Inclusion takes centre stage at the 2025 MIC LINC Programme graduation ceremony

527 Inclusion Coordinators from across Ireland graduate at the 2025 MIC LINC Programme ceremony. Katherine Rubie of Dublin and Cristina Simon of Links Kilternan Dublin pictured as Graduates of the 2024/25 Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme following their conferring ceremony at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, on Saturday, October 18th. Pic. Brian Arthur

Minister Norma Foley commends 527 newly conferred Inclusion Coordinators for their leadership in advancing Inclusive Practice at the LINC Programme Graduation 2025

Inclusion took centre stage at Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Limerick, on Saturday, October 18, as 527 early years educators from across Ireland were conferred as graduates of the 2024/25 Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme.

The ceremony celebrated both their academic success and their shared commitment to creating early learning environments where every child feels valued and supported.

Now entering its tenth year, the LINC Programme continues to equip educators with the knowledge, confidence and leadership skills to champion inclusive practice within their settings and communities.

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Each graduate is now qualified to take on the role of Inclusion Coordinator within their Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings, leading initiatives that foster a sense of belonging and help every child to learn, participate and flourish.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley TD, congratulated the graduates, acknowledging their dedication to the principles of inclusion and their contribution to strengthening Ireland’s Early Learning and Care sector.

She said, “I am delighted to congratulate this year’s graduates of the LINC Programme. Their achievement is not only a milestone in their own professional journey but also a significant step in supporting the Access and Inclusion Model, which continues to ensure that children with disabilities are welcomed, supported and able to thrive in early learning and care. The role of the Inclusion Coordinator is about creating environments where every child feels valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.

“By leading inclusive practice and fostering a culture of belonging in their settings, these graduates are helping to shape how inclusion is understood and lived out in our society from the very earliest of years. I want to commend them for their dedication to professional development and for the leadership they will bring to their work. I wish them every success as they take on this important responsibility.”

Professor Dermot Nestor, President of MIC, congratulated the graduates on their achievements and reflected on the importance of the LINC Programme in the early years sector.

He said, “The LINC Programme represents a powerful collaboration between higher education and the early years sector, placing the child at the centre of inclusive practice. Each graduate has demonstrated remarkable dedication to professional learning and to building environments where all children can thrive. Their leadership ensures that inclusion is not just a principle but a daily practice that enriches the lives of children and families.”

Professor Emer Ring, Dean of Education, Early Childhood, and Teacher Education at MIC, expressed her pride in the ongoing success of the programme.

She said, “As Dean of the Faculty of Education at Mary Immaculate College, I am especially proud to be associated with the LINC Programme from its establishment in 2016 to the present day. We know from our research on the programme that our LINC Programme graduates continue to transform the lives of children and families in early learning and care settings all over the country.

“Our recent publication, Leading from Within: Developing a Professional Portfolio for Inclusion in the Early Years, captures the unwavering commitment of our LINC graduates to cultivating inclusive culture, adopting inclusive pedagogy and engaging in inclusive practice to ensure that each child is enabled to thrive, achieve their potential and develop a deep sense of belonging. Comhghairdeas lenár gcéimithe uilig inniu agus táimid an bhródúil ar fad asaibh go léir.”

Niamh Fortune, Associate Dean of Teaching and Learning and Lecturer in Literacy at the Froebel Department, Maynooth University, congratulated the graduates, saying, “This achievement marks not just their commitment to inclusive practice, but their growth as leaders in creating environments where every child feels seen, valued and supported. Their dedication to continuous professional development plays a vital role in shaping a more inclusive future in early years education. The impact of the LINC Programme is lasting and profound.”

Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland, also commended the graduates, “These graduates will play an instrumental role in young children’s lives, laying the foundation for lifelong learning. They have a critical role in building an inclusive early years system by ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, receives high-quality early years education.”

Claire Butterly, National Coordinator of the LINC Programme, extended her congratulations to the class of 2024/25.

She said, “It has been a privilege to be National Coordinator of the LINC Programme for the class of 2024–2025. This year’s conferring marked a significant milestone and demonstration of the graduates’ commitment to both early childhood and inclusion. As they take on their roles as Inclusion Coordinators, I trust that they will continue to champion inclusive culture, practice, and pedagogy within their early learning and care settings, carrying forward the same passion and commitment that they brought to their studies. The LINC Team are looking forward to welcoming the 2025/26 cohort to the Programme, applications will open in the coming weeks.”

The Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme is a Level 6 Special Purpose Award in Leadership for Inclusion in the Early Years. It is designed to support early years educators in leading inclusive practice within their settings and is offered at no cost to participants nominated by Early Learning and Care settings.

Funded by the Department for Children, Disability and Equality, the programme is delivered by a consortium led by MIC in partnership with Early Childhood Ireland and Maynooth University’s Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education. The LINC Consortium are delighted to announce that they were successful in their application for the next iteration of LINC and are pleased to welcome the National Childhood Network as a consortium partner.

Since its establishment, the LINC Programme has become a cornerstone of inclusive early years education in Ireland, empowering thousands of early years educators to create learning environments where every child’s access, inclusion and participation is supported. Nationally recognised for excellence and innovation in teaching and learning, the programme has received multiple prestigious accolades, including the Best Online Learning Experience Award at the Education Awards in 2017 and 2020, the Jennifer Burke Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning in 2018, and the Student Engagement & Communications Award in 2019. In 2020, LINC was shortlisted for the AONTAS STAR Award and received the Best Marketing/Communications Team Award, and it has been a consistent finalist at the Education Awards from 2021 to 2025, reflecting its ongoing commitment to quality and innovation.