UCD Women's Studies Outreach Programme 2.08

UCD Women's Studies Outreach Programme is widely recognised in the state and voluntary sectors as an effective model of community and adult education for women. Offering accreditation at Certificate and Diploma Levels, this programme has contributed to the development of an innovative model of University/Community Partnerships.

Women’s Studies is an exciting inter-disciplinary field, which includes courses of study in, though not limited to, education, sociology, history, literature, psychology, philosophy and politics. It draws on the insights and politics of feminism to develop new and more profound understandings of gender relations and of women’s historical and contemporary experiences. Gender is not understood as an isolated concept, rather it reflects bell hook’s thinking that it is ‘not an attempt to gain equality with men but a fight against the whole ideology and practice of domination constituted by the interlocking systems of sexism, racism and classism. In addition, Women’s Studies critically explores the construction of power relations through the interaction of gender, class, sexuality, ethnicity, age, disability and other social forces and challenges inequalities through rigorous scholarship and analysis.

Feminist empowerment and adult education pedagogies sit at the heart of the Women’s Studies Outreach project. This means we acknowledge that each learner brings an existing knowledge base to the learning environment which is directly linked to their lived experiences and from which they can build and extend their intellectual capacities and critical thinking skills. The outreach programme is designed as a series of building blocks aimed at facilitating students’ understanding and critical analysis through interactive and dynamic teaching methodologies. Academic assignments are gradually introduced with study skills and critical thinking skills provided throughout to support this process.