Thirteen Travellers were awarded certificates in Welding and Fabrication Skills by Limerick Institute of Technology last week as part of an initiative to create a more inclusive society.

The men all completed a six week training course with flying colours and were presented with their Level 6 certificates by LIT President, Dr Maria Hinfelaar.

Linda Barry, Access Officer at LIT, sais that initiatives like these are extremely important.

“For a Traveller to live in an inclusive society, the education system needs an agenda that educates and respects the identity of all students. The Access Office at LIT is committed to providing support to programmes, like this, to ensure under-represented groups in third-level education are given every opportunity to excel and learn in a supportive and motivating environment.”

During the 2007/2008 academic year, LIT hosted the group of Traveller men from the Childers Road and Castletroy Halting Sites who learned through hands-on experience—the cornerstone of LIT’s educational philosophy of ‘active learning’ and learning by doing.

The future aspiration of this initiative is to further develop the positive motivation this programme has instilled in these Traveller men.

Similar courses, which will further enable integration into third-level for the Traveller community will be explored and ideas include potential numeracy and literacy classes .

These educational classes will run concurrently at the Institute’s Moylish cthird-level campus on the Cratloe Road on Limerick’s north side.