RCSI hosted the 3rd Annual RCSI International Citizenship Awards today, recognising the importance of cultural and social skills for healthcare graduates in an increasingly globalised society and healthcare environment. This award programme encourages students to develop the attributes required to show healthcare leadership in the mixed cultural and social settings that will be the norm in their future careers.

This structured self-directed programme empowers students to avail of the rich multi-cultural opportunities available in RCSI for self-development through extracurricular activities, interacting with others from diverse backgrounds, and formally reflecting on their personal development through these activities, supported by staff mentors. The aim is to use these experiences in a structured way to support self-reflection and personal development as an ‘international citizen’.

Speaking at the event Professor Hannah McGee, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences said: “In an increasingly globalised world, we see international third level education as an important vehicle to foster increased understanding, respect and engagement across countries and cultures.

"The students who participate in this programme demonstrate the skills and knowledge necessary to work more effectively in the diverse world of health and healthcare and displays an understanding of the complexity of the public, patient and professional perspectives involved in an increasingly globalised environment,” concluded Professor McGee.

Dr Fidèle Mutwarasibo, the Founder of DILEAS Consulting, specialising in human rights, equality, immigration, integration, diversity, and advocacy, speaking at the event said: “Thanks to globalisation we have all become citizens of the world. We no longer need to travel far to meet other cultures. Functioning and fulfilling our roles in the 21st century require us to develop our intercultural competences. Today's awards ceremony is timely and marks a new beginning in our endeavours to become true citizens of the world.”

RCSI’s International Citizenship programme awards students who show an ‘international outlook’ through demonstration of personal development and learning from their interactions with others from diverse backgrounds during extra-curricular activities. Students participating in the International Citizenship Programme complete a portfolio of activities and submit written reflection on the skills, values and attitudes that they have demonstrated through these activities under various categories such as:

• Education: Leadership & Peer Engagement
• RCSI life: Social engagement & Leadership
• Local community: Social Engagement and Leadership
• Overseas Challenge
• Research/other

RCSI is ranked among the top 250 (top 2%) of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2018) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. It is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, with its headquarters in Dublin, focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. RCSI is a signatory of the Athena SWAN Charter.