The DICE Project
The DICE Project (Development and Intercultural Education) is a national education initiative, funded by Irish Aid, which promotes the integration of global citizenship education (GCE) in initial teacher education at primary level in Ireland. The project is implemented by DCU, Maynooth University, Marino Institute of Education, and Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. The Project office is currently hosted by the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education in Maynooth University.
DICE works to support teacher educators and student teachers of the four partner institutions to integrate global and intercultural perspectives and themes into their teaching. By targeting the skills, knowledge and values of people involved in education, DICE seeks to promote global solidarity, human rights and sustainable development, and support people to recognise and challenge discrimination and inequality, locally and globally.
Specific areas of work
Developing capacity among teacher educators to enable them to integrate global citizenship education across the Primary School Curriculum. We organise briefing sessions, continuous professional development workshops and facilitate peer support among staff.
Providing high-quality teaching and learning activities focused on developing relevant knowledge, skills and values among student teachers to equip them to effectively integrate global citizenship education in their classroom practice. This includes lectures, seminars, guest speakers, awareness raising events and involvement in campus committees.
Raising awareness of the value of global citizenship education within the Primary School Curriculum among key stakeholders. We engage with policy makers, support research on global citizenship education and develop relevant resources to support learning.
DICE at MIE
The DICE project coordinators are Richeal Ní Thiarnaigh and Dr Yvonne Naughton
The DICE lecturers in MIE are Dr Barbara O’Toole and Richeal Ní Thiarnaigh
Student engagement with DICE
Students at MIE study global citizenship education in the following modules:
- Equality Studies, BEd 1
- English as an Additional Language, BEd 2
- Léann an Chomhionannais (Ionchuimsitheacht), BOid 1
- Global Citizenship Education, PME 2
- Intercultural Education, BSc Education Studies 2
Students across a range of modules engage in GCE in other modules through integrated teaching.
MIE also offers a Master in Education Studies programme: Intercultural Learning and Leadership