Students take centre stage at National Symposium

The INCLUDE-ID Network is hosting a national symposium today, “Being INCLUDE-ID – A Right to Learn, A Right to Belong”, which is being held at the Concert Hall, East Quad, Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Grangegorman Campus.

The event brought together students, educators, researchers and policymakers to celebrate and reflect on the continued development of inclusive post-secondary education for students with intellectual disabilities in Ireland.

The symposium marked the culmination of the first iteration of PATH 4 Phase 2-funded programmes (2024–2026), showcasing the achievements, learning journeys, and progression of students with intellectual disabilities across Ireland’s higher education system. Funding is now being continued for a further 2 years, 2026- 2028. Throughout the day, student presentations were central to the programme, offering first-hand insight into their experiences of university life, learning, and personal development.

Throughout the event, students shared powerful testimonies about their experiences in higher education, including Dylan Farrell:

“Going to college has been the best decision and experience I have ever done and made. I never thought someone like me who has a disability would ever experience college life. I got to get out of my comfort zone and made friends and met amazing people”

Ireland remains the first European Union country to provide government-funded inclusive post-secondary education programmes for students with intellectual disabilities, a model that continues to attract significant international interest.

The INCLUDE-ID Network (pronounced “included”) is a national consortium of higher education institutions funded under PATH 4. It supports the development of inclusive education through collaborative research, guidance development, and sector-wide training and workshops. Member institutions include Atlantic Technological University, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Maynooth University, Technological University Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, and University of Galway.

Speaking about the event, Dr Deirdre Lillis, President of TU Dublin, highlighted the importance of inclusive education in higher education institutions.

“TU Dublin is proud to have hosted this national symposium and to be part of a network that is reshaping inclusive higher education in Ireland. Programmes across the INCLUDE-ID network demonstrate that students with intellectual disabilities belong in our universities and, with the right supports, can thrive and fully participate in academic and campus life. 

As the first EU country to fund inclusive post-secondary education at a national level, Ireland’s model continues to draw international attention, with visiting delegates attending the symposium to learn from the Irish experience and explore how similar approaches can be developed internationally. In this, Ireland is providing an exemplar for inclusive education across Europe and beyond.”

Since 2024, €11 million in Higher Education Authority (HEA) funding has supported the expansion of inclusive post-secondary education across 11 higher education institutions. To date, 193 students with intellectual disabilities are enrolled in and attending programmes ranging from Level 3 to Level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

INCLUDE-ID Network Coordinator, Jill Woodnutt, based in the Trinity Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities (TCPID), reflected on the significance of the day and the broader impact of the programmes:

“Today has been a celebration of achievement, ambition and belonging. We have heard directly from students whose experiences demonstrate the transformative impact of inclusive higher education on confidence, independence, learning, and future opportunities. Their stories challenge outdated assumptions about what students with intellectual disabilities can achieve and highlight the importance of creating pathways that support everyone to reach their potential.

 While there is much to celebrate, there is also more work to do. Too often, students with intellectual disabilities encounter low expectations as they transition from second-level education. Today’s symposium has reinforced the importance of ensuring that inclusive higher education is recognised as a realistic and valued option for students and families across Ireland.”

 Highlighting the benefits of including students with intellectual disabilities, Dr Pat O Connor, Head, School of Social Sciences, Law and Education at TU Dublin, said: “Inclusive education benefits everyone. It enriches our campuses, strengthens teaching and learning, broadens perspectives and helps ensure that our universities reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. Our ambition is that inclusive higher education becomes not the exception, but an established and expected part of Ireland’s education landscape.”