Western dreams inside refrigerated containers

4th Jun 2024

Author: Duyen Truong Thi My, MA International Development Participant In 2019, thirty-nine Vietnamese people were found dead in a refrigerated container in Essex, England, shocking everyone. They were identified as migrant workers attempting to enter the UK through a route designed by transnational illegal foreign labor broker groups and trafficked criminals. No one knows exactly what … More Western dreams inside refrigerated containers

From Nostalgia to Controversy: The Evolution of Sinterklaas and the Black Pete Debate in the Netherlands

18th Dec 2023

Worldwide, all societies need to question their taken-for-granted cultural practices and how they might uphold established inequalities. We need new cultural practices that value diversity, dignity and respect above tradition. … More From Nostalgia to Controversy: The Evolution of Sinterklaas and the Black Pete Debate in the Netherlands

Time and Crisis Responses: Towards a Long-Term View

4th Apr 2022

Author: Dr Eilish Dillon, MU Dept. of International Development. I’ve been thinking about time a lot these days. It’s just over a month since the attacks on Ukraine started. That month has flown for me but not for so many who have been directly affected by the war or who have been trying to survive. Last … More Time and Crisis Responses: Towards a Long-Term View

You live and learn: reflections on the need for a more inclusive and supportive learning environment in development education.

31st Jan 2022

Author: Clara Perras MA Erasmus Participant For the first semester of the academic year 2021/2022, I had the pleasure to study at the Maynooth University Department of International Development as an ERASMUS-student from Germany. During that time, I learned a great deal about international development, about unequal international systems and structures and about the transformative … More You live and learn: reflections on the need for a more inclusive and supportive learning environment in development education.

From Oppression to Consciousness: the Struggle for Transformative Education

2nd Apr 2026

Author: Isabel Sandoval Gutierrez, MA International Development Participant “You could call this selfhood, many things. Transformation. Metamorphosis. Falsity. Betrayal. I call it an education.” Tara Westover in Educated (2018). In so called “developed” countries such as Ireland, education is considered as a given. However, what kind of education do we mean when talking about Sustainable Development … More From Oppression to Consciousness: the Struggle for Transformative Education

Galamsey Menace in Ghana: A Living Contradiction of “Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni”

9th Feb 2026

Author: Gertrude Mensah, MA International Peacebuilding, Security and Development Practice Graduate These days, when the whole world is watching the battle over resources, the economy and autonomy in Venezuela, Greenland and Congo, it is worth sparing a thought for how these issues are also playing out in Ghana. Step back, pause and reflect. This is what … More Galamsey Menace in Ghana: A Living Contradiction of “Yɛn Ara Asaase Ni”

The World in One Room

13th May 2025

Author: Tran Thi Nhan Duyen, MA International Development Participant Imagine walking into a classroom where every corner of the globe is represented. Where the air hums with accents from every continent, and every conversation feels like a journey to a new place. What would you learn? How would it change you? Do you believe the whole … More The World in One Room

Ireland’s Economic Growth and Hidden Inequalities

7th May 2025

Author: Joshua Tighe, MA International Peacebuilding, Security and Development Practice Ireland has seen impressive economic growth over the past few decades, with rising Gross Domestic Product [GDP] and a booming tech sector.  At face value, this trend suggests that Ireland is thriving financially.  However, a deeper look reveals stark economic and class inequalities that disproportionately impact … More Ireland’s Economic Growth and Hidden Inequalities

Voices of Defiance, Women’s Struggle for Freedom in the Face of Oppression

16th Apr 2025

Author: Basira Paigham, MA International Development Participant On January 23, Karim Khan, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, sought arrest warrants for Haibatullah Akhundzada and Abdul Hakim Haqani. This is an important step in the fight for justice. It shows the strength and bravery of Afghan women who have fought against Taliban oppression for three years … More Voices of Defiance, Women’s Struggle for Freedom in the Face of Oppression

Navigating the Wellbeing of Elders and School-Children amid Cambodia’s Endemic Emigration Crisis

3rd Mar 2025

Author: Taing Im Lok, MA International Development Participant Due to the crushing weight of debt and the pursuit of a better life, many Cambodians migrate to neighbouring countries such as Thailand, South Korea and Malaysia, where higher-paying job opportunities are perceived to abound. They hope to escape from the debt trap and have the chance to … More Navigating the Wellbeing of Elders and School-Children amid Cambodia’s Endemic Emigration Crisis

On the Screen, Off the Page: Life as a girl in Upland Northern Vietnam 

13th Jan 2025

Author: Tran Thi Nhan Duyen, MA International Development Participant From videos on YouTube to scrolling through advertising photos on social media, it is easy to be captivated by the scenic landscape of upland northern Vietnam. It is a place of lush terraced fields midst misty mountains. It is where ethnic minority women in colorful traditional brocades … More On the Screen, Off the Page: Life as a girl in Upland Northern Vietnam 

The Digital Era Dawns: How prepared is Malawian society?

13th Dec 2024

Author: Akunsitu Kananji, MA International Development Participant As I settled into my new home at Maynooth University in Ireland, I was struck by the presence of digital technology in everyday life. From opening a bank account to accessing essential services, it was clear that the digital world had become an integral part of modern society. This … More The Digital Era Dawns: How prepared is Malawian society?

International Development and the Internal Contradictions of Purpose

10th Jul 2024

Author: Weymar Osborne, MA International Development Participant International Development? What does that mean? Ireland? Why there? Those are questions I’ve found myself answering to people quite a bit recently. Indeed, many would say this is an unconventional path I have chosen for myself. My reasoning for wanting to enter this field are a result of a … More International Development and the Internal Contradictions of Purpose