UCC scoops top service award

University College Cork were awarded a Public Service Excellence Award for two of its admission schemes by Taoiseach Enda Kenny last week.

The awards look to public sector organisations seeking to improve and design new activities that benefit the general public. The two schemes noted for distinction were the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) and the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR).

Both schemes have resulted in an increase of third level students with disabilities entering academic institutions.

“I very much welcome the recognition given to HEAR and DARE through the public services excellence award, that entrants to UCC via these supplementary admission schemes have achieved academic success in their undergraduate degree programmes on parity to their peers,” said Mary O’Grady, Acting Director of Access in UCC.

UCC was a founding member of the schemes and offer expertise and support to the operation of the programme. The two schemes are administered by the CAO in conjunction with the admissions offices of the institutions participating.

The University has seen an 85 per cent increase since 2009 of HEAR acceptances, while DARE admission acceptances have risen 300 per cent from 2009 to 2011.