De Chastelain Scholar

The Embassy of Ireland to Canada is delighted to welcome the announcement of the inaugural cohort of 18 De Chastelain Scholars, a landmark initiative that will deepen academic collaboration and people-to-people connections between Ireland and Canada. The programme represents a significant new chapter in the growing strategic partnership between our two countries and highlights our shared commitment to peace, reconciliation, inclusion and sustainable development.

Named in honour of General John de Chastelain, whose leadership played a central role in supporting the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and advancing peace on the island of Ireland, the scholarship programme seeks to foster research and dialogue on the conditions that build and sustain peaceful societies.

Selected through a highly competitive process, the inaugural cohort comprises nine scholars based in Ireland who will undertake research visits in Canada and nine scholars based in Canada who will travel to institutions across the island of Ireland. Together, they represent a diverse range of disciplines and research interests, creating new opportunities for collaboration among 25 partner institutions in Canada and Ireland. The programme is designed to strengthen research links and academic exchange while encouraging innovative approaches to some of the most pressing societal challenges facing communities today.

The De Chastelain Scholarship Programme welcomes research from all disciplines under two broad themes: Pathways to Peace, which explores negotiation, reconciliation and conflict resolution, and Grounds for Hope, which examines the social, cultural, environmental, economic and institutional foundations of peaceful and resilient societies. The programme recognises that peace-building extends beyond political processes and can be advanced through diverse forms of knowledge, research and community engagement.

The inaugural cohort includes Indigenous scholars travelling to Ireland and scholars based in Ireland collaborating with Indigenous research partners in Canada. Indigenous knowledge and perspectives are an important element of the programme, reflecting a shared commitment to learning, dialogue and reconciliation.

Launched in January 2026 by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD and the Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF), the programme will support more than 50 scholars over its first three years. A major international conference is also planned in the programme's final year, bringing together scholars, practitioners and community leaders to share insights from their research and explore future opportunities for collaboration.

The programme is jointly funded by the Government of Ireland, through the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada, and is administered by the Ireland Canada University Foundation.

As Ireland and Canada continue to strengthen bilateral ties across research, innovation, education and culture, the De Chastelain Scholarship Programme stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnership, shared values and academic excellence. The Embassy of Ireland looks forward to following the scholars' journeys and the lasting impact their research will have in both countries and beyond.

Learn more about the inaugural De Chastelain Scholars and their research:

https://lnkd.in/e4pVy8pa

Read more about the De Chastelain Scholarship Programme:

https://www.icuf.ie/scholarships/de-chastelain-scholarship-programme/