DkIT recently hosted the graduation of students from the Headstart Programme which the Institute runs in conjunction with Louth Local Development.

The Headstart Programme is aimed at people thinking about going to college and takes place for three hours a week over a ten-week block. The programme focuses on the main skills required for college, including academic writing, presentation skills, group work, time management, career guidance and assignment feedback. It is delivered on the DkIT campus, offering one to one time with lecturers to support learners with their specific needs. This course is open to absolutely everyone who ever thought that college wouldn’t be a possibility for them and explores the different pathways available to starting college in DkIT including the application process.

12 graduates were presented with certificates for completing this year’s course by Christina King, Youth & Education Coordinator at Louth Local Development, Johdi Quinn, DkIT Pathways & Headstart Co-ordinator and Maeve Harkin, the SICAP Social Inclusion Manager at Louth Local Development. Participants were also given the opportunity to share the positive impact the course had on them and their hopes for their futures in education.

Dr Colette Henry, Head of the Department of Business at DkIT congratulated the participants for overcoming their fears and the challenges they faced to complete the course and encouraged them to channel their motivation to take the next step on their third-level journey. She was joined by Dr Brian Boyd, a lecturer in the Department of Management and Financial Studies and Pastoral Care Coordinator Alan Conlon, who provided integral support to the course participants throughout the ten weeks.

Johdi Quinn (DkIT Pathways & Headstart Co-ordinator, Community Development and Spanish Lecturer) said:

“Headstart changes people's lives. It allows participants to realise that they are enough, it encourages them to believe in themselves again often after many years of giving to everybody else. It supports people to believe that they can come into DkIT - that they are good enough, that they are more than enough.  Participants often walk into DkIT on day one thinking that they don't belong on our corridors and by the end of the programme, they have their heads held high and they are determined to come and get their degree. It's such a privilege to be a part of something so powerful and transformative. I'm so proud of the Headstart 2024 gang.”

Christina King, Youth & Education Coordinator, Louth Local Development said:

“It was lovely to see another fabulous group of people get further in their dreams of progressing back to education. We really enjoyed another successful year of working with DKIT.” 

A participant in the 2024 Headstart Programme said:

“I walked into Headstart really nervous and wondering what I was doing here. But I'm finishing up today and I've made the decision to apply for DkIT. Now's my time. It was the women who came in to speak to us, who did Headstart and are now doing their degrees that swayed me. They showed me that it is possible. I'm going to do it!  I'm still feeling the fear but I'm going to do it anyway.”