College Awareness Week is a national campaign which aims to promote the benefits of going to college, to help students of all ages to become college-ready and to showcase local role models.
This will be a collaborative initiative between Rosmini Community School, Higher Education Institutes, the North-East-Inner-City Project, and other partnering organisations this year.
Through a set program of events, students will become more aware of the importance of going to college in their future. Students will explore how a college education can help them to fulfil their potential, by allowing them to undertake a course of study which can be fascinating and challenging, and assisting them in securing employment and decent living standards in their future.
We will be marking College Awareness Week from Thursday 18th to Monday 29th November 2021. Each year group will participate in an event that has been designed to give them a positive experience of exploring third level as a viable option to consider when they complete their second level education.
Thursday, November 18th
| Flash Mentoring (Working session)
Who – Senior Cycle Visually Impaired Students When – Thursday 18th November 2021 Time: 3.00-3.40pm Where – 6th Year Cabin
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Mentors Tony Ward (Director of Finance – The Wheel) and Anthony Murray (Senior Solutions Architect with The Central Bank of Ireland) will answer students’ questions about further education and training opportunities. They will be joined by a VI student who recently completed a Master of Social Education in Maynooth University. |
Monday, November 22nd
| DCU Open Day (Guided Tour of St. Patricks Campus)
Who – 5th Year When – Monday 22nd November 2021 Time: 10.00-11.00am Where – DCU St. Patricks College Campus |
A guided tour of the DCU Campus, including tours of faculties and Student Centre. They will explore post Leaving Cert educational options, learn about college support services, how they can make the most of their time in college, and access routes open to them – including how to make an application to DARE. |
| Earn While You Learn – Looking at Career Apprenticeships (Working session)
Who – Parents of 5th and 6th Year (Home-School) When – Monday 22nd November 2021 Time: 4.00-5.00pm Where – Chromebook Room
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Mark Deegan, Head of Apprenticeships in TUD, will introduce parents and guardians to the concept of an apprenticeship as a third level option that they could consider in their future. He will invite them to consider the benefits of the apprenticeship courses that are on offer in Ireland today. |
Tuesday, November 23rd
| PATH Community Mentoring Program (Workshops)
Who – TY When – Tuesday 23rd November 2021 11.05am-12.05pm Where – Chaplain’s Office |
Working with College Mentors to explore their pathways to third level and the positive difference that further education has played in their lives. Students learn how to develop a growth mindset when it comes to their work. They receive support in setting SMART Goals for their future. |
| Access to College (Talk)
Who – 5th Year and LCA 5 When – Tuesday 23rd November 2021 Time: 1.40-2.40pm Where – All Hallows College |
Talk from the DCU Access Office on the educational supports available to students and the criteria required to apply for the DARE and HEAR schemes. |
Wednesday, November 24th
| A Fun Introduction to the World of College (Activity)
Who – 1st Year When – Wednesday 24th November 2021 10.10-10.50am Where – 1st Year Cabin |
Interactive activity to see what 1st years know or think they know about college and college life. Activity aim is to give them a good basic grounding in understanding why people go to college and what it can offer students after school.
Subjects for discussion during activity could be:
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Thursday, November 25th
| An Exploration of College Culture and Life
Who – 2nd Year When – Thursday 25th November 2021 09.30-10.10am Where – 2nd Year Cabin |
Group based activity for 2nd years to see what they think going to college is like and what college life is about. Also, an opportunity to gauge their individual notions of success.
Subjects for discussion during lesson activity could be:
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| What is College Life Like? (Activity)
Who – 3rd Year When – Thursday 25th November 2021 11.05-11.45am Where – 3rd Year Cabin |
Q&A based activity to see what 3rd years think attending a college course consists of and what life as a 3rd level/FET student is like.
Subjects for discussion during activity could be:
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Friday, November 26th
| My Student Life (Talk)
Who – TY (Online) When – Friday 26th November 2021 Time: 11.45am-13.05pm Where – Chaplain’s Office
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Students from different faculties in DCU will speak about their wider experience of college life – including clubs and societies, community events, forming connections, volunteering and more. |
| Earn While You Learn – Looking at Career Apprenticeships (Working session)
Who – LCA 5, 5th Year, LCA 6, 6th Year When – Friday 26th November 2021 Time: 5th Year – 09.30-10.10am LCA 5 – 10.10-10.50am LCA 6 Stresa – 11.05-11.45am 6th Year – 11.45am-12.25pm
Where – In classroom cabins at the times above
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Mark Deegan, Head of TUD, will introduce students to the concept of an apprenticeship as a third level option that they could consider in their future. He will invite them to consider the benefits of the apprenticeship courses that are on offer in Ireland today. |
| Applying for the CAO and Life after College (Talk)
Who – 6th Year and LCA 6 only (Online) When – Friday November 2021 at 2.30pm Parents at 3.30pm Where – 6th Year and LCA 6 cabins on screen Parents event is also online
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An informative session on the CAO and how students will use this system to apply for third level courses. This talk will be delivered by Susan Hayes, author of Money Matters. |
Saturday, November 27th
| Better Options 2021 (Online Event)
Who – Senior cycle students with SEN/VI who are interested When – Saturday 27th November 2021 Where – Zoom
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Students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties will explore post-secondary school options in education. |
Monday, November 29th
| Access to College (Talk)
Who – Parents (Online) When – Monday 29th November 2021 Time: 11.30-12.30am Where – Parents event is online |
Talk from the DCU Access Office on the educational supports available to students and the criteria required to apply for the DARE and HEAR schemes.
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