CNA Research Launch Seminar
Event notice
- What: Research Launch Seminar, A Community Needs Analysis with Refugees and People Seeking Asylum – Exploring Access and Barriers to Higher Education in Ireland
- When: Wednesday 17 November 2021, 3PM
- Register for this event: https://bit.ly/CNAwithRefugees
“While in Direct Provision for 6 years, I was not allowed to study or work. My life was put on pause. After the Direct Provision I studied for 6 years to become job ready. It set me back for many years … impacted my mental health. No one will be able to give me back the years I lost”
On World Access to Higher Education Day, College Connect and the Irish Refugee Council are hosting a research launch seminar exploring a new participatory action peer-research project advocating for better access to higher education for refugees and people in the protection process in Ireland.
Stemming from a community needs analysis conducted with over 100 refugees and people seeking asylum in Ireland, the report reveals access issues and barriers to higher education that this community face and makes a series of recommendations.
The keynote address will be delivered by Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, and Professor Eeva Leinonen, President of Maynooth University, will open the Seminar.
In addition to the research findings, panels will discuss the creative projects and cultural training modules that were developed from the research – including the www.wearehereHEAR.ie photovoice exhibition and ‘Deconstructed’, an artistic video featuring Spoken Word Artist Felispeaks about how peoples’ identity is deconstructed in the protection process and while living in Direct Provision – with direct input from the peer-researchers, creatives, and project collaborators involved.
Advance media briefs are available upon request and interviews with Dr Sarah Meaney Sartori, Principal Research Investigator, Irish Refugee Council representatives and project collaborators can be arranged.
END
Contact
Caroline Reid | caroline.reid@mu.ie
Notes
Seminar Programme_Media Preview.pdf- College Connect is a Higher Education Authority funded programme for access to higher education. The project spans four higher education colleges (Athlone IT, DCU, Dundalk IT and Maynooth University) who are working together with the community to support underrepresented students into and through higher education. College Connect is a Higher Education Authority funded programme for access to higher education. The project spans DCU, Dundalk IT, Maynooth University and TUS – Athlone Campus) who are working together with the community to support underrepresented students into and through higher education.
- Dr Sarah Meaney Sartori is a researcher and educator based in Maynooth University. She is the Research Manager for College Connect, whose aim is to increase the diversity of the university population, through finding out the support needs of groups underrepresented in Ireland at 3rd level e.g. refugees, Traveller and Roma communities, people with convictions. Sarah is trained in arts-based methodologies, which means taking research outside the academy and into the public space for engagement and to inspire social change.