2017 Summit
The 2017 UA Summit, 7-9th November 2017, in Dublin, Ireland was a richly engaging mix of student-led research, high‑impact keynote talks and global networking, all aimed at nurturing the next generation of academic and professional leaders November 2017 spread across multiple venues, including Smock Alley Theatre, Farmleigh House and City Hall.
Reinforcing the core values of the Undergraduate Awards as a prestigious international platform for outstanding undergraduate scholarship and academic excellence.
Keynote & Featured Speakers
Chris Lubbe – Former Bodyguard of Nelson Mandela, Inspirational Speaker
Born at a very difficult period in South Africa’s history, Chris made a decision early in his life to become an activist and oppose the racially based system of apartheid. This decision was to put him on a direct collision course with the apartheid regime which resulted in several spells of incarceration, torture and near-death experiences. After Nelson Mandela’s release in 1990 and the fall of apartheid, Chris worked with Nelson Mandela until his retirement as a bodyguard and also got involved in the delicate negotiations with the ‘apartheid regime’ resulting in subsequent agreement and the drafting of the new constitution. At present Chris works within various sectors as a keynote speaker and uses stories from his past to inspire positive change. His talks cover various themes including determination, resilience, courage, humanity, courage and forgiveness. Chris draws mainly from the important lessons he learned from Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Zerbanoo Gifford – Author, Human Rights Campaigner, International Woman of the Year 2006
Author and human rights campaigner Zerbanoo Gifford is the founder of the ASHA Centre, which pioneers youth empowerment in the fields of sustainable development, interfaith and intercultural dialogue and the arts. She holds the International Woman of the Year Award 2006 for her humanitarian work, which spans fifty years of grassroots and global activism, as well as the Nehru Centenary Award for her work championing the rights of women, children and minorities. A pioneer for Asian Women in British politics, Zerbanoo has also been London organiser for the charity Shelter and was director of Anti-Slavery International. Her seven books include ‘Thomas Clarkson and the Campaign against Slavery’, ‘Dadabhai Naoroji, Britain’s First Asian MP’, and ‘Secrets of the Worlds Inspirational Women’, highlighting the lives of 300 exceptional women from 60 countries for which she was awarded a ‘NESTA Fellowship’. Zerbanoo’s biography ‘An Uncensored Life’ is published by Harper Collins.
The Colloquium
Prof. Noel Sharkey
Kingsley Aikins
Dr. Charity Wayua
Lynn Scarff
Philip King
Syed Shoaib Hasan Rizvi
Prof. Dame Sue Black
Ailbhe Smyth
Dr. Roja Fazaeli
Ronan Hodson
Dr. Cynthia Mannion
Gavin Fogarty
Prof. Owen Priest
Conor Houston
Barry Sheehan
Dr. Marisa Moazen
Will St Leger
Pat Liddy
In 2017 the Global Undergraduate Awards, brought together academics, judges and educational leaders to reflect on the evolving role of undergraduate research and the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue. It provided a dedicated space for in-depth discussion on excellence in undergraduate work, global education trends and the potential for collaboration across institutions and disciplines. It marked a shift towards recognising students not only as learners but as emerging scholars, capable of contributing meaningful insight to their fields.
Laying the foundation for future programme developments, particularly around the structure of the judging process and the role of academic engagement in shaping a more inclusive and globally connected platform for undergraduate achievement.
It was led by a gathering of UA Judges, Professors and academics from some of our partner universities, including:
