Posted: 06 August 2008
AIB Better Ireland Programme award for UCD Students’ Union
UCD Students’ Union has won an AIB Better Ireland Programme award for its annual Access Week Program. As part of the programme, students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are traditionally less likely to enter third level education are invited to visit the university, provided with information on the financial supports available, and encouraged to take part in a homework/grind programme to assist them with their studies.
“We would like to congratulate University College Dublin Students’ Union for their success,” says Adrienne Murray, Branch Manager of AIB at UCD. “We’re looking forward to seeing progress in the access programme in the near future.”
Vivian Rath, Welfare Officer 2007/2008, UCDSU (centre-left) and Ronan Shanahan, Education Officer 2007/2008, UCDSU (centre-right) receiving the AIB Better Ireland Programme award from Anne Egan, AIB, UCD Branch, (left) and Mary Wall, AIB, UCD Branch, (right).
To date, more than 1,500 primary and secondary school students have taken part in the programme which has been running for the past 4 years. “Our project aims to inspire disadvantaged young people to consider third level education from an early age, and to make them aware of the different supports that are available when it comes to CAO application time,” says Ronan Shanahan, the UCDSU Education Officer for 2007/2008.
“The school children are brought to the University campus in Belfield and given a tour of the University. The trip is tailored to their age group, and involves exciting science experiments in laboratory settings, a trip to the UCD Veterinary Hospital, and a visit to the Health Sciences Bone Library.”
“The programmes on offer are linked to the interests of the pupils. For example, the computer science building is linked to computer games,” he explains. “The trip also involves a stop at the University Observer Newspaper and Belfield FM, the student radio station. Students who are interested in acting or performing are taken on a tour of the Drama Society’s stage sets.”
During their visit, the students are also given a tour of UCD’s sporting facilities, and can take part in a football tournament.
Another significant part of the programme involves UCD student volunteers providing free grinds to pupils who require support in their specific areas of study. A leadership and mentoring role is also available to students.
“We believe that education is the single greatest tool we have to effect social change in our community,” says Ronan. “The programme fosters aspiration by focusing on tackling the twin problems of cultural and financial barriers. Among primary school children we aim to raise their aspirations and introduce them to the possibility of a third level education.”
With the donation of €10,000 received from AIB as part of the better Ireland Awards, the UCD Students Union aims to further enhance and develop the programme and match UCD students to disadvantaged students in the wider community, so as to engage in a sustained peer mentoring system.
The official award ceremony for the AIB Better Ireland Programme took place at the AIB Bankcentre in Ballsbridge on Wednesday 30 July 2008. The event was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Eibhlin Byrne.
