New Business Partners Programme launched in conjunction with Trinity’s Institute for Intellectual Disability to promote Inclusion and Diversity in the Workplace
Posted on: 29 January 2010
The National Institute for Intellectual Disability (NIID) at Trinity College Dublin launched its NIID Business Partners programme, promoting inclusion and diversity in the workplace, today, (Friday, January 29th). The launch event was hosted by the Chartered Accountants Ireland, one of the first business partners to join the programme and supported by Irishjobs.ie. More than 40 companies were in attendance at the event at the new Chartered Accountants House.
“The NIID Business Partners are a group of forward thinking companies who are committed to the values of inclusive recruitment policies and who strongly believe in harnessing potential and talent from all parts of society,” said Leslie Buckley, Chairman of Saongroup.com and IrishJobs.ie, speaking at the event .”These companies will join Trinity’s National Institute for Intellectual Disability in its progressive work, promoting the inclusion of one of the most marginalised groups in society.”
Students of Trinity’s National Institute for Intellectual Disability (NIID), Barry Mooney, Thomas Murphy and Mei Ling Yap at the launch of the new Business Partners Programme.
The National Institute for Intellectual Disability’s Certificate in Contemporary Living (CCL), a two-year TCD course, is the first full-time course of its kind in the university sector in Ireland. The course aims to facilitate lifelong learning for students with intellectual disabilities and develop skills for independent living.
One of the main aims of the CCL programme is to assist the students in finding appropriate employment on completion of the certificate through the delivery of career development and work placement modules, including work experience placements in areas of the students’ choice according to their interests and skills.
Irish companies who join the NIID Business Partners programme will help open new pathways for inclusion and independent living in their future lives. Some of the practical ways they may do this is by providing work experience placements for the students and becoming mentors of the NIID students and graduates. It will also provide vital funding which will be used for the educational benefit of NIID.
Commenting on the significance of the new programme and inclusive employment practices, Chartered Accountants Ireland HR Manager, Dawn Leane says:”The NIID Business Partners Programme will facilitate the formation of many productive partnerships. It will join the National Institute for Intellectual Disability in its work in promoting real inclusion in the workplace and will play a key role as champions and ambassadors.”
NIID’s education officer, Molly O’Keeffe welcomed the initiative, emphasising the importance of the business partners role in providing practical support for NIID’s students in seeking future employment and providing vital funding which will enable NIID to grow and innovate further.