Following on from the successful conference held in April 2010, a conference publication of the proceedings has been compile and published

Three  key note speakers have written full papers and fiftenn paper presenters have also contributed full papers on their topics of interest. The publication also contains short abstracts of all the other presenters who took part in the conference.

If you would like a hard copy of the publication please contact martin.flynn@ucc.ie to request same.

The earlier a child thinks about the future, and the earlier they set their goals high, the more likely they are to achieve. By showing primary age children what higher education is, we can give them something to aim for. It also shows them that higher education and education is not all about subjects that you study in school; it can also be about your hobbies-: music, drama, dance or sports. By introducing primary children to higher education in a fun way we are helping them to see that higher education could be a choice for them.

professor Fluffy is a programme developed by the University of Liverpool and has proven to be a successful way to introduce primary school pupils to third level.

Four schools were involved in this primary school initiative:

• Scoil Mhuire Fatima/North Mon CBS (6^th class)
• Scoil Aiseiri Chriost, Farranree (5^th class)
• St. Mary’s on the Hill, Knocknaheeny (6^th class) and
• Scoil Cholmcille, Blarney St. CBS (5^th class)

The half day campus visits took place on June 17^th, 20^th, 22^nd and 23rd.  On arrival in UCC, the group comprising of pupils, teachers and parents were met by UCC staff along with the Student Ambassadors. The group then proceeded to Boole 1 for a brief welcome meeting and presentation.  Boole lecture theatres were chosen specifically in order that the children would experience sitting in a large lecture theatre just like university students.

The Boole Library kindly facilitated a 20 minute library tour for the groups.  The library and the sheer volume of books it houses proved to be a huge source of interest to the pupils during Session 1 in the schools.  Children found it hard to imagine that so many books could be contained under one roof.  As a result, UCC staff felt that it would be important to let the children see the library if at all possible during their visit to UCC.

After the library tour, UCC Student Ambassadors took the pupils on a personalised tour of the UCC campus.  According to feedback received, pupils enjoyed this opportunity to get to know their Student Ambassadors while in small groups, giving the pupils plenty of opportunities to ask questions about student life, campus buildings as well as about the numerous traditions surrounding the Quad and the crest in UCC.

This was followed by a ceremony where each of the pupils received a certificate to mark the completion of the programme and recognise their efforts in undertaking this initiative. Group photos were taken and copies of these were given to the school so they would have a permanent reminder of their visit to UCC and the programme.

Just under 100 students from 4 6th classes were involved in producing 4 Books of Inventing for their schools. The Books of Inventing were as a learning resource to inspire inventive problem solving and product innovation for future 6th class students. The project was run by John McSweeney from UCC, who uses TRIZ the Russian Theory of Inventive Problem Solving to assist students in the process of inventing.

John claims these students are at their inventive peak at 12 years of age as they have a firm grip of reality but find it very easy to idealize fantastic solution as well. The programme as very well supported by the parents and school staff in Scoil Iosigan, Faranree, Sunday’s Well National Boys School, Blarney St. and Presentation Primary School, Gerald Griffin St. Cork.

Pathways to Education, in conjunction with the Disability Support Services of UCC & CIT, recently hosted a very successful Assistive Technology (AT) Exhibition & Demonstration to provide students, parents, teachers and professionals the opportunity to review specialised software and equipment.

Pathways to Education, in conjunction with the Disability Support Services of UCC & CIT, are holding an Assistive Technology (AT) Exhibition & Demonstration to provide students, parents, teachers and professionals the opportunity to review specialised software and equipment.

The event is been held in Devere Hall, Student Centre, University College Cork on Wednesday 26th January from 11am to 3pm. The exhibiton and demonstration is open to all, no booking is required and you are welcome to come along at some stage during the event.

It is an ideal opportunity for school & college staff/parents/students and others who are interested to view and discuss the many technologies (software and hardware) available with expert providers and how the assistive technology can be of benefit to students with disabilities or specific learning difficulties in their everyday school and personal lives.

For further details please contact Linda Doran at l.doran@ucc.ie  or 021-490 2985/490 3422. Alternatively contact Martin Flynn at martin.flynn@ucc.ie

The schedule of demonstrations/talks is contained below and all exhibitors will have stands in the Devere Hall for the duration of the event.

The exhibitors are listed below:

Ash Technologies Ltd. http://www.ashlowvision.com/

• Ash Technologies provide a unique and innovative range of assistive technology products including Opti lite, Quicklook Classic and the Liberty Solo.

