South East Technological University (SETU) this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in collaboration with Women’s Collective Ireland (WCI) that will provide fully-funded access to SETU Lifelong Learning’s Certificate in Advocacy for WCI staff members.
SETU Lifelong Learning has a longstanding tradition of increasing access to education through its various special projects and linked partnerships. This collaboration with WCI builds on this work and focuses on providing leadership training to women in the community, as WCI works with a network of women nationally, in both urban and rural settings. Funded programmes relieve the financial burden on learners and increase access to education for all. This is a key aim for SETU Lifelong Learning, and a strategic goal for the university overall, as it works to increase various learner pathways to third level education in the region.
Speaking about the partnership, Rosemary Flynn, Director of Lifelong Learning at SETU in Carlow commented, “I am delighted with today’s signing of the MOU with our colleagues from WCI as we embark on this new partnership. In particular I would like to thank our colleagues at WCI, CEO Miriam Holt, Vivienne Glanville, National Project Coordinator, and Lee McEvoy, Project Coordinator. Special thanks also to our team at SETU, including Katie Murphy, Education Liaison Officer, and Nicola McEntee, Project Coordinator, who have been instrumental in bringing this collaboration to life. By collaborating with an organisation that shares a commitment to empowering women, we can work together to foster gender equality, amplify women’s voices, and create a more inclusive and just society. We look forward to welcoming the first cohort of learners on the Certificate in Advocacy and to exploring further educational opportunities for the WCI community”.
Lee McEvoy, Project Coordinator for WCI in Wexford commented, “Over the past year, we have liaised with the team at SETU in Wexford and SETU Lifelong Learning and we are delighted to have built up an excellent working relationship. We have collaborated on an advocacy programme as part of CPD training which will benefit WCI employees nationwide, across the four provinces. This has provided an opportunity for upskilling in the community sector. As a grassroots, feminist organisation, we are delighted that SETU is supporting women and investing in women's learning. This is a partnership we are keen to maintain in the future, and to expand it to include women from our projects”.
For more information on SETU Lifelong Learning and its part-time courses on offer, visit setu.ie
