SChedule

You will have lectures and field studies as a CGEE group. While at the Magee campus, you will meet each day for lectures, seminars and field visits. The weekends are generally your time to explore and many students use their weekends to travel. Be sure to notify your program director of any travel plans that will take you outside of Derry-Londonderry during the semester, particularly because of possible COVID restrictions. 

You will receive your program syllabus once you arrive in Northern Ireland. Three integrated courses are at the core of your program: Building a Sustainable Democracy, Understanding the Politics of the Northern Ireland Conflict, and the Internship Placements & Seminar. Below is an outline of the semester. You will notice that weeks 1-3, 12 and 13-14 are more concerned with the first two courses. Weeks 4-7, and 9-11 focus on the internship. However, the program is fluid and the courses are very integrated.

Week 1: University Registration & Orientation Residential          

You will start the program with a multi-day orientation residential. The aim of this residential experience is to give your group the opportunity to bond and reflect on expectations for the term. The orientation will also be used as a platform to introduce you to the challenges and opportunities involved in living in Northern Ireland. This will also be the time that your internship sites are selected. As a group, you will work to determine your internship placements.

During the orientation, group workshops will be combined with visits to sites of interest in the immediate locality (depending on COVID restrictions in place), including Ballycastle beach, Murlough Bay, Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, and Bushmills Distillery. Be sure to bring a good raincoat and walking/hiking shoes!

That weekend you will travel to Derry and get settled into your accommodations and become familiar with the city. 

Weeks 2-3: Classes at Ulster University & Field Visits           

During this time, you will register with the university (with the help of Nigel) and have time to take care of other logistical matters (purchasing cell phones/prepaid phone cards, etc.) Of course if you are required to self-isolate, we will be in touch with the specifics around that. 

You will be based at the university’s Magee campus in Derry-Londonderry. The aim of the first three weeks of the program is to give you an understanding of the roots of the Northern Ireland conflict, its dynamics, and approaches to its transformation. The Northern Ireland conflict will be used as a case study and you will gain insight into its emergence and various approaches to peace. Field visits to Belfast and throughout Derry-Londonderry will support this process and illuminate the culture and traditions of the society. 

Weeks 4-6: Internship Placement & Seminar                             

Your internships will be based at community-based organizations in Derry-Londonderry. During the internship portion of the program, you will have the opportunity to engage with agents of social change in Northern Ireland who are involved in the ongoing work of achieving a sustainable democracy. In most cases, where you will live (student accommodation, university dorm rooms) is in relative proximity to your place of work. While working as a full-time professional you will have the opportunity to share your opinions with others while meeting the challenges of working within a contested society. Once a week the group will meet to reflect on practices and projects related to their internships. In addition, guest speakers and excursions will be part of the seminar. During this time, you and your peers will give presentations on what you have learned about your respective organizations and how they each are working to achieve social change. Please note that COVID continues to affect our community and the NI program, including organizations' ability to host interns.  The nature of internships, with respect to the extent to which it will be possible to work in-person (as opposed to virtual / ‘blended’ support), will be determined by how host organizations are able to respond to COVID restrictions in place during the semester.  

Week 7: Extended field trip to Northern Ireland’s border counties

Week 8: Continue Internships & Seminar     

Week 9 Program Break

You can use this time to travel, further investigate Northern Ireland, or, if permitted, remain working at your internship. This may also be a good time for family or friends to come visit. Make sure that you make your preparations as far in advance as possible. CGEE cannot arrange travel that is unrelated to the program. 

• Spring 2025: Spring break starts on Friday 19 April. You need to return and be back in Derry by evening Sunday 27 April.

• Fall 2025: Spring break starts on Saturday 25 October. You need to return and be back in Derry by evening Sunday 2 November.

NOTE:

• During program break you will be financially responsible for your own food and (should you plan to travel) your accommodations.

• You have the option of remaining in your student accommodation during the break free of charge.

• Plans for travel need to comply with terms of your visa and any COVID travel restrictions that may be in place at the time.  

• For visa and COVID compliance purposes, details of any travel plans (transportation and accommodation) need to be submitted to Nigel in advance.

Weeks 10-12: Continue Internships & Seminar                  

Weeks 13-14: Classes at Ulster University                                              

You will spend the last two weeks of the program undertaking classes at Ulster University finalizing your work and preparing for your presentation of the Northern Ireland Group Study Projects.