25 Years of Access Service celebrated by TUS in the Midwest

25 Years of Access Service celebrated by TUS in the Midwest. Former graduate Luke Hogan, Pre-Entry Access Co-Ordinator, Anna Murphy, graduate Nicola Ryan, TUS President, Professor Vincent Cunnane, Access Officer, Carolann Bargery, Vice President of Student Education and Experience, Frances O’Connell with graduate, Paddy O’Callaghan celebrating 25 years of Access in the Midwest at the TUS Coonagh Campus.

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) celebrated 25 years of its Access Service, supporting students across the Midwest

Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) celebrated 25 years of its Access Service with a milestone event that brought together alumni, community partners, and staff to reflect on a quarter-century of widening participation and creating pathways into higher education for learners from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.  

Graduate Nicola Ryan’s story was one of the highlights of the “From First Steps to the Fireside” panel discussion that day, where she shared how her path to a university degree was not straightforward.  

Nicola, who is a Process Engineer with Zimmer Biomet, said, “Access has made education possible for me. I never liked school so choosing to go and earn my degree was a huge decision and it was not taken lightly. I could not have done it without the support I received from both the TUS Access course and the team, as well as the many staff I interacted with across the university.

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“I graduated in 2024, and I still feel that support is there. It has given me confidence, and the people I’ve met in TUS have become my biggest supporters. Only wanting the best for me and always encouraging me to keep going. I can’t thank them enough.”

The panel discussion also featured TUS graduates Paddy O’Callaghan and Luke Hogan, who shared their personal experiences and the transformative role the Access Service played in their academic journeys.

In addition to the 25-year milestone, the TUS Access Service marked two significant two-decade anniversaries: the 20th anniversary of the Go4IT programme and 20 years of partnership with Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) and Thomond Community College.

To date, 14,286 students have been supported via the Student Assistance Fund (SAF), and participants have committed 1,473 student-years to the Go4IT programme. The unwavering dedication of the Access Service staff has also been recognised on a national level, winning an AONTAS STAR Award for its Transition to Higher Education programme.  

Speaking at the event, President of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane said, “For 25 years, the Access Service has been at the heart of our mission and values, ensuring that education is not defined by background or circumstance, but by potential. The success of the Access Service is reflected in the thousands of students who have come through its programmes, students who have gone on to achieve their academic goals, build fulfilling careers, and make lasting contributions to their communities.”

Looking towards advancing the equity of opportunities to enter university, Frances O’Connell, Vice President of Student Education and Experience at TUS, officially launched the new Future+ initiative.  

Launching Future +, Frances said, “TUS Future+ is a widening participation programme that works in partnership with second level schools, further education providers, and community organisations. It builds on the immense collaborative work TUS has done to date with these key stakeholders to support our Access and Widening Participation agenda.  

“It comprises of a suite of focused strands designed to support students, parents, schools, and communities on the journey to higher education.  Its purpose is to ensure that all prospective students have equal opportunities to explore, access, and progress to university regardless of background, circumstances, or previous educational experience.  

“Through focused, practical strands like campus tasters, study clubs, and parental guidance, we are actively supporting students and families at every single step of their educational journey. To secure the long-term impact of this work, we have also established a new dedicated structure within TUS to strategically champion access for targeted groups, as noted in the National Access Plan, to maximise the chances to enroll and succeed in higher education”.