In her capacity as Deputy Director of the City of Dublin VEC Curriculum Development Unit, Ireland, Miriam O’Donoghue also holds responsibility for consumer education, education for sustainable development and education for responsible living. Her list of formal qualifications is as impressive as her portfolio of duties, including manager of Further Education Support Services in both Dublin and throughout the country. The TOPACE Jury reviewed and acknowledged her outstanding achievements and unanimously decided to award Miriam O’Donoghue for her merits, which include innovative contributions as well as co-operation and co-ordination in international networks, such as:

• the Consumer Citizenship Network CCN,

• the DOLCETA Consumer Education online project for Ireland,

• the Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living PERL.

In 2008 Miriam O’Donoghue und Mella Cusack edited the book ESD “Images and Objects”, an active methodology toolkit, which won broad recognition in the CCN network and has since been translated into several languages. In co-operation with the International Federation for Home Economics IFHE Miriam edited and published an e-book entitled “Global Sustainable Development-A Challenge for Consumer Citizens”; 2nd edition in 2010. Miriam’s work is greatly appreciated by the community of Consumer Educators in Europe and worldwide and will be long remembered into the future.


Honourable Mentions:

• The City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee –represented by Ms. Jacinta Stewart, CEO – is granted an Honourable Mention for the promotion of consumer education in the frame of international and national activities. At the launching of DOLCETA Jacinta Stewart emphasized the responsibility of every educator to equip the next generation to be an astute consumer. This is a statement perfectly in line with the philosophy of the Tower Person Award for Consumer Educators in Europe.

• The CDVEC Curriculum Development Unit Dublin –represented by Mr. Aidan Clifford, Director- is granted an Honourable Mention for the development and support especially of programmes and research projects that address consumer education and education for sustainable development. The thematic focus of CDU reflects the principles of EU programmes, OECD consumer policy and related national priorities.