SCHOOL OF SOCIAL
SCIENCES AND
PHILOSOPHY
Subject:
Decisions and Actions - SSP Alumni Project Group
Meeting Date:
18 December, 2012
Present:
Helen Murray, John O’Hagan, Eileen Punch and James Wickham
1.
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Grattan Scholars Programme
25 proposals were received from School staff as potential topics for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015
Grattan Scholars research themes – pending securing funding.
Options were discussed in relation to the process for reviewing proposals. It was proposed that
the Head of School and an alumni representative, such as a member in of the Foundation
Board, would liaise with John O’Hagan to determine which proposals should be funded in
2013/2014, if there are multiple projects under the same research theme. This should take place
via email/conference call in in January 2013.
Agreed that if the proposed academic supervisor is due to retire within the 4 year PhD
supervision period or if they are in the early part of their career with limited PhD supervision
experience a co-supervisor should be put in place for the duration of the PhD.
Next Steps:
 Helen to forward final research proposals document to John.
 John to summarise submissions and circulate to relevant School staff for information.
 John to identify the topics which could be funded under Career Success and Migration areas
where funding has been secured with for 2013/2014.
 Eileen to link in with Mary Apied on inviting Declan Sheehan to participate in the proposal
review process.
 Helen to follow up with Peter Simons regarding participating in scholarship proposal review
process.
 Advert to be developed for Grattan Scholars programme for mid-February. Group to discuss at
next meeting on January 15.
2.
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Henry Grattan Lecture London
Agreed that topic should be Britain exiting the EU (Brexit) – Implications for Anglo-Irish
relations. Event to take place in April/May 2013.
Irish Embassy has agreed to host the event. Maximum capacity is 100; however it is likely that
20-25 places will need to be reserved for Embassy invitees.
The following options were discussed for the main speaker (1) Pat Cox (2) John Bruton (3) Alan
Dukes (4) Brendan Halligan with Antoin Murphy, TCD Professor in Economics to be invited as
the discussant.
Agreed that Eileen should act as the key point of contact with the Irish Embassy.
Confirmed that a note has been sent to the UK Trust thanking them for supporting the event.
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Next Steps:
 John to contact Pat Cox (SSP alumnus, TCD Honorary Degree holder and former President of
the European Parliament) to invite him to speak at the event. Helen to be copied on note to
coordinate logistics.
3.
AOB
Next Steps:
 In the new year to review list of scholars to identify potential engagement and fundraising
opportunities.
 To also identify opportunities in relation to class of ’83, ’93 etc. for the 2013 Alumni Weekend.
Upcoming Meeting
 Next alumni project team meeting to be held at 2pm on Tuesday January 15 in the Dean’s
Office.
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