Cork Airport's Community Fund backing MTU access to higher education initiative  

Munster Technological University (MTU) and Cork Airport have launched a new skills programme to support access to higher education.

The free in-person single subject certificate is titled Starting Strong: Essential Skills for Higher Education is supported by Cork Airport’s Community Fund.

The five credit certificate is designed to support adult learners and students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in gaining core academic, digital, and personal development skills required to succeed in higher education.

The programme will be delivered using a universally designed, trauma-sensitive approach, in collaboration with the MTU Faculty of Health and Social Sciences.

Facilitate

MTU postgraduate students and academic staff will facilitate the initiative, with coordination provided by the Access Service team.

Over the duration of a 12-week semester, participants will engage in weekly lectures focused on navigating higher education, academic reading and critical thinking, academic writing and assignment preparation, and digital literacy and understanding misinformation. Students will also learn practical skills such as using library databases, understanding academic texts, evaluating information sources and producing professional CV’s and cover letters.

Laura Coleman, access officer at MTU, said the certificate is about “expanding access and creating opportunities for learners who may not have traditionally seen themselves in higher education.”

“With the generous support of the Cork Airport Community Fund, we are proud to offer a practical, inclusive, and accessible option to support learners to grow in confidence and unlock new educational possibilities.”

Niall MacCarthy, managing director at Cork Airport, added: “Cork Airport is committed to investing in the communities we serve through our Community Fund.

“We are delighted to support MTU’s ‘Starting Strong’ certificate, which will provide essential educational opportunities for individuals eager to grow and succeed.”