CIT Access Service Deirdre Creedon Access Officer

CIT Access Mature Students Students from socio-economic disadvantaged backgrounds Ethnic minorities including the Traveller Community Students with Disabilities

CIT Access Initiatives ‘Access’ is understood to encompass not only entry to Higher Education, but also retention and successful completion. Pre-entry support Entry Post entry support Pre-entry initiatives are organised for City DEIS Schools at primary and second level Post entry supports are available to all students who are socio-economically disadvantaged irrespective of what school they have attended

Pre-Entry Supports The aim of the Science for Life Programme is to encourage, support and motivate students to study science at junior and senior cycle level at post primary and to consider studying science at third level Junior Cycle Reactions Workshops – Iodine Snake – Chemical Reactions Plastics (Chemicals) workshop Acids and Bases Workshop Health and Hygiene Workshop Senior Cycle Field Trips Electronics Workshops Careers Workshops Lab Practicals Science Teacher Information Workshops Easter Worskshops and Revision Days

Schools Completion Programme 6 sessions with junior cycle students to encourage and motivate students to stay in school and complete the Leaving Certificate Graffiti Theatre Programme – ‘You get what you give’ Nine Schools take part in this programme where Transition Year students are forced to realise that they are responsible for their own futures. Traveller Mentoring Programme – CIT, UCC and Cork City Partnership To promote attendance, increase retention and raise academic attainment and aspirations amongst the cohort of Travellers in the 6 schools “If you are afraid of what your parents or family might think don’t be, at the end of the day if it is what you want to do then no one else’s opinion should matter, but of course to have everyone on your side is always best. This is also where teachers can help in explaining that further education is always in everyone’s best interest and the benefits that come with 3rd level education. Good and helpful teachers in my opinion are the key to many of the well and truly locked doors that face all travellers..” – CIT Student Access to Education, Bridge to Employment Programme CIT, UCC, J&J Companies Cork, 3 Second Level Schools

The aim of the programme is to deliver a cross institutional and cross sectoral strategy to enhance accessibility and widen participation for learners at the Primary and Second level stages of the educational lifecycle. Home School Family Links Assistive Technology Strand Science and Technology Strand Connections Strand – Research The HSF Links strand aims at improving access and progression routes for students who for socio-economic reasons have not traditionally availed of third level education. The Community Access Coordinator works closely with the Access staff from CIT and UCC to coordinate Access initiatives for DEIS Secondary Schools and within designated communities in the Cork city area.

Primary School Pre-entry Early identification and intervention are necessary at the primary school level if progress is to be made in increasing the proportion of under-represented groups seeking eligibility for access at the tertiary level. BNY Mellon provided sponsorship to run a Summer Programme in 2010. Science, Art Therapy and BNY Volunteer Session Number of Participants Number of Children - 249 Number of Parents - 64 Number of Teachers - 26 Total Number of Participants 339

Progression Scheme for Linked Schools The Progression Scheme is a supplementary admissions scheme to CIT for school leavers from 9 Cork City Schools. CIT has had links with these schools through the CIT Access Office for over 15 years. Piloted in 2009-10. Total Applicants 56 Applicants Assessed 35 Progression Scheme Offers 8 College Place on own merit 9 Attending other colleges 8 No College Offers 8 Offered a college place but not attending 2 Review taking place with the participating schools next week.

Post Entry Supports Induction & Orientation Programme Financial Assistance Student Assistance Fund - over 200 students in receipt of financial assistance Cork Chamber Science and Engineering Bursaries – Eli Lilly, RPS Engineering, Carbon Group, Bord Gais. Mature Student Support Network Orientation programme, preparatory maths programme, study skills, writing skills workshops, money management, personal one to one support

Post-entry support programme Funded through Dormant Accounts Supports for students coming from linked schools Orientation Programme Study Skills Academic Supports Financial Support Mentoring Support

Access Award Programme Volunteer Programme for CIT Students Up to 20 hours of their time to work on Access Initiatives Training received Literacy/numeracy initiatives Campus guides Mentors Parchment received for their contribution to CIT Access initiatives

Access Team Deirdre Creedon, Access Officer Laura O’Rourke, Disability Support Officer Louise Bermingham, Projects Officer Dr. Sharon Lawton, ‘Science for Life’ Coordinator Elaine Dennehy, Community Based Access Officer Sinead O’Neill, Mature Student Project Officer Margaret Buckley, Administrator

Contact Deirdre Creedon Access Officer Cork Institute of Technology Bishopstown Cork Email: deirdre.creedon@cit.ie Phone: 021-4335140