ATLANTIC TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion ATU Supports Traveller and Roma Communities Funding available through the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH), has helped ATU support students from Traveller and Roma communities on their educational journey into higher education in recent years. ATU has one of the highest numbers of students from the Traveller community attending university in Ireland Collaboration with stakeholders HEA funding has provided possibilities for collaboration with several community development and advocacy groups, including Donegal Travellers Project, Galway Traveller Movement, Sligo Traveller Support Group (STSG) and other stakeholders, providing a partnership approach to access and widening participation.
HEA PATH 3 a joint collaboration from the West/North West Higher Education Cluster (ATU and University of Galway), saw the funding of one full-time and one part-time Traveller Education Officer for the region. The Traveller Education Officers, Anne Marie Stokes (Galway/ Mayo) and Sinéad Campbell (Donegal/Leitrim/Sligo) have been instrumental in developing links with other education providers, Traveller Advocacy groups and other stakeholders. They have initiated and supported several events on campuses throughout the region in conjunction with colleagues from ATU’s Access and Widening Participation Service, academic staff as well as professional, technical and support staff within the University.
“ ATU works closely with Traveller and Roma advocacy
groups in supporting access to university education for all age groups including school-leavers, parents and grandparents. Sinéad Campbell, Traveller Education Officer (Northwest)
Primary school children science workshop at ATU as part of the DTP Afterschool Programme.
7 | Issue Fifteen September 2024
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About the National Access Plan (NAP) The Higher Education Authority’s (HEA) National Access Plan: A Strategic Action Plan for Equity of Access, Participation and Success in Higher Education (20222028) provides for a higher education sector which is accessible to all, supporting a diverse student body, with particular emphasis on students who may experience challenges in accessing higher education. Students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, students with disabilities and students from the Irish Traveller community have been identified as priority groups under NAP 2022-2028. The University has set up a Traveller and Roma Advisory group which includes representatives from the Traveller and Roma communities as well as student and staff representatives. Rory McMorrow, Student Services Office at ATU says: “This Advisory Group has an important role in directing the work of ATU’s Access and Widening Participation Service in achieving the targets set out in the NAP for this group.”