IHREC Student Bursary Scheme: Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality, Closing date: Wednesday 9th June, 5pm

In 2021, as part of their work in promoting the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission is running the sixth and final year of their bursary scheme for prospective students of the Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality at the Institute of Public Administration.

The student bursary scheme 2021 supports applications from staff employed by civil society organisations only.

The Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality is a one-year, part-time programme that has been developed in conjunction with the Institute of Public Administration and is enrolling until September 2021. The bursary scheme will cover all course fees for successful applicants.

The aim of this bursary is to contribute towards building participants’ skills to advance implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty by public bodies. Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 establishes a statutory obligation on public bodies to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and protect the human rights of those to whom they provide services and staff when carrying out their functions.

Civil Society Organisations can advance public bodies’ implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty in many ways, including through advocacy. For more information on the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty please see visit the Public Sector Duty webpage.

As a NUI Level 8 Special Purpose Award the Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality at the Institute of Public Administration is primarily academic in its nature. While there is no requirement to have completed study of such a nature previously, it does involve the submission of written assignments and a formal written examination and a significant time commitment.

About the bursary scheme:

There are 6 bursary places available for staff members employed by civil society organisations, including community and voluntary organisations, non-governmental and non-profit organisations, groups representing geographic communities or communities of interest, and trade unions.

Bursary places on the Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality are open to people working at all levels and functions. However, preference will be given to applications demonstrating clear intention to advocate for the implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty (the Duty) in one, or more, public bodies.

The bursary scheme will cover all course fees for successful applicants.

Application criteria:

• Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how they intend to use the learning from the diploma in their work.
• Relevant organisations are asked to nominate their candidate(s) to be considered for the bursary scheme and provide official sign off of the application.
• More than one staff member from each organisation can submit an application. However, in the event that a large volume of applications are received, priority may be given to ensuring that as many organisations as possible are represented.
• Priority will be given to applications from civil society organisation staff members’ demonstrating clear intention to promote the implementation of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty in one or more public bodies that they engage with.

Evaluation of applications:

All applications will be screened to check eligibility. In order to be eligible applications must:

• Be submitted on time;
• Be completed in full;
• Be submitted by a staff member employed by a civil society organisation registered in the Republic of Ireland;
• Be submitted by an eligible applicant;
• Include a nomination by their employer.

All eligible applications received will be assessed. The assessment panel for this bursary scheme will comprise relevant staff of the Commission and independent external expertise.

To apply, and for more information on the marking scheme and course outline please visit the IHREC website.

Queries related to the bursary scheme can be sent to bursary@ihrec.ie

For all other queries related to the Professional Diploma in Human Rights and Equality programme itself, please contact the Institute for Public Administration: information@ipa.ie