Andrew Carey
andrew@limerickpost.ie
THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick has launched an innovative programme ‘First Leanings’ aimed at supporting students in making a successful transition to higher education.
It’s the first career development toolkit to be developed by any Irish higher education institution and the first toolkit of its kind to be developed with Transition Year students in mind.
“As early as Transition year, students are expected to make big decisions about their future education and careers. So it is hugely important that students have the knowledge and self-awareness that will allow them to make effective choices”, according to Professor Paul McCutcheon, Vice President of the University of Limerick.
“Successful transitioning from second level to third level education is a high priority for the higher education sector as a whole and UL is delighted to be able to play a central role in supporting TY students in preparing for this transition”, Professor McCutcheon added.
First Leanings supports students in building a picture of their individual strengths, interests and motivations and in linking this to their career preferences through a number of workshops. In developing the TY toolkit, UL consulted widely with guidance counsellors, students, higher education careers advisors, academics and parents. So it offers a diversity of perspective. The toolkit brings with it a specific emphasis on the worlds of higher education and work and it is hoped that this will actively support students in transitioning successfully from second level to higher level education.
First Leanings is the first toolkit of its kind to be distributed free of charge nationally.
Copies of the toolkit will be circulated to 800 second level schools and are available in PDF format on the UL website here www.ul.ie/careers/firstleanings. The toolkit was developed by the UL’s Cooperative Education & Careers Division and supported by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
