€1500 prize up for grabs with KBC Bank and European Movement Ireland | Audrey Ellard Walsh

In recognition of Ireland’s 40 years of membership of the EU, European Movement Ireland, supported by KBC Bank Ireland has launched The EM Ireland 40 Years of Change Bursary Award. With a first prize of €1500 this essay competition challenges undergraduate students to produce a 1500 to 2000 word essay on the topic of Ireland and the EU: Forty Years of Change.Students are asked to address the following question: “Critically examine how the relationship between Ireland and the EU has developed over the past forty years and how this relationship may develop over the next forty.”Entries will be reviewed by an independent panel of judges drawn from the worlds of academia and politics. This panel is chaired by KBC Bank Ireland Chief Executive, John Reynolds, and includes Dr Mary Canning, board member of the Higher Education Authority and David Byrne, former EU Commissioner and Chancellor emeritus Dublin City University.Speaking to The UCC Express on the concept for the competition, Noelle O’Connell, Executive Director of European Movement Ireland said that: “What we wanted to do was come up with a competition to challenge Irish undergraduate students in any third level institution on the island of Ireland to reflect and critically analyse “Ireland and the EU; 40 years of change” with a view to looking towards the future.”“It’s also 40 years of KBC Bank Ireland being in the country and this competition would not be able to take place without their support so we think it’s a fantastic opportunity for students of any discipline with an interest in Irish EU affairs to put their thinking caps on and we’re looking to challenge them to reflect on Irish EU membership with a view to the future.”With regards to the style of essay that the judging panel will be looking for, Ms O’Connell says that they are not being prescriptive of academic background.  “What we want is originality of thought, something that is written solely by the candidate, I think an essay that stands out, that demonstrates originality, analyses the relationship that makes us sit up and really take notice of what we’re reading.”The author of the winning essay will be announced at a gala dinner in Dublin at the end of May 2013. Second and third place runners-up will also receive prizes on the night. The winning essay will be published on EMI’s website and “possibly in our newsletter and publications and, believe me, there will be a lot of publicity and PR work around the winner.”While speaking to us, Ms O’Connell also commended the UCC Europa Society on their recent conference stating; “It was great to see the level of interest amongst students and as a UCC Graduate I have no doubt that we will be receiving lots of submissions of an excellent calibre from UCC students.”Essays should be submitted electronically to Billie Sparks, EM Ireland’s Education and Advocacy Manager, at billie@europeanmovement.ie by 5pm on Monday, 15 April 2013.