Join us for Praxis Global Citizenship Week at University College Cork (26–30 May 2025) – a dynamic, thought-provoking series of events exploring justice, representation, sustainability, and global solidarity. With inspiring speakers from Ireland and around the world, creative installations, student-led actions, and cutting-edge research presentations, Praxis Week invites staff, students, and the wider community to reflect on the question: Whose Voices? Whose Futures? All are welcome to attend, participate, and help shape a more just and inclusive world.
Register for all events here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=pVz-Rm-GQk6S6e2HhiRVRSIjn65KlW9FhhKwZlvTQbhUNTNHMDNGUFA5S0VYOTFZMTgzOUVOQVQ5OS4u
Full details and bibliographies of speakers can be found here:
Biographies of Speakers and full Programme can be found here: Praxis week 2025 final programme
Monday 26 May – Opening & Imagining New Futures
12:00–13:30 | In-person Keynote Address
Speaker: Ms. Karol Balfe, CEO of Action Aid
Title: Power and Participation: Shaping Just Futures through Global Citizenship
Venue: Dora Allman Room, Hub Floor 4
See below for further details and bios.
Tuesday 27 May – Representation, Justice & the Power of Voice
10:00–12:00 | Workshop by Dr Eilish Dillon
Title: Shifting the Lens: Ethical Communications and Decolonising Development
Venue: Boole 5 (Boole Basement)
See below for further details and bios.
6 PM | Film Screening in Collaboration with UCC Staff Group Together for Palestine
Special thanks to Simon Woodworth
Title: No Other Land (96 minutes)
Venue: C_HUB_172 SHTEPPS
Oscar-winning documentary. This Palestinian-Israeli documentary collaboration is an uncompromising look at the enormous and devastating impact of Israeli policies on Palestinian villagers in the occupied territories of the West Bank.
See below for further details.
Wednesday 28 May – Researching Global Citizenship Education
14:00–15:30 | Research Symposium ONLINE
Link to be sent to registered participants.
- UCC staff and International Partners from Palestine, Peru, India, Malawi and the Gambia provide stage 1 research findings on North South Partnerships.
- Presentation on findings from the Elephant in the Room Research Study.
- Dr Gertrude Cotter presents recently published research on Global Citizenship Education in Higher Education.
Thursday 29 May – Environmental & Energy Justice: Global Perspectives
11:00–12:30 | Talk
Speaker: Dr Niall Dunphy
Title: Energy Citizenship and Climate Justice: Reimagining Participation in Global Sustainability
Venue: Hub G12 Aine Hyland Room
12:30–13:30 | Talk
Speaker: Tom Roche
Venue: Hub G12 Aine Hyland Room (May also be online)
Tom Roche will speak about ECORace2030, a call for community-led action connecting climate justice, development education, and responsible forest use.
All Week | Creative Installations
Title: Empty Chairs Installation, Clothing Line of Voices, Footsteps of Activism
Location: Student Centre (Áras na Mac Léinn)
Please do visit our installation at the Student Centre, take a moment to reflect and leave a message.
Closing | Creative Reflection
Title: Short silent reflection and response to creative installation.
Further Information: gertrude.cotter@ucc.ie
Register for all events here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=pVz-Rm-GQk6S6e2HhiRVRSIjn65KlW9FhhKwZlvTQbhUNTNHMDNGUFA5S0VYOTFZMTgzOUVOQVQ5OS4u
The Praxis Project is housed at the School of Education & Funded by Irish Aid
Speaker & Contributor Biographies
Karol Balfe: CEO of ActionAid Ireland, with over 20 years of experience in human rights, development, and peacebuilding. Published on global justice and leads ActionAid’s feminist, rights-based initiatives.
Dr. Eilish Dillon: Assistant Professor at Maynooth University, expert in critical development theory and global education. Co-editor of Global Education in Ireland. Download here.
Dr. Niall Dunphy: Senior Research Fellow, UCC. Leads Cleaner Production Promotion Unit. Focus on energy citizenship and participatory sustainability.
Tom Roche: Founder of Just Forests, advocate for environmental education and responsible forestry. Leads ECORace2030, focusing on activism and sustainability at the community level.
Michelle Todd: UCC student and event co-organiser with a passion for refugee rights and inclusive education.
Dr. Gertrude Cotter: Lecturer in Global Citizenship Education at UCC and academic coordinator of the Praxis Project.
Bill Goodwin: PhD researcher in sociology, digital media, and critical discourse.
You can register for all events here:
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=pVz-Rm-GQk6S6e2HhiRVRSIjn65KlW9FhhKwZlvTQbhUNTNHMDNGUFA5S0VYOTFZMTgzOUVOQVQ5OS4u