I established the
Post Graduate Diploma in Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies in partnership with the Irish School of Ecumenics in Trinity College Dublin, 2001 . My plan has been to establish a Centre of excellence in the study, training, and practice of ADRs and the programme has been most successful. Some of the early participants were eager to develope their areas of special interest further to Masters stage and that work will have made a vital contribution to their areas of work . Over the years, we established links with other such centres and universities and have liaised with members of the Courts Service and Government Departments to keep them advised of the growth in this area, and the potential application, and benefits of the concepts at so many levels.
We have links with Lancaster University, The Richardson Institute (the first in this field in the U.K), the University of Ulster and the University of York. Our first two external Examiners - Dr Fergal Cochrane of Lancaster and Dr Roger Mc Ginty from York had hailed from the University of Ulster. Currently, discussions are in train about connections with Stamford University in the U.S and we have a link with SACRO in Scotland which was headed up by a Dublin man Niall Kearney who has been a great associate over the years bringing us news from his pioneering work in the area of diversion programmes, restorative justice processes, and reparation projects. When he was outgoing External Examiner - Dr. Fergal Cochrane -in his report of the founding years of the CDRS programme, commented upon the diversity and standards of the work of the participants over the first four years and highlighted the social relevance and outreach aspect of the work.
