Posted 20 February 2014
President Michael D. Higgins launches student Ethics Initiative at UCD
Initiates student debate on Ethics in Irish Society
President Michael D. Higgins today, February 20, was at UCD to meet students and to attend the launch of the first student event of The President of Ireland's Ethics Initiative.
"We need to talk about ethics because..." is a campus-wide engagement where students capture and share their own thoughts and reasons as to why ethics are important. These are photographed, uploaded to a website and publicised through social media channels. Students' comments will serve as a springboard for follow-up debates and projects around ethics. It is one of the first of a series of events that will take place throughout the third level sector as part of the President's ethics initiative.
Commenting, President Higgins said:
"I am particularly pleased that the universities have responded so positively to this initiative and I am delighted to be here at UCD today to meet with the students who will take part in this early debate.
It is my hope that the individual events and initiatives will lead to and generate an extensive public debate, one that will meet the expectations of our citizens for such values as will enable us to build a sustainable social economy, and a society which is profoundly ethical and inclusive.
As we leave behind a crisis that caused such reputational damage to our country, this debate will, I hope, contribute to the building of more just and sustainable versions of Ireland's future."
UCD is organising two events as part of the initiative, the "we need to talk about ethics because..." initiative is led by Professor Andy Prothero of UCD Business, and the second event, which follows later in the year, focuses on the Role of Conscience, and will be led by Dr Christopher Cowley from UCD School of Philosophy.
Pictured with President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins were UCD students Aloke Das, Daisy Kinahan Murphy, Clay D'Arcy, Joe O'Connor, Ronan Walsh, Paulina Szklanna, Manuel Sant'Ana, Michael Gallagher, and Doirean Shivnan
Pictured far right: President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins with UCD students Doirean Shivnan, Manuel Sant'Ana and Michael Gallagher
UCD Registrar and Deputy President, Professor Mark Rogers, said:
"Social media is the perfect platform where students can contribute to and take part in this important national debate on Ethics in Irish Society. It will be fascinating to see how the students respond to this initiative. After all, they are keenly aware of the societal issues which currently face our country, and having an understanding of ethical concepts will certainly help them to better shape the future direction of our society."
Starting from March 3rd, teams of students from UCD Students' Union will spread out across the Belfield campus to get answers to the question "We need to talk about ethics because..." Some students who have met President Higgins have already answered the question:
Doireann Shivnan from UCD College of Health Sciences replied 'We need to talk about ethics because, "the decisions we make shape the society we build'";
Clay D'Arcy of UCD College of Human Sciences answered 'We need to talk about ethics because, "Irish women and men need truth in their lives'";
And Paulina Sklanna from UCD College of Science said 'We need to talk about ethics because: "maintaining high standards of research ensures accurate and unbiased description of our world'".
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
