Kimmage Development Studies Centre (DSC) was a private third-level institution based at Holy Ghost Missionary College, Kimmage Manor, Dublin, Ireland from 1974 to July 2018. It provided courses in Development Studies since 1974, as well as other training courses aimed at the international development sector, development practitioners and activists.
History
Before the Centre
The Holy Ghost Fathers came to Kimmage in 1911 when they purchased the house and its 69 acres, opening it as a Novitate and House of Studies; students would also take degrees from University College Dublin, to which, traditionally, they would cycle. There was significant development of the buildings in 1914, 1929 and in 1938, with the building of the church and facilities for Philosophy and Theology students. From 1924 until 1933 the Holy Ghost Fathers studied theology at Blackrock Castle, before returning to Kimmage.
In 1917 the House of Philosophy moved to St Mary's College, Dublin (while it was closed as a secondary school) then in 1926 it moved to Blackrock, before moving back to Kimmage in 1938 following the developments. In 1974 this was to become Kimmage Development Studies Centre, initially to provide education and training to intending overseas missionaries, and from 1978 onwards to cater for the training needs of the growing development NGOs and volunteer sending agencies.
The Centre
Kimmage Development Studies Centre was based at Kimmage Manor, Dublin, from 1974 to 2018. It was established by the Irish Province of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (also known as the Spiritans or the Holy Ghost Fathers), out of their adult education department, under Rev. Richard (Dick) F. Quinn C.S.Sp. (who served as director of the centre from 1976 until 1997). It initially functioned to provide education and training to intending overseas missionaries, who, in addition to priestly formation, often took degrees at UCD. In the mid-1970s the development studies programme grew out of the fourth-year pastoral theology course at Kimmage, which seminarians took. Liberation Theology and experiences of returning missionaries would have inspired many of the seminarians, and lay students in the centre.
From 1978 onwards, to cater for the training needs of the growing development NGOs and volunteer sending agencies, the programme of studies was opened to participants of all backgrounds, cultures, nationalities and religious persuasions. To date, it has accommodated students from over 65 different countries, drawn mainly from Africa and Ireland but increasingly, also from Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America.
As Holy Ghost College, this was one of the independent designated institutions under the aegis of the National Council For Educational Awards (NCEA), per an Act of 1979 and a statutory instrument of 1980, allowing the Development Studies Department to provide Irish Government-recognised certificates and diplomas.
The Mission Institute spin-off
In 1991, the Kimmage Mission Institute of Theology and Cultures was set up by the Spiritians and a number of other missionary organisations; this moved to the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy in 2003.
Cooperative operations
In 1994, with Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (the Danish Action Aid charity), Kimmage began running a Certificate in Community Development course in Arusha, Tanzania. Similarly, in 2001 MS-TCDC with Kimmage offered a Diploma in Development Studies, which in 2004 became the Level 7 BA Degree in Development Studies.
In 2002, Kimmage DSC worked with Training for Transformation (TfT) in providing their Diploma Course for The Grail in Klienmond, Western Cape, South Africa. In 2004, Kimmage DSC successfully tendered for an Irish Aid-funded contract to run a training and learning programme for the Irish development NGO and missionary sector. This programme (known as DTALK) was run by a consortium headed by Kimmage DSC which included the Dutch agency MDF, and the UK agency INTRAC. The programme continued to run until the contract ended in March 2012.