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About the project
Unlocking Potential is a research policy project led by Maynooth University Access Programme and the MU School of Law and Criminology in collaboration with Mi:Lab – the MU Innovation Lab, the Irish Prison Service, the Irish Probation Service, the Pathways Centre for Prisoners and Former Prisoners (City of Dublin Education and Training Board) and the Irish Penal Reform Trust.
It is well evidenced that people with criminal convictions are disproportionately drawn from groups which are under-represented in higher education. The objective of our project is to increase access to higher education for people with convictions. Harnessing the transformative power of education, the goal of Unlocking Potential is to build the diversity of the third level student population whilst supporting the reintegration of people with convictions, prisoners and former prisoners in our society.
We will do this by:
Toolkit
Creating a ‘Fair Admissions Toolkit’ to help universities and colleges to develop their approach to applicants with convictions
Promoting
Promoting a common approach to applicants with convictions across the higher education sector
Celebrating
Celebrating the achievements of graduates with convictions
Discussing
Starting a conversation about the role of higher education in supporting fairer, safer communities
The Unlocking Potential Documentary
Unlocking Potential
Director: Matt Leigh
Producer: Nodlag Houlihan
Zucca Productions
This short film highlights the transformative power of Higher Education for people with previous convictions. Paula, Wayne, Joe and James tell their story.
Director: Matt Leigh
Producer: Nodlag Houlihan
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Contributors;
Wayne Hart
Paula Kearney
Joe Clarke
James Bowes
Eddie Mullins (Irish Prison Service),
Ivana Bacik (TD, TCD)
Katherine Lloyd-Clark (University of Exeter)
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