MORE than 800 students from Northside schools met with 36 further education and training providers exhibiting at the Northside Partnership Education for All Fair, held in Parnell’s GAA Club, Coolock.
The annual event gives secondary school students from local areas the chance to meet with personnel from colleges and universities to find out more about college courses, facilities, supports and alternative pathways into education.
Speaking at the event, Paul Hayes, Education & Career Guidance Counsellor with Northside Partnership, said: “We were delighted with the turnout from education providers at this year’s fair. Students were able to meet with education providers that included not only all of the major Dublin universities but also smaller colleges of further education and alternative training providers.
“This year we also had David Murphy from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) with us who offered talks for students throughout the day on the grant application process in order to encourage students to apply between April and July as a priority.” Laura Stafford, currently in fifth year at Santa Sabina in Sutton, said she was pleasantly surprised by what she found at the fair.
“It has opened my eyes to all of the different types of colleges that are out there and the many different routes that you can take. Coming in today I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do, but now I have an idea after finding out about a course in Sports Management with IT Blanchardstown. I’m quite sporty and play a lot of basketball so it’s something that would definitely appeal to me,” she said.
