NUI Galway will host Irish Aid's Third Level Conference 'Development's Futures', from 24-25 November 2007. Minister of State for Overseas Development, Michael Kitt T.D., will officially open the event, which will be attended by some 200 practitioners and academics working in the field of international development and development education.

The keynote address will be delivered by Michael Edwards, Director of the Governance and Civil Society Program at the Ford Foundation, one of the world's leading philanthropic foundations. Other speakers will include award-winning journalist Palagummi Sainath of The Hindu, who has been described as 'the conscience of the Indian nation'. An exhibition of his photographs on the theme of 'Women & Work in Rural India' will go on public display in conjunction with the conference.

The conference aims to improve links between different sectors of the development community, with an emphasis on the importance of research to educators, practitioners and scholars alike.

Over 80 papers reflecting the latest research and practice in development education and in international development issues will be presented over the two days of the conference. Panel sessions will also take place on topics including HIV/AIDS; Crisis and Conflict; Education Policies in Africa; NGO Partnerships for Poverty Reduction; Gender Perspectives; Environment; Volunteering; and Food Security.

Welcoming the announcement of the conference, Minister of State Kitt said, "This conference is part of Irish Aid's commitment to promote development education in universities and other third-level institutions in Ireland. I am confident that it will facilitate contacts and networking between both third-level development education practitioners and academics working in the field of international development".

According to conference convenor Dr. Su-ming Khoo, Department of Sociology and Political Science, NUI Galway, "This event will give international researchers, educators, practitioners and activists an opportunity to explore what the future holds for development. There is an onus on third-level institutions to engage with the development issues and support organisations and individuals to advance development cooperation through research and knowledge sharing".

The registration fee for the conference has been heavily subsidised (€50 full fee or €25 for students), and those interested in attending should register as soon as possible at www.conference.ie.

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