After a pilot phase in 2003, the DICE project worked for the last three years (2004-2007) with all 5 Colleges of Education in the Republic of Ireland to promote the inclusion and integration of development education and intercultural education into courses within initial primary education.  At the time, the project’s general objective was to assist all colleges of education to integrate and embed development and intercultural perspectives in the preparation of primary school teachers. As such, DICE worked with the colleges in fostering and developing programmes and events which would further equip student teachers with the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to include global and intercultural perspectives within primary schools. It also sought to promote a greater understanding of development education amongst college staffs through capacity building events.

Through its work alongside the colleges of education and in association with Irish Aid, DICE contributed to some of the  areas prioritized by Irish Aid in their Development Education Strategy Plan 2003-2005 (Deepening Public Understanding of International Development, DE Strategy Plan 2003-2005, Irish Aid 2003). In fact, the positive impact that the project has had in the colleges of education has meant that Irish Aid is now funding each college of education to employ lecturers specialized in Development Education and Intercultural Education, a clear sign of moving towards the realization of DICE’s aim of ‘embedding such education in Initial Teacher Education’.

The new phase of the DICE project is driven by a vision of an inclusive Irish society in a just and sustainable world.DICE will seek to promote and achieve this vision through the field of education. As an educational initiative the DICE Core Project will, in conjunction with the designated lecturers within all 5 Colleges of Education, contribute to the aim of Irish Aid’s current Strategy Plan for Development Education which states: “Every person in Ireland will have access to educational opportunities to be aware of and understand their rights and responsibilities as global citizens and their potential to effect change for a more just and equal world” (White Paper on Irish Aid).

The overall aim of the DICE Core Project in its new phase from 2007-2009 is to further embed the principles and approaches of Development Education and Intercultural Education in Irish Primary Education through supporting such work in colleges of education and engaging in such other initiatives as will facilitate the work of the colleges in this regard.

DICE is funded by Irish Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Colleges of Education:

Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, Dublin.
Froebel College of Education, Blackrock, Co. Dublin.
Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick.
St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, Dublin.
The Church of Ireland College of Education, Rathmines, Dublin.

Non-governmental sector:

Compass – (network involved in the promotion of development education within the primary sector)
Comhlámh – Development Workers in Global Solidarity

State sector:

Irish Aid at the Department of Foreign Affairs

The views expressed herein are those of DICE and can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of Irish Aid.