Opening doors to higher education for communities across Ireland
SETU works with its partner An Cosán to combat disadvantage by delivering holistic, supportive and engaging educational programmes to advance access to higher education for individuals otherwise marginalised from higher education.
An Cosán, a partner since 2008, is a pioneering community education organisation. For over 30 years, it has offered adults the chance to return to learning, focusing not just on qualifications but also on confidence, wellbeing, and empowerment.
Our learners are leaders in their homes, families and communities. This partnership with An Cosán ensures their access, participation, and achievement at third level.
Rosemary Flynn, Director of Lifelong Learning, SETU
The Partnership with SETU
South East Technological University (SETU) and An Cosán have joined forces to create progressive pathways to higher education for adults who are often excluded from traditional routes.
Together, they:
- Deliver flexible higher education programmes (major and minor awards).
- Support learners with wraparound services tailored to real-life challenges.
- Carry out research and a PhD study to build evidence for national education policy.
- Maintain strong quality assurance so learners can progress confidently.
With SETU, we can expand our community-based higher education programmes so that more adult learners from marginalised communities across Ireland achieve empowerment through education.
Heydi Foster, CEO, An Cosán
Why It Matters
- Hundreds of learners from disadvantaged communities supported.
- Flexible, community-based pathways designed around learners’ lives.
- High retention rates, exceeding national averages for non-traditional learners.
- Research providing an evidence base for future policy on inclusion and access.
It was daunting at first going back to Third Level education but the support from the faculty and fellow students was invaluable… I am proud of what I have achieved and grateful for the new opportunities it has opened.
SETU Student, Early Childhood Education
The programme and research activities involved in this three-year plan, funded by the HEA, will include a dissemination plan designed to inform, build awareness and provide an evidence base for these types of partnerships that can be used by other stakeholders including national policy makers.