UNESCO Chair

About the UNESCO Chair

The UNESCO Chair on Bullying and Cyberbullying, the first such Chair in the world, was awarded to Professor James O’Higgins Norman at Dublin City University in 2018. The UNESCO Chairs programme advances research and education in all of UNESCO’s fields of competence by building university networks and encouraging inter-varsity cooperation through transfer of knowledge across borders. Professor O’Higgins Norman, with other members of the Chair, conducts a programme of research within and supported by DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC) that spans a range of global partnerships involving universities, NGOs, Governments, schools and youth organisations. This work encompasses research, education, and policy development.

Background

Professor O’Higgins Norman is a member of the Government of Ireland’s Steering Committee on School Bullying and has contributed to the development of two national action plans on bullying in 2013 and 2022. He is also a member of the Government of Ireland’s National Advisory Council on Online Safety (NACOS) and was previously a member of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Sub-Committee on Intercultural Education in Schools. James is Chair of UNESCO’s International Scientific Committee on Tackling Bullying and lead the development of UNESCO’s Whole Education Approach to Tackling School Bullying and Cyberbullying. He was Chair of World Anti-Bullying Forum 2019. He has lead several Government and EU funded research projects on school bullying, inclusion and diversity. He is the Principal Investigator on an EU COST Action focused on migration and school bullying. James is the PI on three industry funded research projects worth over €5 million developing educational and digital solutions to bullying and cyberbullying. In 2021 Professor O’Higgins Norman received the President’s Award for Research Impact.

Mission

The Chair is ideally located within DCU Anti-Bullying Centre which is a globally connected university designated centre of excellence for anti-bullying and online safety research and education. In line with the Centre, the Chair shares the same purpose, vision, values and spirit as follows:

Purpose

To transform the lives of people and global societies through promoting positive social relationships.

Vision

To be a globally recognised centre for innovative research and education in anti-bullying and online safety.

Values

Excellence in research and education is the foundation of what we do. We are guided by our values of integrity and respect; we act with compassion and foster a global culture of inclusion and collaboration.

Spirit

We are united by our purpose and the mutual support from our global community to achieve our aims. We take pride in our ethical way of working and the positive social impact our research has on tackling bullying and promoting online safety. We believe our spirit will flourish because we are ethical, ambitious, collaborative, compassionate and committed to improving well-being in society.

Current Activities

Other Projects from members of the UNESCO Chair