Third level institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs): connections and relationships

Abstract

In a world where the amount of aid from developed countries is falling as a percentage of Gross National Product (GNP), development agencies that wish to maintain or increase their aid effort face the problem of bringing public opinion along with them. Development education, with its dual aim of informing and encouraging action, has an important role to play in winning this public support. It can explain the need for development assistance, provide information on development activities and persuade individuals to actively support the development project. To date the development education funds granted by Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI) have been directed mainly at primary or secondary level students and teacher training colleges. A recent exception has been funding for Suas (http://www.suas.ie/), an organisation which aims to raise awareness of development issues and encourage short term volunteering among third level students. The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the role of development education by exploring the present and potential contribution of NGO/third level linkages. It will do this by examining the connections and relationships between NGOs and third level institutions in Ireland and by using the UK and US as a comparative international backdrop. This should help to highlight possible ways forward in enhancing the effectiveness of development education at third level