info@soarforaccess.ie
About the SOAR Project
The SOAR Project is an inter-institutional collaboration on Access. It brings together the South Cluster – Cork Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Carlow, Institute of Technology Tralee, University College Cork and Waterford Institute of Technology together with community partners to collaborate on devising and delivering strategies to increase access to higher education for under-represented groups.
OUR VISION
Scaffold aspirations, achievement and access through socially-inclusive learning environments and community embedded mentoring.
TRANSFORMATIONAL GOALS
The SOAR Project have identified five high-level transformational goals. These ambitious long term goals are interrelated and interdependent, they involve culture, practice, service, and methodology and create the optimal environment to significantly widen participation and increase access to higher education for under-represented groups. The SOAR Project in design, development, implementation, and evaluation will endeavor to further these goals as they influence and determine project work streams, objectives and actions.
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SOCIALLY INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
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TRANSITION READINESS
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COMMUNITY EMBEDDED MENTORING
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ENHANCED ACCESS KNOWLEDGE & SERVICE
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CROSS-CLUSTER & COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
Soar PROJECT Updates
Welcome to the SOAR Project website, great to have you visit! We hope you find it useful in learning about us and our work. Please do check in regularly for updates on project developments and delivery.
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Liam O’Neill, opening our Conference at @CentreLaois challenges us to think about inclusion. Is being part of a team enough? What does it feel like to be always on the sideline? Have we asked the child how they feel? #LaoisInclusion
Legends indeed! Delighted to support these amazing @ACEUCC Leadership in the Community students. Grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, friends = leaders, advocates, activists, changemakers
@HEAaccess @cliodhnacal @sotuama @LMCDART @normaderoiste @OliveByrne3
Great to host so many Women Traveller Activists at Leinster House today. Legends all fighting everyday for Traveller rights. By next visit hope @Taoiseach will have appointed Traveller to Seanad Eireann @itmtrav
Barriers to accessing higher education can only be truly understood and addressed by listening to those who face them.
Qualitative fieldwork can be such a humbling experience. I am extremely grateful to all who shared their experiences and trusted me with their stories #soarforaccess
The most powerful thing any State can provide for its citizens is education. I wholeheartedly believe it is the tide that lifts every boat. Offering it free to all, at all levels, should be the benchmark for any civilised country. #TommyTiernanShow
Well done @LMCDART great to have this network in place as part of @SoarForAccess Travellers in Education key actions. #seeittobeit @CITAccess @UCC @ITCStudentServ1 @ittralee @HEAaccess
We were delighted to launch the Traveller Graduate Network (TGN) last Thursday 16 January in @CIT_ie with President Dr Barry O’Connor. (1/2) 4
Amongst the books, journals and periodicals some library searches lead to love! Just in case you needed another reason to drop by @UCCLibrary #loveinthelibrary
Massive Congratulations to Amy Coleman and Stephen Robinson who met for the first time on Q+3 Boole Library and who just got married. Wishing them both the very best in their life together... #loveinthelibrary #librarylife #newchapter https://t.co/Kqaei3kVql
Be sure to pop into @itcarlow this evening to hear about courses on offer and check out the great campus.
Our Open Evening is an ideal opportunity to find out more about the courses on offer at @itcarlow and view its first-class campus facilities. Academic Staff will be on hand to answer any questions regarding courses and career opportunities. https://t.co/RkkN9bjBDS
Choose a course in WIT this September and you will be studying in a college with exceptional employer links, a strong reputation for research and an excellent staff:student ratio #CAO2020 #StudyatWIT
Congratulations to Dr Tom Kavanagh, well deserved recognition of his tireless commitment to supporting local communities. A great champion of access to higher education. #CPOTY2019
Dr Tom Cavanagh, our 2019 ‘Hall of Fame’ inductee at the Cork Person of the Year Awards #CPOTY2019 #Cork
The Disability Support Service is running an Introduction to Sign Language class. This is a 10-week class starting Wednesday 15th January.
Day: Wednesday
Time: 19.30-21.00
Location: ORB 156
You can book and pay for your place here: https://t.co/cwT3eUUHsd
Great answer! @deirdre_dore was the session at work or at home??😀
First of our two Fifth Year Study Skills sessions today and I’m delivering an interactive session called ‘Why Study?’. I ask students to tell me why they need to study. Best answer today was ‘So my Mam won’t kill me!’ #mothersinfluence #studyskills 2
We are working closely with Hamza and his family at this difficult time. His family is our family. Those who seek to learn here belong here. https://t.co/MOLZvGyY4p
Be sure to drop in to your local clinic today!
