International Development is an important vehicle for just transformation in our world. The Centre for Global Development is the new form of the former MU Department of International Development. We have now merged with the MU Department of Anthropology, offering programmes at undergraduate level as a stream within arts (MH101), and postgraduate diploma and masters levels. International Development is concerned with the development of people all over the world. Offering development studies at Maynooth University at undergraduate level since 2013 in collaboration with the former Kimmage Development Studies Centre, (providers of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Development Studies since 1974), we are now under the auspices of the Department of Anthropology, located in Rowan House. As one of the top 100 Young Universities in the world, Maynooth University offers unique opportunities for critical learning for global change. Our work at the Centre for Global Development is underpinned by a commitment to inclusivity, diversity, equality and justice. Focusing on local and global development issues, we support skills development and critical engagement at personal, local, national and international levels. The programmes focus, in particular, on the relationship between the global North and Global South and the opportunities and challenges people face in a rapidly changing international context. International Development highlights local-global connections and how we need to think globally when acting locally. We explore issues such as globalisation, climate change, food security, poverty, human rights, health, education, gender, inequality and empowerment from an international development perspective. Our International Peacebuilding, Security and Development Practice postgrad programme explores the nexus between development, conflict, climate and poverty, among others. Programmes highlight local-global connections, the wide range of socio-economic and political factors creating both development challenges and opportunities nationally and internationally, and they examine the performance of international and national development actors (UN, Governments, NGOs and Civil Society groups) in meeting these challenges, and providing a better world for all. Studying international development and/or peacebuilding, security and development practice prepares people for careers in local and national government, transnational organisations, non-government organisations and activist groups. Our graduates work in community development, global education, development policy, project management and in humanitarian and conflict contexts, and on issues such as human rights, gender, climate action, justice, migration and empowerment.
Author: Dr Eilish Dillon, MU Dept. of International Development. I Thought Feminism Was for Radicals I had a lecturer in Cork in the early 1990s who seemed, to my disinterested ears, to go on and on about women and gender. Like a broken record she was, or so I thought. She talked about discrimination against women … More Reflections on Feminism for International Women’s Day 2021
Author: Niamh Rooney, MU Dept. of International Development. What will future generations read of solidarity in the time of COVID in the history books? Will the rich and powerful countries of the west journey confidently along the insular and individualistic road without shame or guilt? Will they navigate the back roads in an attempt to … More A global moral crossroad…
Author: Dr Eilish Dillon, MU Department of International Development As we come to the end of this incredibly challenging year, I find myself thinking about what I have learned through these COVID months. I do so, because, like many others, I feel compelled to try to make sense of things, especially those that shake our … More Some reflections on learning at the end of this COVID Year
Author: Kevin O’Connell, Maynooth University alumnus My name is Kevin O’Connell and I recently completed the full-time Master’s Degree in International Development. Minutes before writing this, I received an email with my results of this degree! I am delighted with these results however this piece will be a short description of how and why I … More Reflections of a Masters in International Development graduate…
Author: Ruth Powell, Comhlámh Usually, at this time of year, Paddy Reilly asks me to speak to the students on his course, about ethical international volunteering. This year of course, everything is different, so I thought I would write to all the students of the Department of International Development instead! This means the MA and … More To the students of the Department of International Development
Author: Tom Campbell, MU Dept. of International Development Although the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is dominating the headlines, the global climate emergency has not gone away. The uncertainties brought about by climate change are nowhere more keenly felt that in the drylands of the Horn of Africa, where rising temperatures are leading to more frequent and … More Learning from pastoralism in a time of uncertainty
Author: Paddy Reilly, MU Dept. of International Development At the moment of writing, here in Ireland we have only two news items to consider- Global and Local. The global concerns how we as a society are coping with the current ‘lockdown’ as part of our national response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The local concerns the … More Conversations and Covid-19: Learning to Listen?
Author: Dr Eilish Dillon, MU Dept. of International Development. Over the past few weeks of COVID-19 lockdown, I’ve seen more international development NGO (IDNGO) fundraising ads on TV with sick or vulnerable children in them than I have in many years. Maybe it’s just that I’ve been watching more television or maybe IDNGO communication standards … More Re-thinking International Development Communications
Author: Stephen McCloskey, Director, Centre for Global Education, Belfast. October ‘revolution’ in Lebanon Last October, a wave of anti-austerity protests erupted across Lebanon following tax hikes imposed by an unpopular government on an angry population at the end of its tether. The final straw was a proposed levy on Whatsapp, a popular and free form … More The Tricky Challenge of Translating Education and Activism into Social Change
Author: Dr Niamh Gaynor, Associate Professor, Dublin City University For decades Ireland has rightly prided itself on its generosity and support to people living in poor and precarious circumstances in the global South. Whether it comes in the form of charitable donations, or in the form of support for Irish Aid’s programmes overseas, Ireland has … More Global hypocrisies and glass ceilings: Aid, migration and remittances
MU Centre for Global Development 