­­­­­Over 90 students graduate from An Cosán learning hub

By Mary Dennehy

MORE than 90 people graduated last Saturday from An Cosán’s education centre in Jobstown and its virtual community college – a joint ceremony which highlighted how the learning hub is bringing its education model to communities nationwide through online courses.

The graduation, which was staged in Jobstown, was a joint celebration for 17 An Cosán and 74 virtual community students – with the online college, which is run separately to the base in Jobstown, being officially launched on October 11.

 

An Cosán Virtual Community College (VCC) is an award-winning education initiative which aims to spread the work of An Cosán from Tallaght to communities nationwide, and has for the past two years being run as a pilot project.

However, due to the success of the virtual college, which empowers people to learn using the latest virtual, online and mobile technologies, it will be officially launched next week.

Speaking about the graduation, Liz Waters, Director of An Cosán Virtual Community College, said: “It was a wonderful day for graduates, guests, and the staff of An Cosán and An Cosán VCC.

“Seeing 74 students from across Ireland receiving Higher Education awards, speaks to the power of our model of blended online community education.

“VCC is bringing the education model of An Cosán West Tallaght to communities struggling with inequality and the injustice of poverty right across the country.”

The guests of honour at the graduation included An Cosán co-founders Minister Katherine Zappone and Dr Ann Louise Gilligan alongside Professor Ted Fleming and Joe Collins, who represented Carlow IT, one of An Cosán’s collaborative partners in delivering and accrediting its Higher Education programmes.

This year also marks the 30th anniversary of An Cosán, which hopes to continue on its mission to eradicate poverty through education.

VCC builds on An Cosán’s 30 years of community learning, with all of its courses catering for learners who have not benefited from mainstream education.

All courses are designed to respond to community education needs, with all students supported to reach their full potential.
VCC will be launched on Tuesday, October 11 in the National Concert Hall.

For further details on the programmes visit www.ancosánvcc.ie.

For information on An Cosán in Jobstown visit www.ancosán.ie or call 4628488.