GMIT leads new €1m. project to support education access in western region

GMIT, along with three other third-level colleges in the west and north-west, have been awarded €1 million to implement a new Higher Education Access project called “WNW Connect” aimed at helping students from disadvantaged areas progress to higher education and complete their studies.

Funded through the Department of Education and Skills Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH 3), GMIT will work with IT Sligo, Letterkenny IT and NUI Galway on the initiative, which seeks to ensure participation from students from diverse social backgrounds in the west and north-west of the country.

Dr. Seamus Morrissey, project manager, West/North-West Higher Education Cluster, said; “This initiative will make a positive impact and increase opportunities for progression to third-level in all our counties.

"We will work with community organisations and schools to support students from under-represented groups where there isn’t a tradition of third level participation.

"These new pathways into third-level education help transform the lives of future students and their families.”

“WNW Connect” will be delivered through the Access Offices in the four colleges and run until 2024. Programmes and workshops with students will focus on mentoring and pathways to college initiatives.

For details on this initiative, visit: www.gmit.ie/wnwconnect or email wnwcluster@gmit.ie