Enterprise Academy Fellow, Lecturer, Department of Science, TU Dublin Tallaght

Email: Sylvia.Healy@TUDublin.ie

Sylvia Healy has lectured in microbiology in TU Dublin’s Tallaght campus for 17 years and is the lead investigator for a postgraduate research project on probiotics.  Prior to her academic career, Sylvia worked in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector for almost a decade.  She was a recipient of a Convene Enterprise Fellowship 2022, which facilitated her work on the development of a programme for people with intellectual disability.  She is also undertaking a Doctorate in Education in which she is researching the role of public health education in infectious disease mitigation.   

1. A Cross-Disciplinary Programme for People with Intellectual Disabilities

According to the Health Research Board (2020), there are nearly 23,000 people in Ireland with an intellectual disability, yet people with intellectual disability are among the most marginalised in our society. Although there is an increasing number of children with intellectual disability attending mainstream primary and secondary schools, there are limited meaningful post-secondary opportunities for this cohort of students. Sylvia aims to address this deficit and help increase the provision of inclusive and quality education opportunities for those with an intellectual disability as per the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. 

The proposed programme aims to provide a cross-disciplinary suite of modules designed around the students and their strengths. An important part of the programme will be the personal development of the students, helping them to become more independent and to experience the other social and non-academic skills that a third level education has to offer. Another important feature of the programme is the provision of the means to transition to meaningful and gainful employment. Apart from the enormous benefits for students, graduates, their families and the wider community, there is also a tangible benefit for Enterprise in supporting such programmes and their students. It is increasingly recognised that widening diversity in the workplace can benefit businesses by helping them understand their customers better, transform morale, attract and retain talent and clients and positively impact the brand, i.e. widening diversity is not only good from the social justice point of view, it also adds value and leads to better business overall.

 

Certificate in Independent Living – Pathways Together Programme

In 2023, Minister for Simon Harris launched €9 million in funding under phase 2 of PATH 4 of the National Access Plan for students with intellectual disabilities. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were asked for three-year proposals on how they can improve access and enhance course provision for students with intellectual disabilities. Sylvia was integral to the TU Dublin application for funding for the proposed Certificate programme.

Visit Sylvia's LinkedIn Profile