Trinity Initiative Gains National Recognition – College Awareness Week

Posted on: 19 November 2014

National College Awareness Week will be centre stage in communities across Ireland from the 24-30 November.   The campaign aims to increase awareness as well as to celebrate the value of going to college, demonstrate the impact which a post-secondary educational experience can make on individual lives, communities and society and showcase local role models who have gone to college.

Home-grown in Trinity College, National College Awareness Week (CAW) was initially delivered to primary school children in schools affiliated with the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP).  The campaign, founded and championed by TAP’s Kathleen O’Toole-Brennan has gained significant national recognition and its launch was carried out by Minister for Education, and Skills Jan O’Sullivan, TD in October.

                    
Shaina Hevey and Josh Swaine, students from Westland Row CBS, Dublin and Kerry footballing legend Colm Cooper at the launch of the College Awareness Week Campaign 

College Awareness Week is being delivered in partnership with the Higher Education Authority, the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, the Confederation of Student Services Ireland and TAP. It is a multi-organisational and collaborative event which will involve over 280 events and activities taking place in 17 counties organised and hosted by higher education institutions, libraries, primary and second level schools, businesses, community and adult education centres across the country.

“This powerful and uplifting campaign aims to encourage the young people of Ireland to consider their post-secondary options in earnest”   explained Campaign Founder and Programmes Manager at TAP Kathleen O’Toole-Brennan. “I am proud to say that Trinity continues to play a leading role in the campaign with activities and events taking place across campus during the week organised by the Trinity Access Programmes, Disability Service, Sports Centre and the Students’ Unions.”

Dozens of TAP Ambassadors will be inviting students onto campus and visiting schools throughout Dublin, sharing their experience as current Trinity students and helping to demystify the college application process. Trinity’s Disability Service will showcase its unique online Transitions Tool which can be used by students, teachers, and parents – easing the move from second to third level.   Finally, the College’s Sports Centre will emphasise the unique opportunities that a college education provides from a sporting and recreational perspective through tours and talks.

Also as part of CAW, Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast will visit St Joseph’s Secondary School, to talk to students about the benefits and experiences of a college education as well as sharing stories of his own college days.

A highlight of the week will be a graduation ceremony to be held in Trinity’s Biosciences Building on Friday, November 28th.   Legendary Kerry footballer and AIB Youth Ambassador Colm Cooper, will present 250 primary school children with certificates of participation after listening to what the primary school children have learned about college during a week-long series of events in their classrooms. 

The nationwide campaign is sponsored by AIB and Perrigo, who are dedicated to the improvement of Irish communities, through education.  It is also endorsed by over 20 nationwide organisations, including the Irish Universities Association, St Vincent de Paul and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.

Further information on national College Awareness Week can be found at:  www.collegeaware.ie or by contacting Kathleen O’Toole-Brennan, at kotoole@tcd.ie