Tracking Progression of Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities pursuing third level studies face more obstacles and challenges than many of the general student population. It is important for the development of third level disability services in Ireland to understand these challenges and trends in the progression of this cohort of students in order to increase the numbers of students with disabilities in higher education according to the national targets.

The Connections Research Project aims to examine the progression of students with disabilities through third level. The project will be piloted with an in-depth study of students attending UCC and CIT and then widened to incorporate a broad overview of 10 other institutions nationally. This research will analyse the access, participation, retention and success of students with disabilities in third level education.  The study will track full time, undergraduate students who entered third level in 2005 and who have now graduated or are still completing their degree in cases where they repeated or took a year(s) out. It will establish a comprehensive overview of the trends in how this cohort of students progress through their academic careers, the academic, social and cultural experiences of these entrants, establish their first destinations and highlight the challenges experienced by students with disabilities in higher education.

The published report is available by clicking on the image below.