For 25 years, the partnership between UCD and Women’s Collective Ireland Ronanstown has empowered women from disadvantaged communities to access higher education. Through the Level 7 Women, Gender and Social Justice programme, participants can earn a Level 7 University Certificate via a flexible blend of online lectures, in-person tutorials, and on-campus sessions.

What makes this programme stand out is its wraparound support: childcare, mentoring, and laptop loans ensure women can balance education with caregiving, work, and other responsibilities. Over 200 women have graduated, many as first-generation higher education students, gaining not only academic knowledge but confidence, leadership skills, and the opportunity to engage in civic life. With its feminist ethos and community-based model, the programme continues to challenge systemic barriers and foster intergenerational learning.