The HEEU is currently interested in organising a conference on Rural Access to Higher and Further Education. The proposed conference will take place in mid- November 2001, and we are currently talking to Tipperary Institute who have offered to host the conference at their Thurles campus.
At the moment, with a view to developing a broad-ranging and in-depth analysis of the issues involved, we are looking for interested parties to come forward with topics that they would like to see covered, calling for papers for consideration, and requesting people working in the area of delivery or development of rural education to contact us.
Presently we are looking at the themes of Information Communication Technologies in the development of rural access to education with some interesting projects in Co Kerry and Co Cork, and comparative projects from Scotland and Sweden; the impact of gender on access; the issue of bilingualism in rural areas such as Galway and Wales.
We would also like to hear from anyone working on the issue of disability and rural access to education, or any other issues that would be relevant to the overall theme of the conference.
Please contact Angela O’Connell at the HEEU by telephone, letter or email with any suggestions, queries or contributions.
The date for the conference will be confirmed in the coming months on our website and through the Lists.
Table of Contents of Newsletter 10