Supporting equal access to education

Opening doors to education for all

Ireland has experienced a huge increase in household wealth and living conditions over the last thirty years. Despite that, there are still students around the country that cannot afford to go to third level education or would not even consider it as an option for them. In socially deprived areas, it is common for teenagers to believe that it is inevitable to finish school and get a job. Even in their community, there is little support or encouragement for going to college.

DCU’s Commitment to Inclusion

With its first campus right beside Ballymun, DCU has been aware from its earliest days that the students living closest to it might never get a chance to attend college there. The Access programme was started in 1999 because DCU believes that education should be for everyone. The best way to improve life for people in socially deprived areas is to give them the same opportunities that everyone else enjoys. They work with schools and communities in DEIS areas, showing young students that college can be an option for them, and providing them with financial and academic support throughout their time in college. Work placement is also arranged through the programme, providing students with valuable and paid employment opportunities.

Payzone’s Contribution to Student Success

There are currently over 1,000 students attending DCU with the support of the Access Programme.
Payzone is proud to be able to support the programme by providing financial support each year. This goes towards financial assistance to students as well as discounted on-campus accommodation for students from further away. This support is in addition to participating in the DCU Intra programme which gives third year students the opportunity to gain paid work experience with Payzone each year. Students from Business and Computer degree programmes join the Business Development and IT teams within Payzone, working along with their professional counterparts, gaining experience that lets them put their academic learning into practical use.