On Tuesday, 17 October 2023, students from the Global Leadership for Sustainable Development (GLSD) programme embarked on a visit to UL Access Campus, immersing themselves in the facility's rich history of community outreach. Led by Donal O'Leary, UL's Access Campus coordinator, students gained valuable insights into the transformative impact of education on social and economic empowerment.
During the visit, Donal O'Leary provided an overview of Access Campus's founding mission, highlighting its unique partnership with Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) to address educational disadvantage in the local community. Students learned how Access Campus has evolved over the past two decades, catering to diverse learners ranging from primary school children to university students.
Donal shared stories of collaboration and engagement, emphasizing the importance of education in breaking down barriers and unlocking potential. The visit provided students with firsthand experiences of Access Campus's community-based initiatives, showcasing the breadth and strength of educational opportunities available to local residents.
The visit to Access Campus served as a powerful reminder of the pivotal role of education in sustainable development. By engaging with community-based initiatives like Access Campus, students gained a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between education, society, and sustainability. Inspired by their experiences, they are motivated to advocate for equitable access to education and drive positive change in their communities.
Global Leadership for Sustainable Development (GLSD) is a seven-week extracurricular programme designed by the UL Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation in collaboration with UL Global. This programme brings study abroad, Erasmus, and full degree students from across the world together, to actively learn about systemic approaches and challenges to sustainability across the economy, environment, and society. Students hear from expert guest speakers both on-campus and through site visits, engage in debates and discussions on contemporary sustainability issues, and work in interdisciplinary teams to co-create student-led sustainability projects to be implemented on campus. To find out more, please visit https://www.ul.ie/sustainability/global-leadership-for-sustainable-deve…, or contact the programme coordinator jack.oconnor@ul.ie.