.png)
Traveller and Roma
The Traveller and Roma Access Officer offers support and guidance to Traveller and Roma students as they access and progress into higher education and throughout their time at university.
This funding has been secured through the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Strand 5.The key objective of this funding stream is to increase the participation and progression of Traveller and Roma students in Higher Education and to support the achievement of the (opens in a new window)National Access Plan (2022-2028).
You can make an appointment by emailing (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)ciara.mcgarryquinn@ucd.ie
Ciara is available to Traveller and Roma students from Monday to Friday, and this is a confidential service.
UCD offers specific bursaries and funds available to assist students from the Irish Traveller Community and the Roma Community. If you want more information about the available financial support, please visit our Financial Support for Traveller and Roma Students.
International Roma Day
On the 3rd of April 2025, we celebrated International Roma Day at UCD. On the day, we got our first glance at UCD student Monika Paskowska’s Polish Roma Cookbook. Our keynote speaker, Marie Bower, presented on the outreach project 'Science Travels, ' which aims to raise Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller engagement with STEMM that she has developed and leads.
We also heard from Vanessa Paskowska from Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, who highlighted Roma history and in particular the Romani Holocaust which was the genocide of European Roma and Sinti people during World War II and provided insight into the context in Ireland today for the Roma community.
Finally, we got to learn and enjoy parts of the Roma culture and heritage through, poetry by Alina Kostenko, art and music.
This event was supported by PATH 5 funding and is a collaborative project supported by UCD Access & Lifelong Learning Centre, Trinity Access Programmes, and RCSI.
"Hand the Shame Back" - A Qualitative Study of Traveller Experiences Across the Continuum
UCD Access and Lifelong Learning were delighted to launch the research report titled "Hand the Shame Back" - A Qualitative Study of Traveller Experiences Across the Continuum - Enabling a University for All by Dr. Hannagh McGinley in UCD on Thursday, 2nd of May 2024.
The study employed a Participatory Action Research approach which significantly contributed to the research design and analysis of the research findings. The findings presented in this research report on Traveller experiences across the continuum of education. These experiences are critical to understanding the deeply ingrained practices and structures that impact Traveller’s access to and engagement in higher education.
Thank you to the Registrar, Deputy President, and Vice President of Academic Affairs of UCD, Professor Colin Scott, for officially launching the report. Congratulations to Dr. Hannah McGinley for presenting her research findings and recommendations.
Special thanks to our panel of speakers, which included Senator Eileen Flynn, Oein DeBhairduin, Annmarie McDonagh, and Bernard Sweeney.
Read the report: "Hand the Shame Back" -Hand the Shame Back, A Qualitative Study of Traveller Experiences Across the Education Continuum
Traveller and Roma Student Partners
The PATH 5 Traveller and Roma Student Partner Programme is for students in higher education institutions in the Leinster Pillar 1 cluster who wish to be involved in highlighting the needs and barriers faced by Traveller and Roma students and evaluating the current student supports available to students. The student partners work in partnership with the Traveller & Roma Access Officer to strive for creating a learning environment that encourages increased inclusion and participation of Traveller and Roma students in higher education.
The student partner role is primarily focused on active participation in student partner meetings and the PATH 5 Traveller and Roma advisory group meetings. The Advisory Group oversees and advises on the overall direction and approach of the PATH 5 project.
Fostering the ‘See One to Be One’ role model approach, our student partners are also involved in various outreach programmes. This includes work across the university, with school groups, and local and/or national Traveller and Roma organisations and community groups.
If you are interested in being involved, contact (opens in a new window)(opens in a new window)ciara.mcgarryquinn@ucd.ie