‘The people, the spaces, the talking!’ Igniting community-based higher education

Abstract

In the context of rapid economic, social, and demographic change, fostering equity and inclusion in third level education is a prerequisite for adaptability, social cohesion, and human development. Community-university collaborations demonstrate significant potential to widen participation in Higher Education (HE). In the following article, we examine community-based HE through the lens of a single case study. An Cosán is a community education centre, working in the heart of the communities of Tallaght in West Dublin, Ireland. An Cosán is a Linked Provider of the South East Technological University (SETU). Initiated in 2008, Linked Provision has enabled over 1,000 non-traditional students to achieve a third level award to date. They comprise of those ‘priority groups’ most under-represented in traditional university settings. The present mixed-method research draws on learner voices and practitioner reporting to analyse what works and why. We present new findings from An Cosán’s recent Certificate in Personal and Professional Development programme. Drawing on feminist and Freirean theory, the article highlights the important enabling role of flexibility, wraparound support, and transformative education. Community-based HE supports adult learners’ capacity to meet the level of critical challenge presented by tertiary education while enhancing self-esteem, empathy, and intercultural understanding.