Hanafin and Lenihan announce Partnership to increase research on International Development

€12.5 million for greater cooperation between the higher education and research sectors in developing countries and Ireland

The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin TD, and the Minister of State for Irish Aid, Conor Lenihan TD, today announced an agreement between Irish Aid and Higher Education Authority (HEA) to further research into development issues. The Programme will operate from 2007- 2011, with a budget of €12.5 million.

The Programme will facilitate collaborative partnerships within and between higher education institutions and research institutes in Ireland and in countries benefiting from Irish Aid support. A call for expressions of interest from higher education and research institutes will issue tomorrow.

            “Research on international development is essential to maintain the quality and effectiveness of Irish Aid” said Minister Lenihan. “Irish Aid also believes that strategic links between the higher education sector in Ireland and developing countries will increase economic and social opportunities in our priority countries and build stronger, more democratic societies.”     

Minister Hanafin said “Ireland is a society and economy that has witnessed extraordinary changes in the past two decades. We have had the chance to learn from our economic and social development and should now strive to share that knowledge with others. This new research programme offers a new impetus for higher education institutions to pool their resources in the development of innovative approaches to tackle world poverty.”

The Minister went on to say “this focused, competitive, programme offers the resources to meet this challenge and will reward academic leadership and further develop interest by students and student bodies in issues relating to international development.”