Developing Community Initiatives

Higher Education participation rates in the Traveller community remain very low compared to the wider population. 

Our Traveller and Roma Education Officer works with schools and community groups to increase Traveller and Roma Participation in Higher Education. This work introduces students to campus life and normalises the idea that University is an option for everyone.

Activities include:

• On campus activities for Traveller and Roma students from primary and post-primary schools, eg School talks, sports, art, creative writing, storytelling and campus tours.
• Workshops on entry routes, pathways, and support services in DCU.
• Individual support to Traveller and Roma senior cycle students interested in progressing to further and higher education.
• Workshops for parents/adults include beady pockets, candle making, tapestry, and educational sessions.
• Talks and workshops with current DCU teaching students, to share knowledge and deepen their understanding of Traveller & Roma history and culture. 

For more information, please contact harry.mallon@dcu.ie. 

DCU Access invites community organisations to collaborate with us to organise an 'Our Neighbour, Our Friend' event in your community.

To date, this event was hosted in Ballymun Axis and Finglas Youth Resource Centre and was an opportunity to develop links between our Community Outreach team and local agencies working with under-represented groups. 

For more information, contact laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie 

Our DCU Community Education Forum meets bi-monthly in DCU and  provides a space to discuss and develop adapted initiatives to address educational inequalities. 

The forum has been a great vehicle for community educators from the greater north Dublin area to share ideas and initiate new collaborative projects with DCU Access.

To learn more about the forum, please contact laurence.vanderhaegen@dcu.ie 

If you would like DCU Access to participate in an event in your community or organisation, register your details below and we will do the rest!

Our input may include:

• Stand at Local Education Fair or an Open day
• Talk at a Community event
• Talk on our courses
• Presentation on supports