In 2005, NUI Galway became the first non-US based institution to join Campus Compact to help support the way forward in terms of addressing civic engagement within higher education in Ireland. Membership of this organisation has enabled a whole institutional approach towards transforming and embedding CKI activities.
Campus Compact is a consortium of almost 1,000 colleges and universities in the US, representing over five million students, who are committed to renewing the civic purpose of higher education. The coalition was formed in 1985 to support civic education, community building and campus engagement in higher education. Campus Compact support the development of civic engagement within higher education through research, resource provision, training, awards programmes and funding opportunities.
In June 2005, prior to
NUI Galway’s 3rd Annual Teaching and Learning Conference 2005 on the theme of civic engagement and service learning, Campus Compact’s Executive Director Elizabeth Hollander visited the campus and worked with NUI Galway's President, Registrar and Deputy President, CKI Personnel and staff of NUI Galway.
During her visit, she stressed that, “We are delighted to welcome the National University of Ireland, Galway as our first Irish member of Campus Compact, indeed, our first international member that is not an American University. They are joining over 900 colleges and universities that are committed to educating students to assume their responsibilities in building the future of their communities and their democracies. This is, indeed, a world wide need and we have much to learn and teach each other.”
In 2006, Campus Compact celebrated its 20th anniversary and held a prestigious
conference to mark this event.
Deputy President and Registrar, Professor Jim Browne, Lorraine McIlrath, CKI Project Coordinator and President NUI Galway Dr Iognáid G. Ó Muircheartaigh with Elizabeth Hollander, Executive Director of Campus Compact disscuss the future of the CKI at NUI Galway, May 2005.
