Our Rural Future Higher Education Institutions Network
- Published on: 26 January 2023
- Last updated on: 6 March 2023
Our Rural Future Higher Education and Research Institutions Network
In 2021, Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys T.D. published Our Rural Future, Ireland’s rural development policy 2021-2025. The Policy aims to support the sustainable development of rural Ireland, recognising that the economic, social, cultural and environmental development of rural areas is a key determinant of Ireland’s recovery and national well-being.
Our Rural Future recognises the critical role of Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and other organisations in advancing research in the area of sustainable rural development, and in ensuring public policy is informed by evidence and research. In 2021, DRCD established the Our Rural Future Higher Education and Research Institutions Network (Network) to enhance collaboration between HEIs, research organisations and government, and to ensure Our Rural Future continues to be informed by the cutting edge research taking place in HEIs and research organisations across the country.
The Network, which is principally advisory in nature, first met on 5 October 2021 and will continue to meet twice yearly. The third meeting took place, in person, on 6 October 2022 and was hosted by University College Cork.
Minutes of HEI Network Meetings
Rural Development Research Poster Presentation
The Government of Ireland hosted the 13th OECD Rural Development Conference on 28-30 September 2022, a high-profile international policy and political forum for OECD member states to discuss rural development in a holistic manner.
The conference theme was ‘Building Sustainable, Resilient and Thriving Rural Places’ and was attended by more than 350 delegates, including Ministers and other senior policy-makers from OECD member and partner countries, as well as practitioners from national, regional and local levels, international experts and representatives from the private sector and from civil society.
The Conference presented an excellent platform to promote ongoing rural development research across our HEIs and Research institutions. The Network members were invited to nominate a representative from each HEI/Research institution to participate in a Rural Development Research Poster Presentation.