Welcome to the homepage of the Office of the Director of Access & Lifelong Learning, which is intended to provide the gateway to anyone inside or outside of UCD who would like to find out more about issues concerning equality of access.
UCD has, since its foundation, had a commitment to offering education to those who have been traditionally excluded. The publication of Mainstreaming Equality of Access and Lifelong Learning: Opening Worlds marks a new beginning to our new journey towards inclusion and provides the university roadmap to increasing diversity and widening participation.
UCD aspires to develop an inclusive education environment; the twin pillars of which are institutional readiness and community engagement. Our vision is to become Ireland’s leading university in the promotion of diversity. Well designed programmes, modules and assessments that are sensitive to the challenges to the needs of all, and place students' needs in the context of the social and environmental factors that impede full participation. This facilitates diversity and promotes participation as the first "remedy", rather than relying on the need to compensate for difference, provide special accommodations or "special" services. Therefore, the cornerstone of Opening Worlds is to embed access and lifelong learning issues in the university’s mainstream policies and practice.
THE MISSION AND ROLE OF UCD ACCESS & LIFELONG LEARNING IS TO:
- provide visibility and leadership with access, lifelong learning and widening participation;
- to foster an environment that is attractive to:
- school leavers regardless of socio-economic background or disability
- adults beginning their higher education
- those wishing to study flexibly
- people who wish to continue learning and pursue intellectual enrichment and fulfilment;
- work collaboratively with the academic community to provide inclusive learning environments;
- provide a suite of specialist student supports.
A cluster of services helps realise these ambitious goals i.e. the UCD Access Centre, led by Ms. Fiona Sweeney, works with the university's Academic Schools to meet ambitious widening participation targets, as well as providing a range of pre and post-entry personal and academic supports for mature students, those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and students with disabilities.
The Adult Education Centre, led by Dr. Bairbre Fleming, provides a variety of flexible learning options. Particularly access courses for adults beginning their higher education as well as interest courses aimed at people wishing to continue learning and pursue intellectual enrichment and fulfilment. This Centre also works with academic schools to address the university's flexible learning ambitions.
Arising from the requirements of The Disability Act 2005, UCD has a dedicated Disability Access Officer - Ms. Tina Lowe - who co-ordinates a programme of actions to support the university to meet legislative requirements, thus ensuring that access to public buildings and services is available to staff, students and visitors with disabilities.
Thank you for visiting the Office of the Director of Access and Lifelong Learning. Your feedback is welcome at openingworlds@ucd.ie
