Online 31st May 2022 and In person at TUS Thurles 1st June 2022

Participants are expected to attend both days

In the context of unfolding climate breakdown, with the socio-political implications becoming more apparent, it seems appropriate to re-examine once again the concept of ‘sustainable development’ and in particular, how the concept of sustainable development is understood and interrogated in the field.

This year the Technological University of the Shannon at Thurles, Co. Tipperary will be hosting the Development Studies Association, Ireland (DSAI) Summer school on the theme of Researching Sustainable Development- Tools for Developing a Critical Perspective.

This will be held over 2 days using a blended format with 31 May online and 1 June 2022 in person in Thurles. We are proposing to adopt a Problem-Based Learning method (PBL)** approach at the Summer School.

The overall objective of the Summer School is to enable students to develop their research skills through exposure to a number of research pieces presented by researchers, policy makers and practitioners within the theme of sustainable development. The attendees will then work in teams to develop their own research methodology on an aspect of sustainable development, under the guidance of academics and practitioners.

Material will be presented as 'trigger material' online on 31 May. This material will consist of examples of good field-based research on aspects of sustainable development with an emphasis on the research process itself. On June 1, participants will meet in Thurles and under the guidance of experienced facilitators, will together create proposals for innovative research methods that may be applied in the field while researching aspects of sustainable development.

**PBL is a student-centered pedagogy in which students learn about a subject through the experience of solving an open-ended problem found in trigger material. The PBL process does not focus on problem solving with a defined solution, but it allows for the development of other desirable skills and attributes. This includes knowledge acquisition, enhanced group collaboration and communication.

Workshops

Day 1 will run two panels in parallel.

Attendees are asked to choose their preferred workshop when purchasing their ticket

See below a brief description

Gender Panel

This panel will address key issues regarding the gendered dimensions of development focusing on Pakistan and Ghana.

Water and Health Panel

This panel will look at Health in Nepal and access to water in Ghana and other African countries.

Guest speakers at DSAI Summer School 2022

• Prof. Vincent Cunnane - President, Technological University Shannon (TUS)
• Dr Nita Mishra - Chairperson of DSAI
• Dr Maura Clancy – Dean of Faculty, TUS
• Dr Catherine Corcoran – Chairperson, TUS
• Dr Mark Garavan, Atlantic Technological University
• Lucia Rost, Head of Research at PLAN International
• Marie McGrath, ENN
• Thokozani Kalanje, CONCERN Worldwide
• Aneeqa Malik, Akhuwat Foundation
• Sarah Zipp, University of Stirling
• Zahbia Yousuf, Safer World
• Dickson Boateng, University of Limerick
• Frank Houghton, TUS
• Dr Josephine Treacy, TUS
• Dr Yomi Ogunsanya and Dr Carol Ballantine
• Mr Seamus Hoyne, Dean, Flexible and Work Based Learning, TUS
• Clifford Guest, Lecturer Sustainable Development, TUS