DCU’s Centre for Academic Achievement scoops Irish Times award
Monday 14 January 2008

Bronagh Duffy(formerly of ACCESS dept, DCU), Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paddy Bourke, Eleanor Cooke (CTYI), Maeve Donovan (Managing Director, Irish Times), Colm O'Reilly (Director, CTYI)

DCU has come out on top at the Irish Times Living Dublin Awards with the Centre for Academic Achievement announced as the overall winner. The programme has been running at DCU for six months and was organised by the Irish Centre for Talented Youth and DCU Access Services. The awards celebrate the commitments and achievements made by groups and individuals to enhance the well being of communities in Dublin. Prizes at the December 2007 ceremony were awarded in categories such as Community Development, Business in the Community, Culture and Tourism and Dublin City Neighbourhoods.

DCU also took the prize in education, an award for involvement by a third-level organisation. The overall Living Dublin Award was presented to the team. DCU won three awards in total.

“This programme has been so successful, it’s wonderful to get the recognition from these awards”, said a thrilled Colm O’Reilly, Director of the programme and CTYI.

It aims to work with bright children between 9-12 years old from inner city Dublin. Teachers in local schools nominate students they feel would benefit from extra academic stimulation. At DCU children have the opportunity to study medicine, forensics, sport science, chemistry, engineering, investigative science and ‘me and my body’. Students who are selected for these courses were identified as being top of their class. Discover Science and Engineering (DSE) sponsored the programme.

It has highlighted the need for other initiatives to be set up to encourage students to develop their academic talent. The idea and implementation of the project came jointly from Colm O’Reilly, Eleanor Cooke (CTYI) and Bronagh Duffy (formerly DCU Access). Classes will run again in 2008 with zoology, engineering, forensics and maths magic just some of the courses on offer. At the end of the course there is an awards ceremony and the students receive a certificate.