Opening the Gates to Higher Education
Irish Times Team Debate winners Rí Anumudu (left) and Chikemka Abuchi-Ogbonda confer during debate. Photo credit: John Ohle/Irish Times
Maynooth University is ranked as Ireland’s leading university for reducing inequalities in the Times Higher Education (THE) Global Impact rankings. Arlene Harris spoke to the first Black Irish winners of the Irish Times Student Debate competition - and a Traveller student defying expectations - about race, class and culture at third level
The days when only the sons of the privileged few went to university are well behind us. But while participation in higher education has widened across socio-economic groups, the challenge of student access and inclusion remains for many groups.
For that reason, Maynooth University was delighted with its ranking in the top 5% of universities globally for reducing inequalities, as measured through its policies, the quality of its research on social inequalities, and its commitment to recruiting students and staff from under-represented groups.
Yet, diversity and inclusion manifest in different ways, as two Maynooth University Law students explain. Ri (Glory) Anumudu and Chikemka Abuchi-Ogbonda celebrated their achievement in winning the Irish Times Debate for third-level students in Ireland.
Hosted outdoors this summer due to pandemic restrictions, their success marked a very personal achievement for both students. Rí explains that they were thrilled to win the Irish Times Debate 2021 as it was testament to their debating skills, but she was also delighted for other reasons.
“Being the first black Irish winners is a real honour as it feels great to be able to represent our communities,” she says.
“So, to be able to bring the trophy back to Maynooth after 44 years was just amazing.”
Debating partner, Chikemka Abuchi-Ogbonda, who is currently on Erasmus in Canada, says the debating world needs to become more diverse.
“I think it is under threat a little because it is very class-orientated and isn’t accessible to people who aren’t from a certain background,” she says.
“I have been doing it for a long time and really enjoy it, and although we are a small society in Maynooth, we still managed to win and that was just unbelievable for us. We worked very hard and felt such great pride when we accomplished it.”
Irish Times Team Debate winners, Chikemka Abuchi-Ogbonda (left) and Rí Anumudu presented with their award by Editor Paul O’Neill (left) and Debate chair Liam Herrick Photo credit: John Ohle/Irish Times
Rí is in her final year and Chikemka completed her degree last semester. “Fitting in and getting to know people at university can be hard, and although I am naturally quite shy, debating is a great way of putting yourself out there and meeting others – so when I started in Maynooth, I sat myself down and told myself that I needed to do this in order to meet people, so that is what I did,” says Chikemka.
“I would encourage others to do something similar, find a society that interests you and put your name down – it’s a great way of making friends, fitting in and being included in what is going on around you.”
We worked really hard to achieve what we did as it is not easy for people of colour to be debaters, because it’s harder for us to get into it – it’s actually more of a class issue than a race issue as a lot of black people fall into a lower socio-economic bracket, and most people who do well on the debating circuit will have gone to private school and have been coached since they were young – so they have an insane advantage
Patrick Reilly left school in second year without completing either Leaving Cert or Junior Cert. He never dreamt he would be able to gain a third level education. But last year, thanks to three initiatives – the Department of Applied Social Studies ‘Community Work in a Changing Ireland Certificate’, Maynooth University ‘Return to Learning Programme’ and the National Traveller Health Worker Higher Education and Employment Initiative – he is now in his second year of a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Community and Youth Work.
“I work as a mental health worker at Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre and after doing the ‘Certificate’ and the ‘Return to Learning’, I couldn’t wait to start it last year,” he says. “We had only just got into it when Covid hit and we had to do everything online, which was very tough – but we are now back on campus every Friday for lectures.
“I love everything about it and would do it five days a week if I could, as the support I have been given from day one has been amazing.
I never thought I would get the chance to do this and would encourage everyone to take the opportunity to apply to university. I have nieces, nephews and cousins who are watching me and making enquiries about further education themselves. My advice to anyone else is to just take the first step and you will be helped every bit of the way. Maynooth University is there for everyone – Travellers as much as anyone else.
Dr Ciara Bradley, Department of Applied Social Studies, says the programme is an important and innovative approach to addressing the inequalities the Traveller community face in both education and in employment.
“The pandemic was particularly challenging for this group of students because of the stage they were at in their studies, factors such as access to devices, the internet and suitable space for studying in sometimes difficult living conditions with limited space, and both personal and professional demands. But they demonstrated huge commitment, perseverance and resilience throughout.”
I’m enjoying every minute of my time and am so grateful to those who helped make it happen - now it’s up to me to give it my best shot and that is what I aim to do
Patrick Reilly, studying for a Bachelor of Social Science degree in Community and Youth Work