Ruth Taillon and Andy Pollak with Dr Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, at the John Hewitt International Summer School in Armagh on 23 July 2012. Dr Robinson delivered the Centre for Cross Border Studies Annual Talk at the summer school on the topic of memory, truth and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and other post-conflict situations.
The Centre for Cross Border Studies, based in Armagh and Dublin, researches and develops cooperation across the Irish border in a wide range of practical areas, notably education, health, the economy, ICT and citizens’ information, and works with similar cross-border regional research bodies in other parts of Europe . Its purpose is to:
- Identify gaps in cross-border information, research and mutual learning in Ireland and Europe;
- Commission and publish research on issues related to cross-border cooperation in all fields of society and the economy in Ireland and Europe;
- Host events at which research findings can be discussed and disseminated, and at which cross-border policy formation in Ireland and Europe can be developed;
- Present the findings of such research and development to the European Commission, the Irish and British governments, the Northern Ireland Executive, social partnership bodies and the public;
- Manage and provide administrative support for cross-border networks in research, training and higher education: notably the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD); the Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENS) and Universities Ireland;
- Provide sources of comprehensive and accurate information about cross-border cooperation in Ireland and Europe, particularly information of use to citizens wishing to cross borders to live, work or study (notably through the websites www.borderpeople.info and www.borderireland.info)
