Background

The start

A first year European Studies module at Maynooth University was core to the development of The Sesadi Project.

Later the module offered an opportunity to test the capability of second level transition year students.

Here’s what happened

Students from Maynooth Post Primary School were brought into the university for a short period and there was a startling success.

They’d already had tuition in the methods of conducting basic research – something that is traditionally only taught at Third Level.

Then came the treasure: Very effectively they surveyed undergraduate students about their education experiences, needs and difficulties, and the surveys yielded fascinating and useable data.

Word spread and Transition Year students and their parents from across Ireland contacted wishing to take the limited Trifty places.

Surveys evolved to consider further topics which revealed even further fascinating findings.

Result! Sesadi was tested and the future of second level attachments to a university could face change.

The old way

Many students contact departments in third level institutions looking for work experience as part of their TY programme.

Typically a limited number of them get work in a Department office, generally carrying out basic administrative work.

This is an opportunity lost, as TY students learn little about how things are done in the college and nothing about studying at a high level.