WNW Connect - Atlantic Technological University

WNW Connect is a joint Higher Education Cluster Access project between ATU and University of Galway under Path 3 Funding, supporting regional and community partnerships to facilitate the attraction and retention of undergraduate students from target groups identified it the National Access Plan. WNW Cluster Access Programme engage with schools, students entering based on a further education award, and part-time flexible learners across the ATU region of Galway, Mayo, Sligo & Donegal

There are three key Pillars underpinning WNW Project:

Mentoring, which includes:
- Community Programmes, Cranmore Education Programme and Attract Transition & Succeed Community Mentoring.
- School Programmes, Strive Mentoring and Radius Programme.
- Higher Education Participation Programmes, Foróige College Mentoring Programme.

Traveller Engagement, which includes the provision of equal educational opportunities and access to university education for students from these communities.

Pathways to Higher Education through HEAR admissions, Mature student entry, Further Education (FET) entry.

Mentoring

ATU’s WNW Connect Project has developed mentoring programmes with community and schools to support participation in Higher Education Institutions. Mentoring within the cluster has been underpinned by the following themes: Student Centred and Voluntary Participation.

Community Mentoring

Cranmore Education Programme

Delivers one-to-one mentoring support to young people and adults in Sligo as well as engaging with the community to access community-based study support workshops and online learning support to increase the diversity and social mix of the student population within the higher education institutions (HEIs) in the West and North- West of Ireland.

ATS Community Mentoring

Provides peer mentoring support in Galway that enables participating students to successfully complete their educational objectives by building on networks of acquired social and cultural knowledge of higher education, thereby easing the transition to higher education for underrepresented students. ATS Mentoring links Mentors with Mentees from similar entry routes and educational backgrounds. Matching mentees with mentors from similar situated experiences provides mentees with important information regarding the challenges of adjusting to university life, as well as ways in which these challenges can be overcome through appropriate supports.

School Mentoring

Radius Mentoring Project

The Radius Project is run in conjunction with the Centre for Creative Arts and Media, Galway Mayo and involves students from the MA in Creative Practice mentoring transition year students to carry out an art project and encourage them to explore artistically and spark an interest in pursuing the arts at Higher Education.

ATS Strive Mentoring in post-primary schools

Provides mentoring initiatives throughout DEIS post-primary schools in the North-West region using a combination of Personal and Developmental Mentoring (PDM) and Academic and Employability Mentoring (AEM).

The programme will use positive role models in the post-primary school setting to improve young peoples’ confidence, self-efficacy and ultimately academic aspirations and employability.

Higher Education Participation

Foróige’s College Mentoring Programme

Foróige is a leading national youth organisation with over 50 years’ experience in working with young people in Ireland. Foróige developed a College Mentoring Programme based on the Big Brother Big Sister Programme.

ADHD Project

The aim of this project is to address the ongoing and increasing need for support for students, lecturers, and members of the wider community in addressing the needs of individuals with ADHD and supporting their transition to third level education. Through active engagement with the National ADHD group, Community groups, and primary and post-primary Schools, this project will build on the work already undertaken by ATU in developing a screening tool for ADHD. The project will play a transformative role in (a) delivering on access for this cohort, (b) supporting them with the transition to third level and (c) putting the measures in place for these students to succeed in their chosen course.

Strengths Profiling Programme

The programme is a collaboration approach to engaging senior cycle students in DEIS schools. The key internal stakeholders included the GMIT Careers Service, the Access and Disability Service, the Access and Participation Office, Schools Liaison Office, Student Ambassadors. IT, and a group of current final year students. The External collaboration was with senior cycle students and Career Guidance Teachers within these schools. The aim of the Project is to assist in removing barriers to Higher Education by students who experience educational disadvantaged. The programme’s key focus is to highlight to Senior Cycle Students the importance of identifying their strengths when choosing a course for third level and by understanding what motivates them