCRC 20th Anniversary"
20 November 2009

As part of the 20th Anniversary celebrations of the signing of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), NICCY will have a co-ordinating and awareness raising role which will involve the following:
  • developing a calendar of events here on the web site which will feature the various activities and projects that groups and organisations are doing as part of the celebrations. There will be some informtion on each event along with contact details so that you can find out more from the organisers.
  • undertaking awareness raising activities to promote the anniversary and to tell people what it is about and why it is important
If you would like any more information on this please contact the NICCY Communications Team on:

Email - communications@niccy.org or Telephone - 028 9031 1616

Report Launch - "Education and Reconciliation: The Perspectives of Children and Young People in Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina"
14 May 2009

Does education have a role in the reconciliation process in Northern Ireland? How can educators work together to help successive generations of children and young people understand the nature and causes of the conflict here? Are children and young people actually interested in learning about the past or in shaping a shared future? And what lessons can be learned from the experiences of children and young people in other post-conflict contexts, for example post-war Bosnia and Herzegovina?

These are some of the questions addressed in the final research report of an EU PEACE II-funded project, “Education and Reconciliation: The Perspectives of Children and Young People in Northern Ireland and Bosnia & Herzegovina”. The overall purpose of this project was to consult with children, young people and educators in three European regions that have experienced conflict (namely Northern Ireland and Bosnia and Herzegovina) to gain deeper insight into their experience and understanding of conflict, its legacies in their region and the implications for the role of education in promoting the concept of reconciliation with different age groups.

News - HECUA Students Arrive
5 February 2009

At the beginning of February the UNESCO Centre welcomed its NINTH cohort of American students participating in the HECUA programme. The programme is a partnership project between the UNESCO Centre and the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA) an organization of 20 liberal arts colleges, universities and associations dedicated to education for social justice.

The course: ‘Northern Ireland Democracy and Social Change’ is an intensive 15-week course with a focus on experiential and learner centred learning. 14 students enrolled in the 2009 programme. In addition to study at coleraine the students participate in extensive field experiences and community-based internships.

News - "Launch of the Report Evaluating the Introduction of Local and Global Citizenship into the NI Curriculum"

2 February 2009, Long Gallery, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast

The results of a four year evaluation of the introduction of Education for Local and Global Citizenship into the Northern Ireland Curriculum, conducted by the UNESCO Centre were launched at The Long Gallery in Stormont Castle on 2 February 2009. The longitudinal study, which was conducted between 2003 and 2007, investigated the impact of the local and global citizenship programme on Key Stage 3 pupils’ attitudes, values and behaviour ; teacher confidence and pedagogy; school ethos, management and curriculum provision; and the perceptions of participants about the in-service and pre-service citizenship support programmes delivered by the Education and Library Boards’ Curriculum Advisory Support Service (CASS), and by Initial Teacher Educators both at UU and St.Mary’s.

Speakers at the launch included Professor Alan Smith, Dr. Una O Connor who was responsible for the completion of the final report, Anna Lowe MLA who welcomed attendees on behalf of the sponsors of the event and Wendy Austin who compared the event. Wendy Austin also took the opportunity to seek the views of many of the school and University of Ulster PGCE students who attended the event.

The study found that there was a significant increase over time in student knowledge and understanding of citizenship issues. There was also a significant increase in associated confidence, attitudes and behaviours, interest in local and international politics, expectations of democracy in schools and positive perceptions of current and future community relations in Northern Ireland. The study also found that teachers were very positive about the quality of the professional development programme they experienced, which in turn had a positive impact on approaches to curriculum planning, classroom practice and the use of active teaching and learning methodologies. A series of recommendations to the Department of Education, to Teacher Training and Support Agencies and to Schools were shared at the event. In relation to the latter group, the recommendations highlighted the need for a common approach to be adopted across agencies, while allowing for institutional specialisms, and the need for trained personnel to provide such support.

Speaking at the launch Dr.Una O Connor, said that ‘It is heartening to see how much young people’s awareness of citizenship issues increased over the time of the study, how well many of them understood important concepts such as equality and social justice and how much they wanted to be involved in democratic action to improve the world around them’.

