Under-graduates tell their own stories to encourage others to consider Higher Education

Posted on: 24 October 2018

Over 150 community mentors received vital training and resources to fulfil their roles as advocates for Higher Education at a very special ‘Mentor Summit’ at Trinity on October 13th.  The summit took place as part of the Community Mentoring Programme, a unique collaborative project between IADT, Marino Institute of Higher Education, NCAD, UCD and Trinity and is funded by the HEA Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH).

Mentors are a valuable community resource, who can help to share information and advice about their college experience, as a way to help prospective students build their awareness of college courses, how to apply, and the benefits of a college education.

Those who attended the Mentor Summit were under graduate students who will now reach out to students with a disability, students from the Irish travelling community, lone parents and socio-economically under-represented students in DEIS schools and Further Education Colleges in Dublin city to encourage and motivate them to consider higher education as an option.

Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor launched the summit. She said: “Increasing participation in higher and further education by those from socially disadvantaged communities is a key part of my remit as Minister.  It is vital that as a society, that everyone involved in education, from universities to community groups, reaches out to all who may be considering their future education and arms them with the information, encouraging them to explore their options.  I hope that by me championing the initiative that I am encouraging as many people as possible to get involved. I wish to commend the organisers in establishing the Community Mentor Programme this year.”

All-Ireland Dublin Ladies Manager and teacher Mick Bohan was guest speaker at the event. He said: “As a teacher in a DEIS school I see the positive consequences education can have on my pupils every single day. It is the academic learning and practical changes I see in their lives that reaffirms my belief that education doesn’t stop at secondary school, it needs to continue into third level and for the rest of our lives.“

Kathleen O’Toole, Deputy Director, Trinity Access Programme said: “Trinity is delighted to be collaborating with Marino Institute of Education, IADT, NCAD, and UCD on this unique community mentoring programme.  Our access students have important stories to tell and skills to share about getting to and through college.  We are confident that the placements of under-graduate students from our 5 institutions in DEIS schools and Further Education Colleges across Dublin will make a real impact.”

#Communitymentor #CAW18

You can find out more about College Awareness Week here.