Mountjoy Prison ‑ Maynooth University Partnership
Ireland’s first prison‑university partnership
Maynooth University has committed in our University Strategic Plan (2018–2022) to build on our experience and achievements in supporting access, participation, and success for students from diverse backgrounds, continuing our current programme and extending
Dr. Gemma Irvine; Shaen Delaney, Peer Researcher, Community Needs Analysis, College Connect; Niall Walsh, Manager Pathways Centre CDETB; Mark Byrne, Chief Officer IPS Progression Unit Mountjoy Prison; Grace Edge, Access Manager Maynooth University Access Programme
our work to address other groups that face barriers to participation and success in higher education. MAP has shown strong leadership
On 2 October 2019 as part of the partnership development stage, Dr
in developing partnerships to support the most marginalised in our
Gemma Irvine and Grace Edge formally welcomed nine staff members
communities.
from Mountjoy Prison, including governors, prison officers, teaching and
International research highlights that prison communities benefit from engagement with universities, and vice‑versa. In the UK for example, prison‑university partnerships, providing additional educational
educational guidance staff. A total group of 33 listened to a presentation from a current Maynooth student who has been in prison and took part in a student‑led tour of the University.
opportunities to prisoners and facilitating access to higher education, are
On 23 October 2019, a group of twenty people representing both
common. These kinds of arrangements support the partner organisations
organisations came together to discuss what the partnership would look
to deliver their missions and enhance the educational offering for people
like. The Mountjoy Prison staff included the Governor Eddie Mullins and
in prison and on release. Maynooth University has a strong track record
the Deputy Governor Donnacha Walsh as well as numerous teaching
of engaging with prisoners and former prisoners and of supporting penal
staff from both the Progression Unit and Main Prison. The Maynooth
reform. Several departments in MU, including Applied Social Studies,
University group included President Philip Nolan and a range of senior
Education, Law and Adult and Community Education, have a wealth
faculty and access staff members. Being on site in Mountjoy Prison
of experience working with and within the criminal justice system. This
facilitated the inclusion of the voice of prisoners represented with a
tradition contributed to the University’s decision to identify ‘prisoners and
current student/prisoner also in attendance.
former prisoners’ as an under‑represented group in our student population in the most recent strategic plan. In 2019, Maynooth University Access Programme and Mountjoy Prison came together to make an application to the Public Service Innovation Fund 2019 to establish Ireland’s first prison‑university partnership. The application was successful, receiving an award of €20,000. The Mountjoy Prison – Maynooth University (MJMU) Partnership aims to harness the transformative power of education to build the diversity of the third level student population whilst supporting the reintegration of prisoners and former prisoners to our society. The partnership builds on the excellent work which has already been taking place between the University and Mountjoy Prison and will provide strategic direction
Meeting between Mountjoy Prison and Maynooth University
and support for a range of new activities, some of which are outlined below. The partnership’s work is guided by a Steering Group, whose membership is drawn from both organisations.
Maynooth University EDI Report 2019/20
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