The International Centre for Education for Democratic Citizenship

A joint International Centre of Birkbeck, University of London and the
Institute of Education, University of London

presents the final event of the Education for ‘national’ citizenship in the context of devolution and ethno-religious conflict seminar series at Birkbeck, University of London, directed by Dr Dina Kiwan and Professor John Annette and funded by the ESRC.  The aim of this event is to reflect on the policy and practice implications of the series, drawing together the key themes of the series, including citizenship education, naturalisation, integration, ‘Britishness’, national identity, ‘multiculturalism’, devolution and conflict.

Thursday 18 November 2010, 9.30am-4.30pm Room 541 Malet St, Birkbeck

Keynotes:

Professor Shamit Saggar, University of Sussex

Strangers and citizens: integration policy in ethnically and religiously diverse contexts

Andrew Thornton, CEO Citizenship Foundation

Connecting Culture, Dialogue and Citizenship – practical learning from the British Council Active Citizens programme and the UK refugee setting

Professor Elizabeth Meehan, Queen’s University Belfast

The Interaction between Devolution and, in the Case of Northern Ireland, Ethno-National Conflict, and the Idea and Practice of British Citizenship

Brief Bios:

Elizabeth Meehan is Professor Emerita in the School of Law, Queen's University Belfast and the holder of honorary positions at University College Dublin and Edinburgh University.  Her research and publications include works on citizenship and the European Community and citizenship in the UK.

Shamit Saggar is Professor of Political Studies at the University of Sussex, and previously a senior policy advisor in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, Cabinet Office.  His research interests include migration, ethnic pluralism, social capital and religious extremism.

Andy Thornton is the new Chief Executive of the Citizenship Foundation, having directed their active citizenship and educational programmes for 5 years. His hope is to build on the 20 year history of the Foundation to secure a widespread belief that a fair and inclusive society needs all members to be equally equipped for participation.

RSVP: g.andreani@bbk.ac.uk Places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis so please reserve as soon as possible.