Community Links Programme - creating opportunity for all

Lecturer: Julie Dunne

1^st year Pharmacy students worked with final year pupils from Larkin College, a local Dublin inner-city school, to tutor them in maths and biology. The focus of the tutoring sessions was on answering Leaving Certificate exam questions. These sessions were on a one-to-one or small group basis; they were two hours long and were carried out in a supervised classroom in DIT for a period of ten weeks. During this ten week period they are also taken on a library visit and spent time studying in a college library.

What do the students get from it?

Students get to develop key transferable skills such as communication, organization, motivation. It also offers them an opportunity to effectively revise course material in modules associated with the tutorial material. It provides experience for their Curriculum Vitae. It helps students to gain confidence as they work with the school pupils and fulfillment in what they have achieved.

What does the community get from it?

This project enables Larkin College pupils to be exposed to DIT with a view to breaking down the barriers to participation in 3rd level education for pupils from socio-economic disadvantage backgrounds (Larkin College is designated a school serving disadvantaged areas). The project gives these pupils immediate help with their Leaving Cert preparation

through quiet and focused study sessions, which builds their confidence. Also during the library session they get an opportunity to practice academic research skills.

Community Partner:

Larkin Community College