SETU awarded 182 family carers with academic awards at its Carlow campus on Friday, 4 September.
The ceremony was held in celebration of the participants of the ‘Supporting Family Carers Across Ireland’ project, delivered by SETU in partnership with Family Carers Ireland (FCI) and funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA). The ceremony recognised the dedication and hard work of individuals who have balanced caregiving responsibilities with academic achievement.
Dr Derek O’Byrne, Vice President for Academic Affairs at SETU, congratulated learners saying, “I want to congratulate you all, not only on your remarkable resilience and determination in completing your studies with us at SETU, but in doing so alongside the significant demands of your caring roles at home. The contributions you make to your families and to society are invaluable. You have demonstrated remarkable dedication to your studies, proving that caregiving and learning can go hand in hand.”
Dr O’Byrne continued, “The provision of accredited programmes to family carers recognises the enormous contribution they make to Irish society. Creating greater access to education for people, who ordinarily face many barriers, is at the heart of SETU’s goals as a university. I commend the work of our Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning, and our partners at Family Carers Ireland for bringing these opportunities to life for learners.”
Catherine Cox, Head of Communications and Policy at FCI, said, “Family Carers Ireland are delighted to welcome the opportunity to introduce third level education opportunities to family carers who traditionally would not otherwise have been able to access a pathway into Higher education.”
“I really enjoyed the studying the Certificate in Advocacy course and all the learning that came with it. As carers, carving out 'me' time can be challenging, but this experience reminded me that it’s never too late in life to invest in ourselves and expand our skill set. It’s a wonderful opportunity from FCI and SETU.”
Rosemary Kratschmar, a family carer from Dublin.
The ceremony was attended by the family and friends of learners, management and staff of SETU and FCI, as well as representatives from the Irish Deaf Society, another key partner of the Faculty of Education and Lifelong Learning. The ceremony was livestreamed to accommodate those who could not attend in person, and it was facilitated by Irish Sign Language interpreters.
The ‘Supporting Family Carers across Ireland’ project is a pioneering initiative by SETU that provides carers with the opportunity to develop skills, enhance their knowledge, and gain academic qualifications, all while continuing their vital caregiving roles at home. Courses were delivered online and on a part-time basis, making it easier for participants to balance their responsibilities.
For more information on the project, contact Nicola McEntee, Project Coordinator, on [email protected]