CitySwift is just one of the successful businesses that has passed through DCU’s UStart programme. Brian O’Rourke, founder and Chief Executive of CitySwift, explains how the company first began and how UStart supported and guided the company to success. Where did the business idea for CitySwift come from? The initial idea for CitySwift originated back...Continue Reading
Launched in 2018, GiveBack.ie is a passive way to raise funds to end street homelessness in Dublin. By downloading the social app, online shoppers can donate to the cause of homelessness without having to make a direct donation. Instead, the 1,200 retailers partnered with GiveBack.ie make a 1% to 10% donation on the online shopper’s...Continue Reading
Originally from Cavan, Amy is currently studying a Masters in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society in DCU after graduating with a BA in Journalism from DCU in 2019. In this piece, Amy describes how the Access Programme has supported her during her studies over the past four years. “Although neither of my parents went...Continue Reading
DCU Access students embody DCU’s mission to transform lives and societies. Chloe Fowler is just one of these students, who, as a final year student teacher at DCU, became the first past pupil to return to her former school in inner city Dublin as a teacher. In this video, Chloe explains how DCU’s Access Programme...Continue Reading
Anne came to Ireland from Nigeria to seek asylum in 2016. She has lived in the direct provision system since that time and in 2017, she began her MSc in Management of Operations through DCU Connected, with support from DCU’s University of Sanctuary initiative. “Moving alone to a country with a different culture can be...Continue Reading
After several family bereavements, Kim wasn’t sure if she would make it to university. In this piece, Kim explains how DCU’s Access Programme helped her to secure a place in DCU’s Marketing, Innovation and Technology course and stay in the course, despite facing many challenges. “I currently live in a council estate in Swords with...Continue Reading
Jason is a second year student, completing a BA in Religious Education and History at DCU. In this piece, he talks about his educational journey and the role of DCU’s Access Programme in helping him to pursue his dream of becoming a secondary school teacher. Growing up, I was lucky to have a very close-knit...Continue Reading
Head of Talent at Vodafone, Claudine McMahon, explains why Vodafone were inspired to support DCU’s Access to the Workplace programme while Access student, Lauren Heffernan, describes how the Access to the Workplace programme was an invaluable opportunity for her.Continue Reading
DCU’s University of Sanctuary programme welcomes refugees and asylum seekers into the university community and fosters a culture of inclusion for all. Since we became Ireland’s first University of Sanctuary in 2016, we have provided 42 scholarships together with holistic supports that enable asylum seekers to overcome financial and logistical obstacles to enrolling in higher...Continue Reading
We believe that talented youth should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential in life, no matter who they are or where they come from. This is why we operate the largest access programme of any university in Ireland with over 1,000 Access students enrolled at DCU in 2022/23. Our Access Programme encourages young people...Continue Reading