Also speaking at the launch, Professor Alan Smith, UNESCO Chair at the University of Ulster indicated how ‘'the inclusion of citizenship education in the curriculum for all schools was an excellent example of curriculum change that has been managed through sustained investment in teacher professional development and w now have in place a sound framework for teaching and learning based on the concept of rights that apply equally to all citizens. However, there is an educational challenge that has also been identified in the Eames-Bradley report which will not happen spontaneously and the education authorities must provide leadership in helping schools and teachers find ways to engage with this debate. This means more emphasis on the development of ‘political literacy’ and why it is important for them to make democracy work as an alternative to the use of violence.”

  2008

News - Human Rights Day
10 December 2008

 "The 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)"

Please find attached this year’s information kit for 2008 Human Rights Day to be observed on 10 December. Feel free to use its contents as you wish for your events and activities to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) You can adapt them to your audiences and translate them into your local language. The kit includes five information notes:

- A summary of events that took place around the world throughout 2008 to mark the 60th anniversary;
- Information on the “Stories on Human Rights” films;
- Background information on the Human Rights Prize;
- Useful tools and contacts;
- Human Rights Education and the UDHR, in the context of the International Year of Human Rights Learning.

The English version of the Information Kit is already posted on the UDHR 60 section of the OHCHR website:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/UDHR/Pages/60UDHRIntroduction.aspx
Other languages versions (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) will be posted soon.

A number of public information documents, including the special logo, more than 360 translations of the UDHR, photographs and background information as well as a list of ideas for activities, are at your disposal on our webpage to help you commemorate this anniversary. All documents are downloadable and printable for your convenience. They may be helpful in any event you may be preparing. Visit this page frequently for updates

Information Kit PDF (293 KB)
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News - Visiting Academics

3-12 December 2008

Dr Celeste Yuen and Alex Tsang, Institute of Education, Hong Kong and Dr Alan Cheung, John Hopkins University, Baltimore

Dr Yuen, Dr. Cheung and Alex Tsang were based at the UNESCO Centre for a study visit to Northern Ireland from 3rd-12th December 2008. Dr. Yuen is undertaking comparative research examining school experiences of immigrant and ethnic minority children in Hong Kong and Northern Ireland. The qualitative study aims to understand and compare the school experiences of immigrant and minority students in Hong Kong and Northern Ireland from a pupil perspective; to gain insight into these pupils' sense of national identity and sense of 'belonging' within HK/NI society; and to explore issues related to education policy for immigrant and ethnic minority students.

During their visit, the three academics met with staff and pupils from schools in Londonderry, officials from the Department of Education and representatives from the Equality Commission, Chinese Welfare Association, Lurgan and the Early Years Organisation.
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  2007

  2006

Press Release “UU Expert Helps Push for Peace”
2 October 2006

 UU Expert Helps Push for Peace in Basque Region Professor Alan Smith, UNESCO Chair in Education for Pluralism, Human Rights and Democracy was among a group of international experts invited by the Basque Regional President, Juan José Ibarretxe, to analyse and contribute to a peace plan for the region.

The Peace and Coexistence Plan was approved in April and sent to the Basque Parliament for consultation with interest groups. It has five key points – promotion of human rights; solidarity with victims of terrorism; reparation for the victims of Franco’s regime; defence of civil and political rights; and, prevention of torture and defence of prisoners’ rights.

Each of the group has a particular field of expertise and Professor Smith along with Pamela Aall, vice president of the US Institute of Peace and Ann Hope, a member of the NI Human Rights Commission, studied the part of the plan dealing with the defence of human rights and the role of education in reconciliation. Brandon Hamber, a clinical psychologist amd honary INCORE Fellow, who helped in the work of transition and reconciliation in South Africa and Northern Ireland, examined the section dealing with terrorism victims. Pierre Hazan, former correspondent with French daily newspaper, Liberation, and a researcher with the Swiss National Foundation on Human Rights in Geneva, made recommendations on recovering historic memory and reparation for Franco’s regime victims.

Andrea Bartoli, director of the International Conflict Resolution Programme at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and advisor to the UN Secretary General on the prevention of genocide and conflict, analysed the section of the plan dealing with defence of liberties and civil and political rights. Ciaran O’Maolain, of the NI Human Rights Commission, contributed to the section on torture and respect of prisoners’ rights.

During their visit to the region the group met with the Political Council of the Basque Government to analyse and make recommendations on the plan.
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News - Research Fellowship
14 August 2006

 Research Fellow Dr Lesley Abbott, Research Fellow at the UNESCO Centre, School of Education, Coleraine campus, has been awarded the prestigious Brian Simon Educational Research Fellowship to carry out research into inclusive practices in integrated schools in Northern Ireland.

