News

DCU Iolite Gala - Celebrating 21 years of the DCU Access Programme

2011 marks the 21st Anniversary of the Dublin City University Access Programme, the first and the largest programme of its kind in Ireland.

To celebrate this landmark anniversary, DCU Educational Trust will host the DCU Iolite Gala & Awards on Wednesday, 9th November 2011 in the Redwood Ballroom of the Crowne Plaza, Northwood.

At this special black-tie event over 400 guests, including supporters of the DCU Access Programme, will join Masters of Ceremony and DCU Alumni, Richard Curran, Deputy Editor of The Sunday Business Post and Sinead Kissane, Sports Presenter/Reporter for TV3.

Students enrolled through the DCU Access Programme come from under-served areas of the country and have experienced socio-economic disadvantage.

Once at DCU, they receive academic guidance and other supports and equally as important - financial assistance in the form of Access Scholarships, funded entirely by the private sector. There are currently over 500 Access students studying at Dublin City University.

DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith, joined by our sponsors, will present awards representing the university’s four strategic themes, Translation, Transformation, Enterprise and Engagement. Special guest speaker at the event is Senator Feargal Quinn.

‘Iolite’, the chosen theme for the Gala, is the traditional gemstone for 21st anniversaries, but its selection for this event is linked to the stone’s historical use by mariners as a navigation device for their vessels.

Dublin City University believes its role as a 'University of Enterprise' is to navigate these challenging economic times and to chart a course to recovery through higher education and innovative programmes and initiatives, like the DCU Access Programme.

DCU President, Professor Brian MacCraith said, "I am delighted that DCU is celebrating the 21st anniversary of our Access Programme with so many friends and supporters of this hugely important and life-changing programme and I am honoured to have so many of our distinguished award recipients attending this Gala event. Social inclusion is a core value and this anniversary and celebration represents a significant milestone along our development path." He further stated, "My sincere thanks to our Access Programme sponsors - Deloitte; State Street; Arthur Cox; DCU Alumni and Irish American Endowment for Education inc. for their invaluable support and generosity."

The DCU Iolite Gala is kindly sponsored by Deloitte, State Street, Arthur Cox, DCU Alumni and the Irish American Endowment for Education Inc.

Deloitte, Brendan Jennings, Managing Partner, “Deloitte believe in the power of education to transform lives and long appreciated the calibre of graduates produced by Dublin City University. We are proud to support the DCU Access Scholarship Programme through the Deloitte Access Scholarship Endowment Fund, which provides access scholarships for students in perpetuity.”

“Deloitte was pleased to receive a DCU Leadership Award in 2008 in recognition of the close relationship between our organisations. We congratulate the university on the 21st Anniversary of the DCU Access Programme.”

State Street Ireland, Susan Dargan, Chief Operating Officer, “Through the State Street Foundation, we have been supporters of the DCU Access Scholarship Programme and related programmes since 2007.”

“We are delighted to support both the programme and this Gala evening, as a reflection of the close relationship we have with DCU - as philanthropic friends and as an employer of DCU graduates. We were delighted to have this relationship acknowledged with a DCU Leadership Award in 2010.”

Arthur Cox, Eugene McCague, Chairman, “Arthur Cox are pleased to be a sponsor of the DCU Iolite Gala, celebrating this important milestone for Dublin City University. We share a long history with DCU, having been legal counsel for the university since its inception, and we are pleased to have witnessed the university go from strength to strength over the years. We congratulate the university on its achievements to date and wish it every success under Prof. Brian MacCraith’s leadership.”

For more information please visit www.dcu.ie/iolite.