#DAREHEAR Application Information Days take place tomorrow Saturday 11 January. The #HigherEducation #Access & #Disability staff would be delighted to meet prospective students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). #equity #diversity #inclusion https://t.co/Ygi4y1WqVg
Education is a powerful key - the most potent in fact - but its not the only one - while being a deeply sacred key, its not the lock, nor the door, nor the hinges in which it swings from, nor the pathway towards it, or the handle that allows it to be opened. #AccessibilityMatters
Congratulations @MichelleHealy_1 for delivering a fantastic new student /staff space @UCC for generations to come.
That's a wrap! It feels amazing to have been part of this. Here's to more accessible sustainable diverse inclusive change-making buildings of joy! @ChangingPlacesI @CopeFoundation @UCCLGBT @UCCEquality @CorkEnvForum @UCC @ucddublin @UL @CorkCoS @CIT_ie @nuigalway @DublinCityUni https://t.co/3SRKc1bO2p
Today we had a very special visitor, a past pupil, come back to us for one day only.. and no its not Tommy 🤪.
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Roy Keane popped by to wish all our staff and students a Happy Christmas ☺️
@FAIreland
Dr Barry O’Connor formally opens @CIT_ie Equality Diversity and Inclusion Week. First event is a staff training session on Traveller Cultural Awareness Training. #EDICIT
2Building on existing partnerships between @an_cosan and @itcarlow @ITCStudentServ1 supporting socially inclusive learning environments and enabling transitions
Delighted to work with @an_cosan on Enabling Transitions Programme. Looking forward to the follow up. @itcarlow @CollegeAware @SoarForAccess #positiveenergy #opentotraining #studentsbenefit https://t.co/foJppwLY0N
Wonderful collaboration with
tjhogan123 @CITAccess @UCCPLUS @LMCDART @BredaHogan4 building socially and culturally inclusive learning environments
Fantastic day today at the Story Telling session in Midelton library, the kids really had a great time learning about education and a different culture. Its great to see them all come togethor and have some fun! 🎄🎄 @LMCDART @EastCorkTP @tjhogan123 @CITAccess @CIT_ie @UCCPLUS 4
Great to see this @SoarForAccess Initiative taking off with @LMCDART @CITAccess. If you can offer work experience opportunities to young Travellers, please support.
If you can’t see it you can’t be it... help me and @LMCDART create a database of companies willing to open their doors to young Travellers for work experience or even job shadowing -with 84% unemployment young Travellers need hope for a new future #joinus
https://t.co/xeiZ8u6Hi8
@LMCDART & @BredaHogan4 on @rtenews this evening speaking at the launch of the Action Plan to Promote Traveller Participation in Higher Ed. Lack of supports & role models as well as difficulties sourcing work placement often turn Traveller students away from education #WAHED2019
3Well done @MEND_CC on this valuable piece of work looking forward to reviewing the findings.
You can access the community needs analysis with pathways centre for prisoners and former prisoners pilot study in the website https://t.co/22DPBZm79U #collegeconnectlaunch #itcanbeyou
Great to hear from past pupils on their🎓day.Kayley O'Connor graduated with BIS Hons degree&Clare Coveney graduated with an Hons accounting degree.Congrats to @OConnorAmy11 past pupil who is a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. #collegeawarenessweek@UCC @CIT_ie
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📢It's #CAW19, so we want to show you some of the great benefits of university education!
Back in April we spoke with @diondav4 for the launch of our #IrishUnisImpact report about how universities support social mobility & access to higher education.
https://t.co/gSsyAMmlKO
The Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Unit are running focus groups this week on equality issues in UCC to help develop an Equality Action Plan. Everyone is welcome, but they particularly want to hear from students from minority/underrepresented backgrounds. Link to sign up⬇️
There is so much happening today for #ScienceWeek in @itcarlow. Check out the Titan II Stem Truck.
Full details https://t.co/ndP1j05Ctk https://t.co/8MlEnVFVZd
Great initiative to support students and parents
Every Day Counts is a great initiative supporting school attendance. Well done to everyone involved @tusla @cork_cesc @NAPD_IE @SSEinspectorate https://t.co/7XgYlmN3vM
Delighted to be invited to present my PhD research at the Dept of Sociology and Criminology Seminar Series next week https://t.co/BG3gPrTIWq
@SindyLJoyce @magslamo https://t.co/PNxiyNEwwu. Positive Role models and mentors also very important, as identified by Breda Hogan. @CITAccess
Had a great evening at our first ever CookIT session. First up...’Brilliant Breakfasts’- porridge with stewed fruits, granola & yogurt pots, scrambled eggs, and fresh warm scones.... wholesome, delicious food made on a student budget 🙌🏼 #CookIT #CITaccess
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The IT Tralee Open Day takes place this Friday! Take a look at the brochure right now and start to plan your day now!