The Brian Simon Educational Research Fellowship is awarded each year by the British Education Research Association (BERA) in memory of Brian Simon, former Emeritus Professor of Education at the University of Leicester. He died in 2002 at the age of 86 and is best remembered as a lifelong advocate of comprehensive schools and for his classic history of British schools. The Research Fellowship is to take forward issues or perspectives in education to which the late Professor Simon was committed, for example common schooling, pedagogy, human intelligence, international education, and education and democracy.

As well as the prestige attached to the award, Dr Abbott gets a grant of £3,000 to conduct her research project, the title of which will be: ‘The Potential of Integrated Schools in Northern Ireland to Provide a Model of Inclusive Practice.’ Dr Abbott is also a member of the University of Ulster Social Policy Research Institute (SPRI), and is currently working on an ESRC Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP) project entitled ‘A Values-based Approach to Teacher Education’. TLRP is a UK-wide programme which supports and develops educational research to improve outcomes for learners of all ages. (www.tlrp.org).
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Staff Update - Congratulations to Dr Ulrike Niens and Dr Ron Smith
6 July 2006

 Congratulations to Dr Ulrike Niens and Dr Ron Smith who both take up new appointments as Lecturers in Education at the Graduate School of Education, QUB from 1 September 2006. Congratulations also to the following new appointments to the UNESCO Centre: Dr Derick Wilson, Assistant Director, UNESCO Centre (from 1 September 2006) Derick is Senior Lecturer with a strong track record on in community relations, community development and reconciliation work in Northern Ireland. He has chaired the Youth Committee for Northern Ireland and was a member of group that helped establish the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council. His doctorate in Education was a study of how adults in cross community meetings sustained discussion on contentious issues of law and order, equity, religion and culture. He was awarded an MBE for services to community relations and a Distinguished Community Fellowship by the University of Ulster in December 2003. Derick is currently Director of the Future Ways Programme and completing a research programme on organisational change. He is also a Commissioner with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Una O'Connor, Lecturer in Education (Children and Young People) Una has previously been involved within the UNESCO Centre in research on community relations and special needs education funded by the Department of Education. She is currently involved in an evaluation of the introduction of citizenship education to the NI Curriculum funded by CCEA. Una has just submitted her PhD on Special Needs Education and is part of an ESRC seminar series on transagency approaches to improvement of health, education and social services to children.

Dr Karen Beattie, Research Associate (Children and Young People) Karen was previously employed by the Centre for Young Men’s Studies, based in the School of Sociology and Applied Social Studies at the University of Ulster, undertaking research into the experiences of young men in Northern Ireland both as perpetrators and victims of violence. Karen completed her PhD on homophobic school bullying in Northern Ireland and will be contributing to the development of a new UNESCO Centre research programme related to children and young people in NI.
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News - Visit of Professor Marilyn Cochran-Smith
15 - 16 June 2006

 The UNESCO Centre and the School of Education Research Unit (SPRI) hosted a visit by Professor Marilyn Cochran-Smith and Professor Larry Ludlow from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College on 15th and 16th June 2006 at the Dunadry Inn, Templepatrick. Professor Cochran-Smith is a renowned academic in the field of teacher education having published and presented widely on issues such as diversity in teaching and teacher education, teacher learning, and teacher education policy and practice. She is also a past president of the American Educational Research Association.

On the 15th June, Professor Cochran-Smith gave a seminar entitled ‘The Essence of Teacher Education’ to invited guests from a range of institutions and organisations involved in teacher education in Northern Ireland and on the 16th June, she facilitated a discussion forum for staff from the School of Education to explore a range of questions pertaining to this topic.
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Meeting - "ESRC-TLRP Project: A Values-based Approach to Teacher Education"Advisory Group
15 June 2006

Members of the ESRC-TLRP project team met with the UK Advisory Group on 15th June 2006, to update the group on project progress and to discuss emerging research findings and future plans relating to the investigation of values underpinning different phases of teacher education in Northern Ireland.

The Advisory Group is comprised of academics from higher education institutions in England, Scotland and Wales, who are involved in some measure, in teacher education. The primary role of the Advisory Group is to offer critical insight and advice to the project team and provide contrasting national and research perspectives on the issues addressed through the project.

