DCU Access Programme Breakfast Briefing

Ita Tobin, DCU Access Service informs the group of the difficulties many families continue to face thereby deterring young people from taking that deserved step on to third level education.

On Thursday 25 September, Professor Anne Scott, Deputy President of Dublin City University hosted a breakfast briefing on Access to Higher Education, specifically highlighting DCU’s groundbreaking Access Scholarship Programme. For many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, going to university is still a financial burden. The DCU Access Programme targets young people who have the ability to benefit from and succeed in higher education but who are under-represented at universities for socio-economic reasons such as long-term unemployment, little or no family tradition of attending university, pressure to contribute to the family budget, family stresses and lack of study facilities or support at home. Today, the DCU Access Programme is the largest of its kind in the country, with over 450 undergraduate students attending DCU from the 26 counties throughout Ireland.

Nearly 50 business leaders attended the briefing and discussed the need to increase access to higher education for all young people. Guests also learned about the role the DCU Educational Trust plays in continuing DCU’s commitment to our Access Programme. The DCU Educational Trust supports students who receive a place on the DCU Access Programme with scholarships funded entirely by the private sector. Guests were asked to consider both personal and corporate philanthropy as a tangible way of demonstrating their belief that all students should have the tools to fulfil their dreams and ambitions. This appeal was reinforced by guest speaker and DCU Chancellor, The Honorable David Byrne, who urged all present to consider the pressing national need that this programme addresses by supporting talented young people in pursuing higher education

If you would like to received further information on the DCU Access Programme or wish to attend a future briefing, please contact Orla Holmes, Director of Operations, DCU Educational Trust office at (353) 1-700-5467