Pictured L-R: Karina Ryan, Access and Participation Manager, Access & Disability Office, MIC; Prof. Elaine Keane, School Education, University of Galway; Dr Denise Frawley, Senior Manager in Access Policy, HEA; Prof. Niamh Hourigan, Vice-President of Academic Affair at MIC; Dr Geraldine Brosnan, Chair of the PATH 1 Mid-West Cluster Steering Group and Director of Student Life at MIC; and Nicola Moses, PATH 1 Programme Manager, MIC.
The PATH 1 Mid-West Cluster hosted the Pathways for Access to Higher Education (PATH 1) National Symposium at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, on 5 June.
The event, with its theme of ‘Create, Collaborate, Consolidate’ brought together a multitude of stakeholders from PATH divisions in Higher Education Institutions all over Ireland to map the innovative and collaborative projects funded under PATH 1 (which deals with Initial Teacher Education (ITE)) and consolidate learnings on equity of access to the teaching profession.
The one-day conference featured two keynote talks, presentations, workshops and a reflection with an expert panel. The first keynote address was delivered by Prof. Elaine Keane, School of Education at the University of Galway and was entitled ‘Traversing and Navigating Classed Identities and Spaces: The Experiences of Student Teachers from “Working Class” Backgrounds, and Implications for Research, Policy, and Practice’. The second was by Dr Denise Frawley of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the PATH 1 key learnings.
The Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) is a dedicated fund, broken into five strands, committed to increasing participation by underrepresented groups in higher education. Established by the Department of Education and Skills in 2017 (now administered by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science) as a commitment to support the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2019, and 2022-2028.
Dr Denise Frawley, Senior Manager in Access Policy at the HEA commented:
“Collaboration and partnership are the cornerstones of PATH 1, and I welcome the leadership shown by the Mid-West centre in bringing PATH 1 partners together today to share learnings and best practice for the benefit of priority group students. The recent announcement by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of sustainable funding for PATH 1 recognises its significant contribution to the delivery of the objectives of the National Access Plan.”
Dr Geraldine Brosnan, Chair of the PATH 1 Mid-West Cluster Steering Group and Director of Student Life at MIC said:
“MIC was pleased to host this important event, which brought together staff from Higher Education Institutions across Ireland and stakeholders from other bodies to share some of the learnings and outcomes of the PATH 1 initiative. We are grateful to the HEA for their support of PATH 1. MIC looks forward to the programme’s continuation in a mainstream format where it will benefit even more students in their educational journey.”
The Symposium was especially timely given that Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless TD, recently announced the mainstreaming of Strands 1 and 3 of PATH, which were at the end of their second three-year pilot phase and were independently assessed last year.
Minister Lawless said that the PATH programmes “are key drivers in supporting students to reach their full potential”.
“It is with great pleasure I announce the continuation of these programmes with a sustainable funding model. This will allow the higher education institutions to continue the great work done to date, to support the goals of the National Access Plan, and provide valuable support for those underrepresented in accessing higher education and the teaching profession. The HEA will shortly commence a consultation process on the proposed funding model with each participating higher education institution.”
Find more information on the PATH 1 National Symposium here.
Find more information on Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) here.
