Defense Date

11-18-2003

Graduation Date

Fall 2003

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

thesis

Degree Name

MA

Department

Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Committee Chair

Mary F. Antolini

Committee Member

Moni Mcintyre

Keywords

employment, Irish emigration, Irish peace process, Protestants and Catholics, qualitative interviews

Abstract

This research was an evaluative study of the Wider Horizons program in Pittsburgh from 1989 to 2002. This program offers young unemployed Irish and Northern Irish adults the opportunity to live and work in the USA for up to eight weeks.

A sample population of 44 past participants partook in qualitative interviews to help determine if the Wider Horizons program had achieved its three stated goals. The three dependant variables in this study were, one securing employment upon return to Ireland, secondly one returning to further education upon to Ireland, and finally a recorded increase in one's ethno-religious tolerance upon completion of the program.

The results showed that the program was successful in increasing the employability of its participants upon their return to Ireland. The findings showed that there was limited success however, in encouraging the participants to return to further education or in fostering increased tolerance.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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