South East Technological University Carlow has been awarded one million euro in funding

South East Technological University (SETU) has been awarded €1million in funding from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) due to its partnership with An Cosán.

An Cosán is Ireland’s largest community education provider, giving people of all ages the opportunity to learn by offering courses from basic level right up to BA degree programmes.

The Carlow university was among five higher education institutions who together received €5.5million of funding combined.

The funding was awarded to SETU based on the strength of a case study submitted to the HEA by SETU Lifelong Learning entitled: "SETU and An Cosán: Using the power of community education to create transformative higher education pathways for social inclusion and sustainable development."

SETU Lifelong Learning has worked in collaboration with An Cosán since 2008 in the development and delivery of higher education courses to the organisation’s learners. This funding will enable the further development of the work done by SETU in collaboration with An Cosán.

Speaking on the announcement of the award, Rosemary Flynn, Director of Lifelong Learning at SETU in Carlow, commented, “This award recognises our learner-centred, holistic, and transformative model of education and consistently ensures priority groups’ access, participation, and personal and academic achievement. This award is focused on our learners - they are leaders in their homes, families and their communities and we look forward to working with An Cosán in this new phase of our partnership.”