This short course has been developed in accordance with the NCCA template and guidelines. 

The authors of this specification are Kate Minnock, Jerrieann Sullivan and Hedda Dick. The development process for this specification took place between May 2020 to May 2021 and was carried out by Kate Minnock, Jerrieann Sullivan, Hedda Dick, Sian Cowman and Nancy Serrano. 

Many people provided input and expertise in the development process for the specification. The development team gratefully acknowledges the time, effort and important contribution made by; 

  • 24 youth participants in a Youth Advisory Group who participated in a series of meetings in 2020-2021 to provide input and feedback on the short course design; 
  • Helen Gallagher (Moville Community College, Co. Donegal), Martin Healy (Coláiste Chraobh Abhann. Co. Wicklow), Ciara Bolger (Temple Carrig School, Co. Wicklow), Doreen Killington (Castleisland Community College, Co. Kerry), Shauna Keyes (Blakestown Community School, Dublin), Shane Curtin (Colaiste Ide agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale), Paula McNamara (Cork Educate Together Secondary School, Cork), Kay Quinn (Schull Community College), Aoife Gordon (Tyndall College Carlow), Sinead Moore, Aisling Miller and all 22 of the post-primary teachers from across Ireland who participated in a Teacher Advisory Group to guide the development process, taking part in meetings in summer 2020 and February 2021 to provide input and feedback on learning outcomes and design of assessment; 
  • Senan Gardiner (Sustainability Education researcher, Department of Education, University of Vechta, Germany), Dr Fergal Finnegan (School of Education, Maynooth University), Deirdre Hogan, Valerie Lewis and all 10 experts who participated in the meetings of the Expert Advisory Group and provided input on the pedagogical approach and feedback on the specification. 
  • The three Supporting Organisations who provided written input to help guide the development process; The Irish Second Level Students’ Union, Fridays for Future Ireland and the Students’ Climate Action Network. 

Special thanks also to the teachers and experts who contributed additional feedback, advice and recommendations via email, phone and digital comments to support and inform the development process. 

The course is being piloted by 15 schools in 2021-2022. Feedback from teachers and students in these school communities will be used in revising and updating the specification where necessary in summer 2022. 

The development team would also like to acknowledge the detailed and invaluable feedback provided by the NCCA staff that helped to guide the process and drafting of the specification.

Last modified: Thursday, 2 June 2022, 10:11 AM