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HEA publishes report on socio-economic profile of students in Higher Education
https://t.co/ybGfrY5hjn
Congratulations @mayfieldcs!
We're very proud to have won the Trend Micro award for excellence in education at the IT@Cork awards.
Mtr Hurley and Mr Begley receiving the award on behalf of the school
@TrendISKF_IE @itcork #Techleaders19
The other evening I sat down for a coffee with my friend, an economist before chatting about Brexit with a surgeon. We were joined by a solicitor, teacher, student and former Forensic Engineer. I was in a #Directprovision centre. What assets they will be to our wonderful country.
We welcomed a special guest to the @ittralee morning graduation ceremony. Thanks to Dr. Barry O'Connor, President of @CIT_ie for being our guest. #BetterTogether @MTU_ie
Congratulations to all the graduates and well done @ittralee on what looks to be a great event.
Tomorrow marks a huge occasion for IT Tralee as we hold our first graduation ceremony on the North Campus at the brand new Kerry Sports Academy - congrats to all our graduates, we hope your day is truly special.
So important to build culturally inclusive learning environments that reflect and celebrate Traveller culture #TravellerEd
Bill
On Wednesday Seanad Éireann has a historic opportunity to recognise #Traveller history and culture. We’re calling on all Senators to support the Traveller Culture & History in Education Bill. Will you support the milestone #TravellerEdBill? #TravellerHistoryOurHistory
Thanks to Breda and Mags TCAT Cork for the very informative and engaging Traveller Cultural Awareness Training for @UCCPLUS @DSSUCC @UCC_MSO @ACEUCC staff @UCC this morning. #travellerpride
2Great collaboration and partnership @CentreLaois @ITCStudentServ1 in embedding inclusive learning environments and transition readiness for students
Delighted to work with such a diverse range of schools on the Enabling Transitions-Assistive Technology Programme. A very enjoyable session. Looking forward to Session 2 on October 21st where the focus will be on Freeware. @SoarForAccess @CentreLaois #GreatGroup #OpenToLearning https://t.co/nFziAVBlyW
Calling all creative students @UCCPLUS @UCC_MSO @DSSUCC @CITAccess @CITDSS @ittralee @itcarlow @waterfordit
Have what it takes to design the official PATH (Programme for Access to Higher Education) logo? The winning entry will be used across a wide range of print and online materials. More info at https://t.co/S4V8D0aqwH.
📣Prize: €400 One4All voucher
📣Deadline: 25 October 2019
This is a great opportunity for HEIs and #studentswithdisabilities to feedback on their #InclusiveMobility needs @MU_MAP @UCDforALL @TCDAbility @UCCPLUS https://t.co/2oYp0iTmDo
Congratulations @AnnieMCummins @AminsharifiT
Delighted to receive my copy this week. Looking forward to reading this cover to cover https://t.co/3CYGkLUaj8
WIT is proud to announce that we are supporting to the first-ever National Women In Sport initiative in Third Level Colleges and Universities. @StudentSportIrl @sport_wit #SSI20X20 #CantSeeCantBe #20X20 #ShowYourStripes https://t.co/XG5HknG6KM
Great to see lots of familiar faces at the table all committed to improving access to third level through collaboration #partnershipforaccess
Consultation with our Guidance Counsellors and Principals from @CITAccess #LinkedSchools is key to facilitating progression from second level to Higher Ed. Great meeting this morning with our stakeholders. #Access
The @IrishTimes Higher Options takes place this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at @TheRDS. Stop by stand 3 to learn about courses, college life and everything WIT #HigherOptions2019 #CAO2020 #WIT50 #StudyatWIT
Our schools liaison officer Alison has our prospectus stacked up and all your answers at the ready for tomorrow. Come by and chat with the team. #StartYourStoryITCarlow https://t.co/sAnjltw0mJ
There will be another 1916 Bursary Fund Information Clinic in UCC Boole 1 this Wednesday 18th September at 6pm.
@UCC @UCCPLUS @UCC_MSO @DSSUCC @hea_irl @HEAaccess
Delivering a 1916 Bursary Fund Information Clinic this evening in UCC.
