Ireland’s university leaders must step up where the Irish government has failed

For many in Ireland the refrain of being the most pro-Palestine supporting country in Europe is a badge of honour (although perhaps the Spanish would have something to say about that). However, those of us who have been at this work for a long time know that rhetoric and reality rarely match up. As an educator and someone who has been involved in strengthening partnerships between the Palestinian and Irish academy for over a decade, the news that another group of Palestinian students seeking to take up their positions at Irish universities have had their visa applications rejected is particularly galling. Education, as Nelson Mandela once opined, is “the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” In […]