‘Bridge To College’ Programme To Encourage Take Up Of Third Level Education supported by Dell

Posted on: 12 March 2008

Funding of €25,000 from Dell for The Bridge to College (B2C) programme was announced by Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin on 21^st February last. This funding will be used to help promote access to third level education in schools where there has traditionally been low numbers of students progressing to further education.

The Bridge to College programme is a joint initiative between Suas Educational Development and Trinity College ‘s Access Programme (TAP) and Centre for Research in IT in Education (CRITE) at Trinity College . The programme aims to provide students from designated disadvantaged second-level schools with an innovative learning experience using technology.

The programme is designed to engage young people, typically Transition Year students, in creative, technology-mediated projects, mentored by volunteer third level students. Since opening its doors in early November 2007, the Bridge to College Programme has provided almost 200 transition year students from schools in under resourced communities in Dublin with a week long, innovative learning experience mentored by volunteer students.

Speaking at the announcement Minister Hanafin said, “The B2C programme presents the capabilities of ICT in a way that complements and enriches school initiatives whilst also giving the transition year students the benefits of learning from and interacting with college undergraduates and postgraduates. Working with Suas Educational Development to encourage young people from disadvantaged areas to continue their education is a very valuable and inspirational undertaking and I congratulate Dell on its decision to support the B2C programme.”