Transition Year
TU Dublin offers TY students opportunities to explore and engage with outside of the school environment. Taking part helps to introduce them to higher education while also helping them to develop skills, increase their knowledge and foster an interest and enjoyment in learning.
TU Dublin’s TY activities introduce new subject areas that develop both academic and life skills. There are five Transition Year programmes available in TU Dublin, if you would like to take part or find out more, get in contact with our Transition Year Coordinator Annmarie McDonagh annmarie.mcdonagh@tudublin.ie, 086 813 2206.
A 12 week media studies that requires teams to plan, develop and record either a tv show or a podcast. Participation enhances students’ literacy and communications skills. This programme begins in January.
A website to share and celebrate students’ work while they develop their literacy skills and gain an understanding of journalism, creating content and the media in general.
3. STEM Passport for Inclusion Programme
This programme bridges the gap in STEM access for disadvantaged students. It provides TY students with education supports, mentoring from industry role models and a university qualification (Level 6 NFQ). The initiative was developed because students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds face barriers that can limit their participation in STEM courses and careers.
4. Short Stories Programme
This is a collaboration between TU Dublin and Dublin International Film Festival (DIFF); students watch a series of international short films, choose their favourite 3 or 4 films and organise a screening in their school for other students.
DIFF facilitates a workshop focusing on things to consider as a film viewer/critic. Students then receive an array of short films from around the world that they watch as a group and agree as a team on their favourites. They organise a film screening in their school for other students to attend, this might be a simple as a one-off event or it might be as elaborate as a Film Week, with a screening for each year. Event Management lecturers meet with participants and facilitate a workshop to help them to approach organising an event systematically.
Taking part introduces young people to stories from around the world and helps them to recognise that feelings, emotions and experiences are universal. It encourages them to think critically, share opinions, debate, work as a team and organise an event. Students who take part receive a certificate of completion.
5. TY Debating Challenge
TU Dublin collaborates with Concern Debates to offer TY students an opportunity to debate social justice topics. Participating students attend an information session facilitated by Concern and learn about advocacy, the importance of debating and terms such as motions, rebuttals, proposition and opposition. Teams are created and return to school to complete research on their motion and assign roles and refine their arguments. Concern provides materials to support students to plan and take on specific roles.
A few weeks later, teams return to TU Dublin and debate a team from another school. Adjudicators observe each debate, provide feedback and identify winning teams. The challenge generally take place throughout September and October each year.
Taking part increases students’ critical thinking, communication, research, public speaking and leadership skills. Everybody who takes part receives a certificate of achievement.