Community Links Programme - creating opportunity for all

Sara Boyd is a lecturer in the School of Food Sciences and Environmental Health. Here she is talking about her experience of the Programme for Students Learning With Communities and the 2011 Summer School.

Deirdre Quinn is a lecturer in the School of Hospitality Management and Tourism. Here she is talking about her experience of the Programme for Students Learning With Communities and the Summer School 2011.

The project allowed the students to apply thier skills and also satisfy the module learning outcomes. The project encouraged motivation, lateral thinking, effective team work and a recognition of the need to acquire effective written and oral communication skills. The project fostered a very positive relationship, integration, and understanding between the students in DIT and staff in Scoil Mochua. 

As students undertaking the BSc (Human Nutrition and Dietetics) are going to undertake placements in community settings in third year and may have careers in the HSE in clinical and community roles, opportunities are needed at all stages of the course for students to engage with communities and community organisations to enhance student learning, skill development and understanding of these settings.

The live situation is the best way to practically demonstrate concepts and to achieve learning outcomes.