Trinity College Dublin: 30 tree-planting ceremonies to mark College Awareness Week 2022
The 9th annual College Awareness Week (CAW) launches today, with events running nationwide from the 21st – 27th November. The campaign seeks to show how college can and should be for everyone.
College Awareness Week highlights the benefits of going to college, providing students with local role models and empowering students by opening their eyes to a variety of options which will help further their education. Since 2014, CAW has been driven and coordinated from within Trinity Access Programmes (TAP) in Trinity College Dublin.
Today the official launch of CAW was marked with a visit from TCD Provost Linda Doyle to Scoil Cholmcille Senior National School in Ballybrack (pictured above and below). The school was one of the first primary schools to become involved with TAP in 2000.
Dr Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, said:
“Going to college should be an option for anyone. No one should ever feel excluded. College Awareness Week is a fantastic opportunity to highlight this message. And, of course, if someone chooses another pathway, that is ok, so long as it is the result of a real choice and not a decision forced by circumstances.
I am really proud that College Awareness Week originated from our Trinity Access Programme, which has been acknowledged internationally as a leader in promoting inclusion in higher education.
College Awareness Week this year includes a great line-up of events nationwide, many of which showcase local role models, and there are also very helpful practical resources for families, teachers, students, adult learners and mature students about becoming college-ready.
“While this is an exciting week of activities, there is a committed team of people who work all year round on raising awareness of the huge benefits of going to college.”
Pupils at Ballybrack primary school
A part of the campaign, 30 native Irish trees are being planted in places of education across Ireland to recognise the vital importance of the links between the CAW campaign, schools, Further Education and Training centres and community organisations while acting as a symbol for the growth of learners and our roots in communities. The planting of these trees will also coincide with the upcoming 30th anniversary of TAP and contribute towards the sustainable Trinty agenda.
We are hoping to build on the success of previous campaigns and reach even more students this year, particularly those who need it most. Echoing Minister Simon Harris’s comments at the National Access Plan launch, we agree that while a lot has been achieved in addressing educational inequity, there is still a lot of work to be done. This year will also see a return to more in-person events. Despite Covid restrictions last year, CAW thrived in its hybrid approach with 50% of DEIS schools represented and 150,000 students taking part.
Some of the amazing events that have already been logged on the CAW website include a Portlaoise Scoil Chríost Rí social media Teacher Takeover, a Women in STEM webinar, a Kerry’s Career fair and even some mock interviews to get students college-ready! Trinity staff and students have long been involved in the campaign too, organising events such as sample lectures, visiting schools, and participating in the Community Mentoring programme.