Become an Access to the Workplace Partner for 2020!

DCU Educational Trust are seeking new companies to partner with the exciting DCU Access to the Workplace Programme for 2020.

Established by DCU Educational Trust and DCU’s Access Service in 2019, the programme enables students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to secure high-quality, fully paid, professional summer work experience in established workplaces.

In its introductory year, over 39 leading Irish companies participated in the programme, providing placements for 50 DCU Access students. With all partner companies also making a philanthropic contribution, the programme raised an additional €395,000 to support DCU’s Access Programme.

An independent evaluation of the 2019 pilot, showed both students and employers reported significant benefits due to their participation:

Students:

• Participating students collectively earned approximately €180,000.
• The quality of placements distinguished the experience, with 94% of students surveyed stating they would have been unable to secure a placement of similar quality through their own networks.

Companies:

• Out of 22 companies interviewed, feedback indicated that the programme offered an opportunity to enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace, to bring fresh perspectives and an opportunity to give staff line management and mentoring responsibilities.
• 100% of partner companies plan to offer an Access to the Workplace placement in 2020.

With research released by the Higher Education Authority in 2019 revealing that, when all other factors are equal after graduation, students from disadvantaged areas continue to earn less than students from more affluent areas, Access to the Workplace is a valuable additional support to enhance the employability and future career prospects of Access students.

To find out more about Access to the Workplace and how your company could get involved, please visit www.dcu.ie/accesstotheworkplace or email Fiona Hudson, Access to the Workplace Coordinator at accesstotheworkplace@dcu.ie.

Final deadline for companies to register for Access to the Workplace 2020 is 31^st March 2020.