Trudy Corrigan wins The Irish Times Living Dublin Award

Trudy Corrigan

Trudy Corrigan, Lecturer in the School of Education Studies has won the third-level education category in The Irish Times Living Dublin Awards for her work in the area of intergenerational learning.

The study, entitled the Gateway Intergenerational Learning Pilot Study, involved DCU students teaching older people computer skills. The cross generation relationship also allowed the ‘teacher’ and ‘student’ to share experiences.

"I was told we'd find no students, they'd be too busy on Saturdays or they'd have hangovers, but when I put out an e-mail I got 50 replies. It was great," she said.

The award provided great encouragement in the face of the economic downturn. She said she hoped with funding, the study would mark the beginning of developing a centre for intergenerational learning that could be copied in all third-level colleges.

"The success of the project was due to the collaborative efforts of the School of Education Studies, the School of Communications and the wider community of DCU students.Age and Opportunity made this possible because of their funding the project.It is anticipated that this collaborative effort will continue for the future success of this initiative."