Irish third-level education: The challenge of transformational learning, a case study

Statistics demonstrate the significant and historical under-participation of Irish adults in third-level education; the older the cohort, the starker the outcomes. The Higher Education Authority identified north Dublin as a ‘black spot in terms of third-level numbers. In 2006, participation of adults in higher education was low. In response, in 2009, an innovative adult learning BA degree at All Hallows College in north Dublin was established. It continued to develop until 2014, when the closure of the college was announced. The last students graduated from the programme in 2017. This essay explores the programme and its impact.