New hub for UCC
A one of a kind new hub will open in UCC next week.
The Hub in Active European Citizenship, co-funded by the European Union, brings 4 different activities together with the aim to develop active European citizenship among our citizens, including our youngest ones. It focuses on creating a space for diverse opinions on the future of the European Union and Ireland’s role in it to mature the debate beyond pro or anti-European Union.
This new hub is directed by Dr Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan, newly appointed Erasmus+ JeanMonnet Chair in Active European Citizenship.
Dr Emmanuelle Schön-Quinlivan explains: “Given the context created by Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and the climate change and energy crises we’re facing, it is really time for Ireland to engage its citizens with the European level of decision-making. It’s the perfect time for voting and non-voting citizens to highlight all the ways they can get their voice heard at the EU level.”
The Hub has 4 key pillars:
• It collaborates with the primary and secondary school level to provide innovative teaching and learning material on Ireland and the European Union to teachers of junior infants all the way to 6th year.
• It also provides free of charge continuing professional development courses to primary and secondary teachers who seek to improve their knowledge and pedagogical approach on teaching about the EU.
• The third activity focuses on research regarding teachers’ efficacy in teaching on active European citizenship and the European Union more generally. This hopes to lead to practical recommendations to support teachers.
• Finally, the Hub wants to embed in the community and will collaborate with partners to host events, like the Europe Day festival on 7 May 2023, in collaboration with Cork City Council.
The Hub will be a centre for resources, debates, critical reflections, connections, and fun as well, all about Ireland and the European Union.
Dr Schön-Quinlivan added: “We are delighted that the significance of this Hub is acknowledged by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Lord Mayor of Cork. This Hub gives members of the public the opportunity to exchange with guests at events we will organise, get their voice heard, take part in projects or social media activities that we are organising on the theme of ‘What kind of an EU do we want?’.”
Minister for Foreign Simon Coveney and the Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Deirdre Forde, will officially launch the brand-new Hub in Active European Citizenship, with students from across Cork and Limerick in attendance on Monday 21 November.