At this second meeting, rich engagement with issues concerning recruitment and selection, Initial Teacher Education and the induction process, generated interesting discussions and valuable proposals concerning the ongoing work of the project.
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News - New DfID Grant
May 2006

The UNESCO Centre has been awarded a grant of £300,000, from the Development' Awareness Fund, Department for International Development (DFID) over the next three years (2006-09) to raise the profile of international development amongst staff and students within the University. It also coincides with the introduction of an undergraduate Minor in International Development with the first intake of students from October 2006. The funding will allow the UNESCO Centre to plan a number of events to mark the introduction of the Minor in International Development. Confirmed events include the acclaimed British Council NorthSouthEastWest: A 360? View of Climate Change Exhibition that will be on the Coleraine campus from the 4-30 September 2006. NorthSouthEastWest is part of the ZeroCarbonCity campaign exploring the energy challenges facing the world’s greatest cities.
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Report Launch - UNESCO Centre Research Highlights Key Issues For Citizenship Education
29 March 2006

 The University of Ulster in partnership with CCEA today launched a report highlighting the key issues for schools implementing citizenship education in 2007. The introduction of Local and Global Citizenship will become statutory from September next year when it will become an integral part of the revised curriculum in post-primary schools.

The report will form part of a four year study into the introduction of Citizenship to the curriculum carried out by researchers at the UNESCO Centre, in the University’s School of Education. “Local and Global Citizenship is currently being piloted in the majority of post-primary schools in Northern Ireland in advance of statutory implementation,” explains one of the report authors, Dr Ulrike Niens. “This interim report includes responses from 33 schools already involved in piloting this new area.

The report highlights issues such as leadership, timetabling, support for teachers and balance between teaching ‘local’ and ‘global’ citizenship in the classroom. Our research will go on to inform future thinking behind policy and practice of Citizenship. Clare McAuley, CCEA Assistant Principal Officer for Citizenship said: “We continue to be impressed by the commitment of teachers and the engagement of pupils in this exciting new strand of the curriculum and we also recognise that schools continue to require well planned and resourced support for successful implementation. “CCEA will be looking very carefully at the findings and working with our educational partners to ensure that Local and Global Citizenship make a positive contribution to the all round educational experience of our young people.”

Further information about this evaluation and copies of the full Interim Report can be obtained from Dr Ulrike Niens or Una O’Connor at the UNESCO Centre, School of Education, Coleraine campus.
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Study Tour - Russian Visitors
28 March 2006

 To Learn About Tolerance In Schools A group of school principals and senior teachers from the North Caucasus area of Southern Russia arrive in Northern Ireland this week as part of their fact finding mission to the UK to learn about creating tolerant and supportive environment in schools.

North Caucasus has a diverse ethnic mix with many languages, cultures and ethnic histories taught at schools in the region. Complicated and controversial social, economic, demographic and ethno-cultural processes in the North Caucasus region for the last 10 years form part of the complex educational context. The visit, organised by the UNESCO Centre, based at the University's School of Education, is to investigate ways of providing support to schools in the North Caucasus area. It is being organised under the auspices of the North Caucasus Education Initiative, funded by the Foreign Office and implemented by the British Council.

At present the unemployment rate in the North Caucasus area is the highest in Russia and unemployment levels in some of the poorest areas are as high as 80%. Vocational education is grossly under-funded and this, coupled with political instability and conflicts, has led to a large number of young people dropping out of the education system. It is felt however, that if the right support systems and quality education is in place, employment opportunities for young people in the region will improve. Elena Cherkashina, Co-ordinator of the group, British Council Moscow, said they were looking forward to seeing how the education system in Northern Ireland operated: “It will be interesting to visit schools and see how teachers incorporate diversity into the classroom and school curriculum; how they resolve conflicts and come to a consensus”. Professor Alan Smith, UNESCO Chair at the University of Ulster welcomed the visit: “This is an excellent opportunity to renew our previous links with educators in Russia and we are delighted to facilitate this programme for the British Council.”

During their three day visit the delegates will visit a number of schools and attend workshops on issues such as: school-based responses to interculturalism and multiculturalism; school improvement in areas of multiple social disadvantage and whole-school (whole authority) responses to trauma.

On Monday 27 March, the group will visit three schools, Oakgrove Integrated Primary, Oakgrove College and St Peter’s High School in the Creggan. On Tuesday 28 March, they visit Harmony Hill Primary School, Lisburn and Ballymoney High School - schools involved in interesting and innovative schools’ cross-community projects. They will also visit Tinderbox Theatre Company to learn about arts - based approach to understanding diversity and hear about the work of the Western Education and Library Board’s Crises Response Team. When the delegates return home, those who participated on the fact - finding trip will be expected to facilitate in-service training for their colleagues aimed at the promotion of tolerant, supportive inclusive environments.

