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Tackling educational disadvantage, widening participation and enhancing civic engagement between DIT and the wider community
Opening up higher education to society, Curriculum innovation in higher education institutions (HEIs), Higher education's role in addressing major global challenges, Social responsibility of higher education, Acces, equity and quality
The aim of the Community Links Programme is to help in the alleviation of educational disadvantage at local (inner-city Dublin), national and international levels. This is achieved through initiatives primarily directed at personal development including self esteem, confidence, motivation and empowerment of individuals and communities.
The Community Links Programme is made up of five very different projects, but what they all have in common is a commitment to support communities and individuals to reach their full potential. The programmes are located in the Primary, Secondary, Third level and Community Sectors. The issues concerned are the alleviation of absenteeism, prevention of drop-out, increases in the attainment in schools, return to education in communities and access to education for all, civic engagement and social change.
DIT originated in the vocational education sector in the late nineteenth century when several vocational colleges were set up in Dublin’s inner-city, under the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee. In 1992 these were merged into DIT, which is now the largest third-level institution in Ireland, awarding a wide range of qualifications from higher certificates to doctoral degrees. Many of the programmes still have a strong emphasis on applied learning and applied research, and close links with industry. DIT has a strong record of community engagement, through the Community Links Programme. It has a long record of admitting and supporting students from diverse backgrounds through the Access and Disability services. It is a member of the Talloires Network, Campus Compact, the Living Knowledge Network, and the University Social Responsibility Alliance, all committed to expanding the civic engagement of universities.
The underpinning philosophy of the Community Links Programme is that education for citizenship begins at a very early age i.e. primary or pre- primary and continues throughout life. Empowerment of individuals through engagement and enhancement of self esteem, leading to greater participation in education, brings about social change. The community-based programmes – Ballymun Music Programme, Dublin Inner-city Schools Computerisation Programme, and Digital Community (the latter two now merged into Computer Learning In Communities) – created and maintain partnerships with disadvantaged schools and communities, teachers and parents, to identify and meet their educational needs through the vehicles of learning / performing music, and computer technology. The DIT-based programs – Access Service, Mature Student Access Programme, and Programme for Students Learning with Communities – focus on providing pathways to higher education access for disadvantaged young people and adults, and supporting students and faculty to design service-learning projects in collaboration with community partners. The Programme for Students Learning With Communities also strongly integrates the DIT-based with the Community based programmes enhancing the educational experience for all.
The Community Links Programme carries out the following activities:
The Digital Community Programme has brought computer labs into twenty five Dublin inner-city flat complexes, and continues to train the residents of these socio-economically disadvantaged communities in skills that will help them to bridge the ‘digital divide’ in the future.
Dublin Inner-city Schools Computerisation Programme (DISC) was established in 1998 with the aim of achieving equality of access, opportunity and training to Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) across Dublin inner-city disadvantaged schools. The Programme operates in 38 primary and secondary schools.
The Digital Community Programme and Dublin Inner-city Schools Computerisation Programme have just recently been amalgamated into one programme called CLIC (Computers Learning in Communities) programme.
The DIT Access Service was established in 1999 to assist individuals and communities in overcoming socioeconomic barriers to accessing higher education, recognizing the role of higher education in providing benefits to individuals and communities.
The DIT Mature Student Access Course is a one year course at DIT designed for Mature Students (22 years or older) from areas and communities without a strong tradition of participation in third level education. Successful participants are then eligible to enter undergraduate courses at DIT.
Students Learning With Communities supports staff and students engaging in community-based learning and research (or service-learning), and builds links with communities. DIT staff and/or students work with community partners to develop real-life projects for mutual benefit, students being assessed as part of their coursework.
Through recorder classes, string groups, brass, wind and blues bands the Ballymun Music Programme provides a musical pathway for the children of Ballymun, a socioeconomically disadvantaged area of Dublin, from beginners through to Leaving Certificate music and third level music studies.
Activity to increase participation in higher education from under-represented sections of society is well-established in DIT. Community Links instigated this approach and is at the centre of these efforts, working closely with the Disability Service and Mature Student Services, and with support from the Admissions Office, Campus Life, the Learning, Teaching and Technology Centre (LTTC), the Students’ Union and student support services across the Institute.
Alignment and coordination across all of these groups has recently been enhanced through the development of DIT’s Widening Participation strategy. It builds on the extensive work already undertaken and provides an institute-wide framework for achieving wider participation in DIT by students and communities experiencing socio-economic disadvantage, mature students, students with a disability, students from ethnic minorities and students from the Traveller community. Published in April 2010 after extensive consultation, the strategy acts an over-arching reference point for our own Community Links Strategic Action Plan.
The Community Links Programme over the past fifteen years of its operation has achieved a life-cycle approach in addressing civic engagement, widening participation and the alleviation of educational disadvantage, working with its participants from early primary to mature adults in the statutory educational and also community sectors.
1. We use innovative vehicles of engagement such as music and ICT and these are constantly reassessed in terms of their ability to engage. 2. We work in real partnership with schools, communities and our external partners from Government to corporate 3. Our outreach and in-house programmes are integrated for the benefits of our student and staff body though our service learning and community based research programme Students Learning With Communities. 4. We celebrate and affirm the contribution and engagement of all of our participants from students, staff and community through hosting of graduation, launched, media appearances, publications both within the institution and also within the community
Process of assessment
1. Over the course of the years the Programmes have been evaluated from an external and internal perspective. 2. There is constant reassessment of the Progammes on an annual basis and readjustment where appropriate 3. Community Links Programme led the development and implementation of the DIT Widening Participation Strategy bringing all relevant departments (e.g. disability, students union, Access etc) involved in civic engagement into a coherent integrated approach for the first time 4. Community Links Strategic Action Plan for 2011-2014 is currently nearing its completion.
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