The HEEU continues to support and facilitate the Working Class Access Network. A number of meetings of the network have taken place, in March, June and December 1999 and in March 2000. Additionally, sub-committees were formed to investigate particular topics and concerns as they arose. Through this means of working the WCAN submitted its response to the Green Paper on Adult Education to the Department of Education and Science in June 1999.
Members of the Network also collaborated in writing an article for the annual TUI newsletter, recently published. This article discussed the ways and means through which problems atsecond level contribute to continued educational disadvantage at third level &endash; an issue that has been identified by the WCAN as one of its priority areas of work. Work on this article comprises one phase in clarifying the connections between educational disadvantage at second and third levels, and members of the network are currently working on preparing a detailed policy document on these issues.
Further meetings of the network are planned in order to continue its work on this and on other priority areas that have been identified by members, and to further its work in responding to policy developments in higher education.
For further details on the network please contact Jacqui O’Riordan at the HEEU (021) 4903566, or visit our website at http://www.ucc.ie/ucc/units/equality/