Limerick university receives funds for new programme
The funding is for a three-year pilot programme
A LIMERICK university has received €626,000 in funding from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to run a three-year pilot of a programme designed to enhance the third-level education and future career opportunities of learners with intellectual disabilities.
The Mary Immaculate College Ability Pathways Project will run from September 2024 and offer 10 places.
It is an expansion of MIC’s current offering, the Certificate in General Learning and Personal Development (CGLPD) but includes a transitioning programme where learners will be supported in identifying a suitable pathway to meaningful opportunities after graduation such as further education and training, or employment.
The university will be among 10 institutions across Ireland to offer innovative courses in the area following a recent €10 million funding announcement from Higher Education Minister, Simon Harris TD.
Órla Slattery, MIC inclusion coordinator for adults with intellectual disabilities explained how the “Path 4 Phase 2 funding initiative will enable MIC to continue our provision for students with intellectual disabilities in higher education.”
“The new MIC Pathways Ability Project will be launched at MIC under this innovative Higher Education Authority (HEA) access scheme,” said Ms Slattery.
“At MIC, we have a well-established history of creating pathways to education for people with intellectual disabilities in collaboration with our community partners including the LCETB, Enable Ireland and the Brothers of Charity with whom we have the great privilege of working in partnership,” she added.
Professor Eugene Wall, President of MIC, congratulated MIC staff on the successful application.
“We welcome this considerable funding allocation from the department and the recognition of the importance of programmes like the MIC Ability Pathways Project,” said Mr Wall.
“Minister Harris refers to the need to open doors both physical and metaphorical to ensure higher education campuses across Ireland truly reflect the diversity of our communities.
“This echoes our ethos at MIC to embed inclusion and equal opportunity in all aspects of our work,” he added.