Higher or Third Level Education

In assessing Traveller participation in higher education, one of the difficulties is that there is no system in place to collect hard data. However, it is clear that, to date, few Travellers have participated in third level education. Estimates suggest that less than 20 were at third level in 2002. In September it was estimated that there were 28 Travellers enrolled in third level.  Most Travellers who participate do so under the scheme for mature students, frequently with support from their local Traveller organisation.
 
The Higher Education Authority, the governing body of Higher Education, has published a document that deals with social exclusion and barriers to access for marginalized groups who historically have had little access to Higher Education, including Travellers. It is titled “Achieving Equity of Access to Higher Education in Ireland” and can be accessed at:
www.hea.ie/uploads/pdf/AccessActionPlan.pdf

Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, has published a study of access and provision for Travellers accessing third level education in Ireland. It is titled “Achieving equity of access to higher education in Ireland: the case of Travellers”. A PDF of this document can be downloaded here.
PDF of “Achieving equity of access to higher education” to go here.