West partners with DCU to Help Empower Students from Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Communities

West and Dublin City University (DCU) in Ireland have formed a 4-year educational partnership that will provide 180 students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds with scholarships and educational opportunities. The partnership with the DCU Access programme features the creation of a new annual €45,000 scholarship fund by West to run for four years.

The work of the Access Programme begins early, through an outreach programme that engages with 22 linked post-primary schools in north Dublin communities, to raise student aspirations and awareness of higher education. DCU reserves 10% of all places in their undergraduate courses for Access students, who also receive a comprehensive package of post-entry personal, financial and academic support. Speaking on the West partnership, Cathy McLoughlin, Head of DCU’s Access Service stated, “We are delighted to partner with West as part of our commitment to widening participation in third level education in Ireland. For over 30 years, we have run Ireland’s first and largest university access programme, supporting over 1,000 students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue their dream of higher education at DCU each year. Our partnership with West will provide important assistance that will enable DCU Access students to reach their full potential.”

Commenting on the partnership, Emma Kilgallon, Senior HR Manager at the West Dublin site added, “We are thrilled to be partnering with the DCU Access programme, in what we believe is an extremely important initiative. At West we believe in investing in the education and professional development of young people, and we hope that this scholarship fund will help to do this for many students. This partnership marks a significant milestone in West’s commitment to advancing education and fostering the next generation of leaders in the pharmaceutical and MedTech sectors.”

The new West Access Scholarship Fund will transform the lives of at least 180 DCU Access students between 2022 and 2026 by helping to provide a package of personal, academic, and financial supports that enables students to thrive and excel in their studies. Through this partnership, West will also participate in the DCU Access to the Workplace Programme, an additional support to improve the employability and career prospects of DCU Access students and neurodivergent students through professional summer internships.

Analytical Science student, Cathal Leneghan, became the first DCU Access student to complete an Access to the Workplace internship with West in 2023 through the partnership. Speaking on the importance of West’s support and his internship experience, he said: “My internship at West provided me with a key insight into working in a corporate environment, as well as experiencing first-hand the necessary conditions to operate in the pharmaceutical industry. I am confident this will prove invaluable to my future career."

For further information on DCU’s Access Programme, visit dcu.ie/access. For further information on DCU Access to the Workplace, please visit dcu.ie/accesstotheworkplace.

For exciting career opportunities at West’s Dublin and Waterford sites, visit careers.westpharma.com.