Le Cheile (together) : Developing a Culture of Sustainability and Collaboration through Inclusive Internationalisation in Irish Higher Education

McAllister- Wylie, Denise (2024) Le Cheile (together) : Developing a Culture of Sustainability and Collaboration through Inclusive Internationalisation in Irish Higher Education. In: 100+ Years of the Irish state (1922-2024), 2024-05-02 - 2024-05-02, SETU.

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Abstract

Initially an introspective state, Ireland has become increasingly outward-looking since joining the European Economic Community, now the EU, in 1973. When the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 were launched in 2015, the UN emphasised that Global Citizenship Education would be a catalyst to achieving them. The Irish Government’s recently published strategy on the internationalisation of education, Global Citizens 2030: Ireland's International Talent and Innovation Strategy, and its two predecessors, are testament to this global perspective, and the belief that internationalisation is at the heart of Global Citizenship Education. There has been a plethora of literature over the last thirty years highlighting the benefits of engaging in internationalisation activities. For example, in addition to enhancing graduate employability and the global reputation of participating higher education institutions (HEIs), partaking in internationalisation activities provides access to alternative perspectives, improves adaptability and problem-solving, and increases understanding of global challenges. The Irish Government recognise this, as is reflected in the national international education strategy documents. Meanwhile, attending to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) has also become a key focus of Irish HE, with dedicated teams and vice-presidents put in place to imbed EDI policies and practices in our HEIs. Unfortunately, however, this has resulted in internationalisation, EDI, and sustainability becoming viewed in Irish HE as competing priorities, when in fact they each lend to the other, and should be approached collaboratively. Where internationalisation activities, such as study abroad and student exchange, have seemed prohibitive to many, taking an inclusive approach to internationalisation will ensure that Irish HEIs produce interculturally competent and open-minded global citizen graduates, capable of addressing the world’s grand challenges such as climate change, access to education, and health and well-being. This poster presents my research on inclusive internationalisation in Irish higher education and how it is central to achieving sustainability goals.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Poster)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/decent_work_and_economic_growth
Departments or Groups:
Depositing User:	Admin SSL
Date Deposited:	08 May 2024 14:10
Last Modified:	17 May 2024 23:02
URI:	https://repository.wit.ie/id/eprint/7784

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