Junior Graduate Programme

LIT Education Initiative in association with St Munchin’s Family Resource Centre

Limerick Institute of Technology has embedded in its mission statement the pivotal role that it can play in the economic and socio-cultural development of our region. LIT is continuously striving to create new partnerships and develop new initiatives towards achieving equity of access for underrepresented students in higher education.

By working in partnership with St. Munchin’s, the LIT Access Service coordinates the programme ‘GO 4I T ’ which targets children with academic potential from backgrounds where there is little or no tradition of third-level education. The aspiration of this programme is that it will positively inspire, challenge and assist these children in their personal development and social integration skills.

The 2010-2011 ‘GO 4I T’ programme engaged sixteen primary level children from St. Munchin’s BNS, St. Munchin’s GNS and Corpus Christi NS. LIT Access Service also welcomed parents of the participants for the first week of activities so that they also experience first-hand a third level environment and the benefits this programme offers their children. During this academic year the relationship with the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 ‘GO 4I T’ participants was further developed through a series of additional activities.

The main objectives of the ‘GO 4I T’ programme are:

1. To harness a positive and creative attitude towards third-level education at a young age.
2. To foster positive perceptions of education by breaking down the barriers and misconceptions that these children and their families may have in relation to third-level education.
3. To demonstrate that third-level is a welcoming and supportive place with a wide range of subjects/activities to choose from and that they have the potential to avail of this level of education.