The tragedy which unfolded during September 2004 in a local school - Beslan - is but one of multiple examples of the impact of conflict on education. Many children were among the 326 people killed in what is believed to be the largest ever terrorist attack on a school. Hosted by the British Council, this visit is part of ongoing efforts by the Russian authorities to provide support to children and young people in the region following this terrible tragedy.
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News - HECUA Students Arrive
28 January 2006

 HECUA is a unique educational collaboration that engages students, faculty and practitioners in learning that generates knowledge and tools for social transformation and community building. Programme Title: Northern Ireland: Democracy and Social Change While participating in this program, participants are directly involved in efforts of education, democratization, peace and justice through a seven-week internship.

HECUA students do internships with Amnesty International, the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, among other groups. Field seminars that focus on human rights, conflict tranformation and education for democracy will help you see in action the tools used to transform conflict. For further information, please contact Roisin McLaughlin (r.mclaughlin@ulster.ac.uk) or complete the HECUA Information Request form on http://www.hecua.org/info.html

  2005

News - UNESCO World Language Mother Day
19 February 2005

 An international celebration of cultural diversity will take place at the Magee campus of the University of Ulster this weekend to mark UNESCO’s International Mother Language Day.

The event on Saturday (19 February) will bring together Urdu and Basque speakers who will share insights into the culture and language of their native lands. There will also be contributions from Irish and Ulster-Scots linguists.

The Royal National Institute of the Blind and the Royal National Institute of the Deaf will outline the importance of Braille and sign languages for those with hearing and visual disabilities – a core part of this year’s celebrations.

There will also be a significant contribution from the performing arts as practiced around the world. Scottish dancers and pipers will share a stage with German folk singers and students from the Model school will display their artwork.

During the day there will be an exhibition of photographs on the history of Mother Language Day and visitors will also be given an insight into the ancient Japanese art of origami.

UNESCO International Mother Language Day is designed to give people around the world an opportunity to display the uniqueness and diversity of their culture and language. Events will be held around the world to promote understanding, tolerance and dialogue between different nations.

The event will be held in the Great Hall from 1-6pm and admission is open to everyone and is free.

To view the press release >>http://www.ulster.ac.uk/news/releases/2005/1528.html
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News - HECUA Students Arrive
4 February 2005

HECUA is a unique educational collaboration that engages students, faculty and practitioners in learning that generates knowledge and tools for social transformation and community building.

Program Title: Northern Ireland: Democracy and Social Change.

While participating in this program, participants are directly involved in efforts of education, democratization, peace and justice through a seven-week internship. HECUA students do internships with Amnesty International, the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, among other groups.

Field seminars that focus on human rights, conflict tranformation and education for democracy will help you see in action the tools used to transform conflict.
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  2004

Meeting - Joint UU/UNESCO Centre and University of Montreal meeting on Education for Pluralism in Divided Societies
21 May 2004

From the 21-25 May the UNESCO Centre and The Research Group on Ethnicity and Adaptation to Pluralism in Education (GREAPE), University of Montreal will stage a meeting on the theme of Education for Pluralism in Divided Societies.
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News - UNESCO World Language Mother Day
21 February 2004, 3-6pm, Magee Campus, University of Ulster, Derry

University of Ulster celebrates UNESCO World Mother Language Day, at Magee Campus The University of Ulster is set to mark UNESCO International Mother Language Day with a celebration of cultural diversity at Magee. Along with various community groups from the area, The University of Ulster has organised a series of events from 3pm-6pm on Saturday 21st February. The date has been designated by UNESCO as an international celebration of cultural diversity. Events will be held around the world to promote understanding, tolerance and dialogue between different nations.
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News - HECUA Students Arrive
30 January 2004

 HECUA is a unique educational collaboration that engages students, faculty and practitioners in learning that generates knowledge and tools for social transformation and community building.

Program Title: Northern Ireland: Democracy and Social Change.

While participating in this program, participants are directly involved in efforts of education, democratization, peace and justice through a seven-week internship. HECUA students do internships with Amnesty International, the Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, among other groups.

Field seminars that focus on human rights, conflict tranformation and education for democracy will help you see in action the tools used to transform conflict.
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