Schools & Community Talks

Main idea

Outline

UCD Outreach Officer will offer talks/information sessions outlining the various entry options into UCD. UCD Students who have come through an access route are also trained to give these talks, so they will go out to schools/community settings to run information sessions as well and provide campus tours for information sessions held on campus. UCD has a range of educational opportunities for students of all ages and backgrounds to pursue their studies at UCD including students with disabilities, mature students, part-time learners, and students from communities experiencing socio-economic disadvantage. UCD’s Access & Lifelong Learning Centre are responsible for seven entry pathways that aim to widen participation of under-represented groups in UCD. The different pathways are University Access Courses, DARE (Disability Access Route to Education), HEAR (Higher Education Access Route), Lifelong Learning, Open Learning, Mature Years and QQI-FET.

Goals

Information and guidance on the entry pathways available at UCD as well as wider entry supports like the HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) and DARE (Disability Access Route to Education) entry options. Information and guidance on Financial supports available.

Obstacles targetted:

• Geographical obstacles
• Social obstacles
• Cultural differences
• Disability
• Economic obstacles
• Educational difficulties
• Migrant background obstacle

Students involvement

UCD Students (Access Leaders) are trained to do school talks and feedback is sought from school’s, secondary school students and community organisations on talks and information sessions delivered.

Inspiration and evidence

Identifed a gap with capacity and knowlegde and information on the pathway options into college.

Success criteria

• Peer delivered information works very well. Simplifying information as well as centralised information and signposting.
• Increases awarness of the various entry pathways to UCD and targets groups that are considered under-represented.

Points of attention

Requires more funding and admin support.

Effectiveness

Collect school feedback on talks.

Do you feel you can effectively provide the support that students require?

Would you recommend this to other institutions?

strongly agree

Evaluation

Yes we get feedback from participants and it influences how we run future sessions.

Communication

Through Guidance Counsellor network.

Timing

Talks and information sessions can take place from September to May.

Resources

Designated staff and budget, admin support, resources for promo material and to pay Access Leaders who deliver and participate in school & community talks.

Extra information

• UCD Access & Lifelong Learning - Outreach

Transferability

We think it is easily transferable to other contexts or groups.

Yes this is very easily transferable as long as you had staff to support and student’s trained to participate and deliver talks and information sessions.