@SoarForAccess @hea_irl @HEAaccess @UCC @UCCPLUS @UCC_MSO
Well done @CITDSS @laura_coleman80 a very informative video on all the supports available #enablingtransitions
Welcome to CIT! this video gives more information on @CITDSS and the support we can provide! #Vimeo https://t.co/WQ9hFJrDBS
The SOAR Project is delighted to support such an exciting and critical initiative, progress through partnership! #Traveller @UCC @ACEUCC @sotuama @cliodhnacal @deirdre_dore @normaderoiste @HEAaccess
What a morning! I’m humbled to be working with such an inspiring group of resilient #Traveller women that stepped up and claimed their place in the world! 👏🏼to @ACEUCC @SoarForAccess @sotuama @cliodhnacal @OliveByrne3 @johbees @osheaucc @corklearning https://t.co/6C95kCNhTh 2
What a morning! I’m humbled to be working with such an inspiring group of resilient #Traveller women that stepped up and claimed their place in the world! 👏🏼to @ACEUCC @SoarForAccess @sotuama @cliodhnacal @OliveByrne3 @johbees @osheaucc @corklearning https://t.co/6C95kCNhTh
2A great Ambassador for ‘The Mon’ @northmoncbs and @CITAccess
Kain Caulfield, 4th year BIS student, sharing his journey from North Mon to CIT as well as hot tips for incoming students... get to know your lecturers, hit the ground running with class work, get a good life/work/college balance, & ask for help if needed! #CITaccess #exploreCIT
At Registrations today our Good Start Ambassadors and Student Leaders had lots of advice to offer to first years: ‘Hit the ground running,’ says Colm, ‘Keep an open mind,’ says Tara, ‘Get to your your classmates,’ says Emma and ‘Be yourself,’ says Matthew #Goodstart2019
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Powerful and groundbreaking day today @UCC where we welcomed 26 amazing Traveller Women onto a @ACEUCC Cert in Leadership in the Community. What an exciting year ahead. @sotuama @OliveByrne3 @johbees @osheaucc @corklearning @SoarForAccess @UCC_MSO @UCCPLUS @normaderoiste
4⭐️Design Competition⭐️
@CIT_ie @itcarlow @ittralee @UCC @waterfordit @CITAccess @CITMatures @ITCStudentServ1 @UCC_MSO @UCCPLUS @DSSUCC @HEAaccess @hea_irl @CollegeAware
https://t.co/vPjeFUMejX
Are you a third-level student with a creative flair🎨? The HEA is looking for a winning design for the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH)'s official logo. @hea_irl @usi https://t.co/vlp3wz7Np8
Great to meet potential learners & team at @WAPartnership in our Community Partner Hub @StPatrickgate #Waterford to talk about our #blended #onlinelearning Certificate Leadership & Community Development starting soon as part of the Mukisa Programme for Refugees & Asylum Seekers
4Calling all creative students......
.@hea_irl has launched a competition for students of HEA funded institutions to create a logo for their PATH Fund.
The competition will run from 3 Sept- 25 Oct 2019 and the
winner will be informed in Dec 2019
More info can be found here!
https://t.co/yKUtzTKbEg
#studentmedia
‘The Leaving Cert isn’t the end’ - Great article in CIT #Access #TheStudentVoice featuring @stjohnscentral1 #Science #LaboratoryTechniques Graduate Craig Conroy now studying #AnalyticalChemistry with #QualityAssurance @CIT_ie #furthereducation #progression @CorkETB @CITAccess
2"It was all worth it just to hear your name being called on the winning podium, winning gold for your country."
https://t.co/7Kc816B15O
Fantastic work @MchughAisling @itcarlow and Angie great to see this outreach to Co. Wexford
Student Services @itcarlow @ITCStudentServ1 are delighted to be rolling out the Enabling Transitions Programme in conjunction with Selskar College Wexford. Super interaction by all. #selskarlib 3
A big @CIT_ie welcome to incoming students who are on campus today for the @CITDSS & @CITMatures Orientations #CITaccess #studentleaders #goodstart
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You may be eligible to apply for The 1916 Bursary Fund. The deadline is approaching and closes Friday 30th at 5pm.
https://t.co/znRCYZ8kRV
@CIT_ie @CITAccess
Great to see a large number in attendance at the @CITDSS Parents/Guardians Information Session this evening
#CITaccess #DSS
You may be eligible to apply for The 1916 Bursary Fund as an incoming mature student. The deadline is approaching and closes Friday 30th at 5pm.
https://t.co/znRCYZ8kRV
@UCC @UCC_MSO
Massive welcome to all our incoming Mature Students!! We’re so happy to host orientation today and we hope everyone is having a great time as you begin your @UCC journey! @SEFSUCC @UCCMedHealth @CBLUCC 4
@CIT_ie @SoarForAccess #1916bursary fund is still accepting applications for the 2019/2020 academic year. Log onto https://t.co/XyIUhah2Uo for eligibility criteria & if applicable, complete all sections of the online application (Part I) by 17:00 30th August 2019.
We are absolutely delighted to be nominated in the ‘Festival of the Year’ category for the upcoming @ChambersIreland Local Government Awards #corkloveslearning #chambersireland https://t.co/jyQgSEbWj3
'I am very, very proud to be from Knocknaheeny' - Cork's Amy O'Connor on how her home place has moulded her
https://t.co/h6htelMlcl