Mater Dei Institute of Education (Irish: Institiúid Oideachais Mater Dei) is a linked college of Dublin City University since 1999, located in Drumcondra, Dublin City, Ireland, near Croke Park, on the site of what was formerly Clonliffe College, the Roman Catholic Seminary for the Archdiocese of Dublin. The college has been in existence since 1966 when it was founded as an institute for the training and formation for teachers of religion in secondary schools in the Republic of Ireland. Founded by Archbishop John Charles McQuaid like Clonliffe it was affiliated to the Angelicum in Rome it offered a three year course leading to a diploma and a four year course leading to a Masters, Fr. Joseph Carroll was its first president. The foundation of the college was a response to the challenges posed by the Second Vatican Council. It has a Roman Catholic ethos and currently has approximately 800 students.
The college offers a number of undergraduate courses, primarily in secondary religious education and currently postgraduate courses, (including Doctorates), primarily in religion, the humanities and education; faith and culture as well as theology and philosophy in dialogue.
In 1999 Mater Dei Institute of Education along with became a College of Dublin City University.
Since 2002 it has opened an Irish Studies Department and is offering a BA programme in Religious Studies and Irish Studies. The Institute sees this as a contribution to the understanding that is engendered by the Good Friday Agreement. The Institute also has links with colleges in Northern Ireland, France, Italy and the USA. Mater Dei in partnership with the Methodist Edgehill Theological College in Belfast run courses such as a BTh exploring faith together.
In 2008 the relationship linking Dublin City University with All Hallows, St. Patrick's College of Education, Drumcondra and Mater Dei Institute of Education was revised.
The Institute is engaged in the Erasmus student exchange programme with other colleges in Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain.
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