We would like to invite you to our ‘Integration Works’ information event for principals, teaching staff, governors and parents who wish to find out more about transformation. This is the process for a school to become integrated. A representative from the Department of Education will also be attending the event.

Date: 11 March 2020
Time: 9:45am-2:00pm
Location: Lagan College, 44 Manse Road, Belfast, BT8 6SA

Our locally elected politicians have now returned to the Stormont Assembly and we feel encouraged by the contents of the New Decade, New Approach agreement. In particular, the document acknowledges the role that education can play in building “a shared and integrated society” and outlines the commitment to “support educating children and young people of different backgrounds together in the classroom”. Integrated education forms a key part in this process as it enables children, from all religions and none, to learn together in the classroom every day. (more…)

The Special EU Programmes Body is finalising plans for a new funding programme, PEACEPLUS, which seeks to support peacebuilding work in NI and the border counties of Ireland.

PEACEPLUS is intended to replace the PEACE and INTERREG Programmes, whilst building on their achievements. (more…)

Integrated schools and supporters of integrated education are urged to have their say on a new funding programme which seeks to support peacebuilding work in NI and the border counties of Ireland.

PEACE PLUS is a new EU cross-border programme that will fund activities that promote peace and reconciliation and contribute to the economic development of the region. It is run by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and is intended to replace the PEACE and INTERREG Programmes, whilst building on their achievements. (more…)

Pupils from 34 schools are taking part in the Anti-Bullying Young People’s Forum today in Parliament Buildings.

Throughout the day, the 15 to 19 year olds will form committees focussing on different issues relation to bullying. Each committee, which is being chaired by an MLA, will then hear from a range of witnesses with expertise and experience in the areas under discussion. (more…)

Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau, US Consul General in Northern Ireland, met pupils at Harding Memorial Primary School in South East Belfast on Tuesday (04 February) to help mark Rosa Parks Day. Rosa Parks was an activist in the American civil rights movement known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. (more…)

Discussions of divisions and inequalities in the NI education system are summarised in a new report published by the IEF.

Transforming Education: a Conversation looks at an event held at Stormont last year to introduce a UU UNESCO Centre research project to an invited audience of politicians, education bodies and civic organisations.

The UU team of academics is working to examine and illuminate issues which impact on the delivery of education in NI. The idea of the ‘Transforming Education’ project is to encourage wider debate about education and schools, and to consider how we might develop a common system of education. Topics are explored in accessible reports and the project is supported by the Community Foundation NI and the IEF. (more…)