Sile de Valera, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, launched a new Access initiative on behalf of the School of Education Studies at DCU

On Friday 16 October, Sile de Valera, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, launched a new Access initiative on behalf of the School of Education Studies at DCU. This new initiative was devised in collaboration with Dun Laoghaire and Whitehall Colleges of Further Education and provides a new Access entry route for students who do not fall into the traditional `CAO' category. This new entry route has the support of the HEA which recommends that all third-level institutions forge links with Colleges of Further Education and investigate the possibilities of alternative access routes to degree programmes.

The School of Education Studies, in collaboration with FEC, the DCU Access Service, the VEC's and the HEA, is offering students who are currently attending the two partner Colleges of Education the opportunity to take two modules on the Education and Training programme. Students attend lectures here on campus one day a week and on successful completion will be encouraged to progress to completing our full-time degree programme.

Minister de Valera said, "I warmly welcome this very innovative initiative. It has clearly been designed as a practical means of broadening routes of entry both to higher education as well as careers in education for under-represented groups in these areas such as young and mature students from socio-economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. While entry to higher education is still mainly built on performance in the Leaving Certificate examination, higher education institutions are increasingly recognising the quality and potential of further education qualifications as a means of preparing students for entry to a range of courses."

During their time here, the students engage in the experience of third level life through academic, sports, clubs and other activities. They have access to the library facilities and can also avail of the full range of student supports provided by the DCU Student Services.

The School of Education Studies has dedicated a full-time tutor/mentor to these students (22 students in total). On successful completion, students will be encouraged to study for the Degree in Education and Training here in DCU and be exempt from the two modules which they have already studied as part of this new scheme.