1. The Virtual Community College Patron, Lord David Puttnam

2. An Cosán’s Virtual Community College Our Vision: A nation free from all forms of educational inequality, where men and women achieve their personal educational potential, a community where poverty and unemployment has no presence

3. The global issue facing the world is youth unemployment. According to the International Labour Organisation young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults and almost 73 million youth worldwide are looking for work. In Ireland, unemployment among those between the ages of 17 and 25 rose more rapidly than across Europe, from approximately 9% in 2007, to 28% in September 2013 (This accounts for approximately 60,000 young people, our target group.) Each year 4,500 young people fall out of school before they reach ‘Junior Cert’. That’s 45,000 over a 10 year period. They are our target group. Some Disturbing Facts

4. Some 99% of Dublin 6 students go on to third-level ‘Education Authority finds level of college entrants down to 15% in other parts of Dublin’ (Irish Times: 17 July, 2014) HEA Report highlights disparity in progress to third-level education between affluent and poorer areas RTÉ: 20 August, 2014 Social class of school a key factor in third level attendance Creating ‘high expectations’ in working class schools key to boosting equality – ESRI Report’ (Irish Times: 12 August, 2014) Is Educational Inequality Finally Being Recognised? Unlikely! These facts are well known and documented for the past 20 years… but nothing changes

5. Achievement is not expected by teachers, students or their families 33% children in poor areas leave primary school with literacy issues How bad can it get! Only 1% of people in Moyross have a degree How bad can it get! Only 1% of people in Moyross have a degree Intergenerational underachievement is consistent with poverty The Issue To Redress: Educational disadvantage in communit ies that struggle with poverty The Issue To Redress: Educational disadvantage in communit ies that struggle with poverty “They always said I was no good, that I was like the rest of my family” “There’s no way I could ever go back to education, I screwed it all up” “There’s no good jobs for the likes of me” “So what, that’s us, who cares?” “There’s nothing can be done, it will never change” “Who would want to live in Jobstown” The Root Cause; Structural Educational Inequality The Results: A Negative Impact on People’s Lives Ineffective early education: 51% of children in Tallaght West are reared by young single parents

6. The ‘One Generation’ Solution.. Education is now global, digital and accessible to communities and individuals wherever they are. E-learning, virtual learning could be a significant tool to combat poverty, a tool nobody is using for this purpose. An Cosán’s Virtual Community College will Offer An Cosán’s higher education courses to young and older adults all over Ireland through virtual blended teaching and learning supported by the personalised scaffolding for each student that CE centres can provide. A young woman, a lone parent, educated to third level will earn 40% more than a woman without a degree and with her children exit poverty forever

7. An Cosán CorkLimerickLongfordGalwayDonegalKerryWexford Partners at the Heart of Community Education Together building Capacity Together increasing student access Together demolishing the digital Divide Together sharing resources The Virtual Community College

8. The Model

9. “using 21 st century teaching and learning technologies, community education can fast tracks individuals and communities out of poverty all over Ireland ”

10. OBJECTIVES To implement the scalable virtual learning framework we have developed To removes cost, time and place barriers experienced by people struggling with poverty. Make all our/your programmes, starting with our higher education courses available to anyone, anywhere in disadvantaged communities through a virtual blended learning process. Enable an m-Learning ecosystem in the VCC: Making our resources accessible on mobile and tablet devices; making education couch-able! Create and upskill a network of community educators nationwide To engage a range of skilled volunteers to support and implement our strategy To have corporate partners to support this social enterprise. In particular to support our ambition to scale rapidly and successfully build a sustainable economic business model Strategic Objectives

11. The Virtual Community College The digital divide is disappearing for thousands Over 2,708 students access and enjoy education 400+ graduates accessing employment 450 students completed degree 400+ graduates accessing employment 450 students completed degree Potential Future Impact over 5 years Higher education becomes an achievable goal and families expectations of educational achievement growing 1000 + students accessing higher education annually The cycle of intergenerational educational disadvantage and poverty begins to disappear Thousands more students can access education every year

12. An Cosán is currently seeking to develop collaborative partnerships with community and education organisations to implement the next stage of the programme. The objective of the partnership is to share knowledge and experience, to establish community hubs, deliver programmes through a virtual learning environment and to create, with community educators, a community of teaching and learning for a digital age

13. Why not join us on the journey? If you are interested take a brochure And contact Helen Thank you for your interest and time.