Compu b http://compub.com/

• Compu b is a well established name associated with Apple products including the ipod touch and ipad.

The Cork Deaf Association http://www.corkdeaf.ie/

• The Cork Deaf Association is committed to the empowerment of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Cork city and county through the provision of information, advocacy and support services.

The Dyslexia Association of Ireland Cork Branch http://www.dyslexia.ie/cork.htm

• The Dyslexia Association of Ireland aims to promote awareness of Specific Learning Disability (SLD/Dyslexia) and to serve the needs of people with this difficulty.

EdTech Software http://edtech.ie/

• EdTech Software is a leading Irish supplier of educational software and special needs peripherals. EdTech offer a comprehensive range of software for Primary and Secondary Level education including Alpha Smart and Co-Writer.

Human Ware http://www.humanware.com/en-europe/home

• HumanWare’s products are having a profoundly positive impact on the lives of people who are blind or have low vision, and individuals with learning disabilities. Products include Braille displays and digital book players.

Iansyst http://iansyst.com/index.asp

• Iansyst is an organisation with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of assistive technology solutions for disabilities which include: dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, visual impairments, hard of hearing, disabilities which require ergonomic solutions and other mobility disabilities.

Jackson Technology http://www.jacksontechnology.com/

• Jackson Technology is an Irish company providing a complete range of assistive technology. Their product line covers dyslexia, Low Vision & Blindness, physical and sensory disabilities such as mouse & keyboard alternatives, products for dyslexia, reading difficulties & literacy.

Micromail http://www.micromail.com/

• Micromail is a provider of educational software to Primary, Post-Primary, Third-Level and Colleges in Ireland.

National Council for the Blind of Ireland http://www.ncbi.ie/

• NCBI is a not for profit charitable organisation which provides support and services to people experiencing sight loss.

Sight and Sound http://www.sightandsound.co.uk/

• Sight and Sound Technology is a provider of hardware and software to the blind, visually impaired and those with learning and reading difficulties. Products include Jaws, Mobile Speak, PACMate.

St Joseph’s Centre for the Visually Impaired http://www.stjosephsvi.ie/

• St. Joseph’s is the only dedicated centre of its kind in the Republic of Ireland, providing education and training for the visually impaired. Their students range in age from infants through to young adults.

Texthelp http://texthelp.com/

• Texthelp develops innovative software to help struggling readers and writers, those with literacy difficulties, learning disabilities such as dyslexia, mild visual impairments, and where English is a second language. Products include Read and Write Gold 9.

At the recent “Better Options” information event for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties hosted by UCC, a unique and interesting piece of research was launched. The research was commissioned by Pathways to Education, which is a joint access initiative of UCC & CIT and funded under the Strategic Innovation Fund – Cycle 2. The research was carried out under the guidance and support of the disability services in both institutions.

The report titled“Students with Disabilities Tracking Report – 2005 Intake. An analysis of their progression, retention and success through Higher Education Institutions” investigated the access, retention and success rates of students with disabilities across Ireland. It was launched by Ann Heelan, Executive Director of AHEAD (Association of Higher Education Access & Disability).

The research is the first evidence based research that tracks statistical data relating to access and participation across a number of Higher Education Institutes in any one academic year, in this case the 2005 intake and involved nine institutions. The data provided an interesting insight into the activity of students with disabilities during their studies at higher level.

Commenting on the research Mary O’Grady, Disability Support Officer and Head of Disability Support Service, University College Cork commented that -

“This report will prove to be a valuable resource to the educational sector in addressing the challenges of increasing the access and participation of students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties in higher education in the future.”

Some of the key findings from the report were that:

• The access, participation and retention of students with disabilities is a success story across all nine institutions.
• 99% and 100% of students with disabilities in UCC and CIT respectively achieved either first class or second class honours results in their final year exams.
• Overall students who were visually impaired and with specific learning difficulties have the highest retention rates but those with mental health difficulties has the lowest overall retention rates in the national sample.
• The largest number of student withdrawals occurs in the first year of study. The number of students with disabilities entering particular third level institutions is not reflective of their capacity (that is the students with the largest student populations do not have the largest percentage of students with disabilities).

Echoing the findings, Laura O’Rourke, Disability Support Officer and Head of Disability Support Service, Cork Institute of Technology commented that -

“This report also serves to educate and create awareness amongst academic staff as well as students, and so it is with great pleasure that CIT have become a part of this research project and welcome the findings.”

The full report can be downloaded by clicking on the  image above.