Linked Schools Programme
CIT Access Service provides a comprehensive range of supports for second level DEIS Schools in Cork. The Access Service supports students from disadvantaged communities in applying to higher education through a comprehensive programme of initiatives for schools and communities.
The aim of our Linked Schools Programme is to
- Facilitate access to higher education for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds incorporating ethnic minority students through higher education access entry routes.
- Promote for students a positive adjustment and assimilation into the Institute, to help students make friends and develop a support group, to involve students in the total life of the Institute and to have students use such helping resources and students services of the institution.
- Provide a range of post-entry supports for students to aid their transition to third level.
Programme of initiatives
CIT Access Service organises annually a suite of pre-entry activities for primary and post-primary schools. The aim of these programmes is to encourage and motivate young people to study at third level and to provide support to the pupils, teachers and parents in preparing students for third level.
The activities that the CIT Access Service offers linked schools are as follows:
- Progression Scheme for Linked Schools
- Campus visits/CIT school visits
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Maths Revision Days for Leaving Certificate students
-
Science Revision Days for Leaving Certificate students
- Study Skills Workshops for Senior Cycle students
- Parents Workshops/Information Sessions for Parents
- Science for Life Programme
- Access to Education, Bridge to Employment Programme
- School Completion
- Graffiti Drama workshop ‘You Get What you Give’
- Learning Support Session for Schools
If you are interested in finding out more about the supports available please contact Deirdre Creedon or Louise Bermingham on 021 433 5140.
Parents Workshop Sessions
CIT Access Service recognises that parents have a very influential role in supporting their children through the education system. The Education system and the choices available to leaving certificate students can be difficult to take in. In an effort to help parents, the CIT Access Service provides on campus information sessions for parents groups. Parents get an opportunity to have a tour of the campus and over a cup of coffee parents are given information on the opportunities available to their children.
Study Skills Workshop for Parents
Even the best students can find Secondary School overwhelming from time to time. Often parents are at a loss as to how they can provide the right kind of support.
During this presentation, parents are shown how to introduce a learning approach to their children which will guarantee a very smooth journey through Secondary School. The session covers the following topics:
- The difference between homework and study in Secondary School
- How to increase focus and concentration
- Studying Smart vs Studying Hard
- The importance of diet, sleep and exercise in maintaining academic progress
- Approaches to memory to increase learning
- Introduction to Mind Mapping and other learning tools
This session was delivered in 2010-11 by ‘Super Generation’.
Progression Scheme for CIT linked schools
Students from linked schools can apply for entry onto programmes of study in CIT commencing September 2011.
The Progression Scheme (PS) is a supplementary admissions scheme to CIT for school leavers from 9 Cork City Schools. CIT has had links with these schools through the CIT Access Office for over 15 years. Although our pre-entry programmes have emphasised progression opportunities and the benefits of studying at third level, the numbers of students progressing from these schools into programmes in CIT are still low. There is widespread evidence which shows that socio-economic disadvantage can have a negative impact on educational achievement at school and on progression to higher education.
Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to apply for programmes of study in CIT on a reduced points basis. The Institute will provide post entry support for the participants in the form of induction and orientation, academic supports, educational guidance and, where possible, financial assistance.
Who is it for?
The scheme is for school leavers from the linked Cork City schools who have the ability to benefit from and succeed in higher education and who do not have the economic means or the necessary social support and encouragement.
How does it work?
Applicants must:
- Attain the minimum admission requirements for the course applied for;
- Obtain at least 200 points;
- Applications will only be considered from students who have submitted an application for a CIT Programme of study through the Central Applications Office (CAO) and meet three of the following criteria:
- Low income family – the total gross parents/guardians income for the year ending 31 December 2009 is within the income thresholds for eligibility for the Irish Education Grants Scheme.
- Parent/guardians are in receipt of a means-tested social assistance payment(s) from the Department of Social & Family Affairs for a minimum of 26 continuous weeks in the year ending 31 December 2009.
- Family are medical card holders.
- The student is the first family member to study at third level;
- Socio-economic group; Applicant comes from a socio economic group which is under-represented in higher education (i.e. non-manual workers group; semi and unskilled manual workers group);
- Must be a student from one of the schools participating in the programme.
The application must be supported by a letter from the Principal and/or Guidance Counsellor and/or the Home School Community Liaison Officer.
Supporting documentation is required.
Cork Institute of Technology will select successful candidates based on their eligibility, their application forms and their school references.
Applicants who are not successful will be informed of the reasons. All applicants can request that his/her application be reviewed should he/she have reason to believe that an error occurred during the processing of his/her application.
If a student is unsuccessful under this scheme, the student may still gain admission to CIT through the normal CAO process, if they meet the entry requirements.
