Sir, - I would like to respond to criticisms that educational institutions are reactive, rather than proactive, "not thinking about the future", in terms of encouraging more people with disabilities to participate, (Education and Living, May 11th).
In order to facilitate serious reflection on the development of participation in education and training, DCU, in association with NorDubCo, is hosting a conference on May 27th designed to explore the establishment of a "learning network" on the north side of this city. The purpose of this exercise is to encourage education providers and education users to consider the education and training resources we have and to experiment with networking these in order to provide greater access to education and training for individuals and communities, with an explicit awareness of the acute needs of those most marginalised in this area.
The workshops within the conference will draw together the three strands of community, education and enterprise. The day will be unique in that it is, in itself, a research process, encompassing an action research methodology. The product of the day, to be documented in report form, will go to inform the development of a formal "learning network" in North Dublin. This endeavour shows the level and degree of pro-activity, in preparing for the future in education, in this and associated institutions and organisations. - Yours, etc., Christina Quinlan,
Research Officer, DCU Community Office, Dublin 9