Stage 1 Guidance Note - Roger Casement Fellowship

Ireland has been a member of the European Union since 1973.

Situated on the western edge of Europe, Ireland is a small, globally connected island. While Ireland, with a population of five million people has its own language and distinct cultural identity, English is the universal spoken language. Ireland is a friendly, safe, deeply welcoming country, steeped in a rich heritage and culture.

A focus on education has been at the core of Irish government policy since the foundation of the State in 1922. Ireland has a longstanding international reputation for high-quality education, built on a solid foundation of commitment to excellence.

Ireland's higher education system is in the top-twenty worldwide, offering globally recognised expertise, and at 65%, Ireland has one of the highest educational participation rates at third level in the world. Studying at postgraduate level in Ireland offers a unique opportunity to join programmes that are driving innovation and changing lives worldwide.

Education has been a driver of Ireland's economic transformation. Ireland is an open economy and our location, combined with our highly educated workforce, has served to attract significant inward investment over recent decades.

Today, Ireland is a leader in the technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, with many leading international companies choosing Ireland for the location of their European headquarters.

With some of the world's biggest and best companies locating their key strategic research facilities here, Ireland offers an unparalleled ecosystem that sees academic researchers working hand-in-hand with home-grown start-up companies. These work in partnership with some of the most innovative multinationals on the planet, through shared research projects and programmes, often supported by the Irish government.

For more information on studying in Ireland

• Education in Ireland: https://www.educationinireland.com

---

Additional Resources

It takes independent thinkers and doers to succeed in today's world – and it takes a pioneering, creative and agile country to produce them.

That country is Ireland:

• Why Should I Study In Ireland? - Education in Ireland

The Ireland Fellows Programme Student Ambassador Programme - Meet some of our students and read their latest blog posts:

• Home | Study in Ireland | Ireland Fellows Programme Blog

Hear from Ireland Fellows Programme awardees about their experiences and the benefits they gained studying in Ireland:

• Ireland Fellows Programme (irishaidfellowships.ie)

---

Ireland Fellows Programme - Casement Fellowship in Human Rights

The Ireland Fellows Programme enables early to mid-career professionals from eligible countries, with leadership potential, to benefit from a prestigious, world-class, quality education contributing to capacity building.

It offers selected students the opportunity to undertake a fully funded one-year master's level programme at a higher education institution (HEI) in Ireland.

What the Award Covers

The award covers programme fees, flights, accommodation and living costs.

Eligible master's level programmes in Ireland commence in August or September each year and, depending on the programme, will run for between 10 and 16 months.

The Ireland Fellows Programme promotes gender equality, equal opportunity, and welcomes diversity.

Our Development Policy is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, and we are encouraging applications from the broadest possible base.

The Programme welcomes applications from applicants with disabilities, and applicants who belong to a minority or disadvantaged group.

We would like to increase the representation of female applicants and those whose gender identity does not align with the male/female gender binary.

Programme Aims

The aims of the Programme are to nurture future leaders; to develop in-country capacity to achieve national SDG goals; and to build positive relationships with Ireland.

The Programme is intended to support graduates on their return home, through the skills they develop, to contribute to capacity building in their home countries and to become one of the next generation of leaders in their respective fields.

It is also envisaged that they will contribute to building enduring positive personal and professional relationships with Ireland, promoting institutional linkages.

About the Casement Fellowship

The Roger Casement Fellowship in Human Rights was established to honour the memory of the Irish human rights activist Roger Casement, who spent some of his early working life in Calabar, Nigeria.

He was an early advocate for human rights while in Nigeria and during his later work in the Congo, the Amazon and in Ireland.

With his humanitarian legacy in mind, the Roger Casement Fellowship supports candidates from Nigeria to undertake a master's level course of study in Human Rights in Ireland each year.

Programme Background

The Ireland Fellows Programme is fully funded by the Irish Government and is offered under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Programme aligns with the Irish Government's commitments under Global Ireland and the national implementation plan for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), The Global Island: Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World, A Better World: Ireland's Policy for International Development, and Global Citizens 2030 Ireland's International Talent and Innovation Strategy, as well as Global Ireland: Ireland's Strategy for Africa to 2025; Global Ireland Renewing our commitment to delivering in the Asia-Pacific region to 2025; Ireland's Second Strategy for Partnership with Small Island Developing States; and Global Ireland: Ireland's Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025.

The programme is managed by the relevant Embassy responsible for eligible countries.

Programme implementation in Ireland is supported by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS).