Local engagement and REACH RCSI

The vision of RCSI Engage is to enhance human health and education by building reciprocal partnerships between RCSI staff and students and our local and national communities.

The RCSI Access and Widening Participation programme spans pre-entry programmes targeting primary and post-primary schools, entry routes and post-entry support, working collaboratively with community partners and educational institutions.

REACH (Recreation Education And Community Health) RCSI is the University’s community engagement, access and widening participation programme, connecting RCSI with the local community and facilitating access to education for traditionally underrepresented groups. Community partnerships, together with students and staff volunteering, engaged learning and outreach, are central to its reciprocal approach.

Highlights during the year included:

Education, access and widening participation

  • The 11th annual summer CPD Programme for primary teachers explored ‘The Senses’ through a series of workshop-based practical activities facilitated by RCSI staff.
  • A DEIS primary school summer camp took place in RCSI’s sports hall, supporting children with complex special educational needs and those at risk of educational disadvantage.
  • The REACH RCSI Grinds Club saw student volunteers provide free, one-to-one academic support to Leaving Certificate students from Dublin’s south inner city.
  • During Science Week 2024, RCSI Chemistry hosted interactive STEMM workshops for REACH RCSI DEIS post-primary students, including an aspirin synthesis lab.

Health education and engaged learning

  • RCSI student volunteers delivered health workshops in REACH RCSI link primary schools on Sleep, Sun Safety and Physical Activity, while Paediatric Society members visited junior classes to build familiarity with healthcare professionals.
  • Through RCSI’s partnership with The Olive Branch for Children, students contributed to the development of the physiotherapy department at the Phons and Mary PolyClinic in Tanzania.
  • RCSI Advanced Therapeutics Technologies students partnered with REACH link post-primary schools to explore the UN SDGs in our shared community of Dublin City Centre.

A new community engaged learning module saw physiotherapy students leading on-campus and community-based exercise classes for older people.

  • RCSI Engage seed funding supported two health and well-being initiatives: The ‘Mercer’s Melodies’ choir led by Dr Una O’Neill (Mercers Medical Centre) who took part in the 2025 Novartis Ireland Patient Choir Contest and the ‘Autistic Art Club’ led by PhD student Zoe McCormack providing a safe, inclusive space for neurodivergent people to express themselves.

HEA Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH)

RCSI is a proud member of the HEA-funded Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) Leinster Cluster, with RCSI represented by Celeste Golden, EU Admissions Officer and Maria Kelly, Head of RCSI Engage. Collaborative initiatives include:

  • Dublin Learning City Festival 2025, which aims to ensure that education and learning are free and accessible, featured several RCSI health and well-being focused learning opportunities.
  • Creative Arts Summer School welcomed 60 participants for interactive workshops facilitated by the RCSI SIM team and a life drawing workshop.
  • RCSI access students volunteer in the Community Mentoring programme in partnership with DEIS schools and community groups across Dublin.
  • RCSI works collaboratively with UCD and TCD to increase participation of Traveller and Roma students in higher education.

Engaged research

The RCSI Engage Engaged Research Awards underline RCSI’s commitment to building stronger connections between researchers, community stakeholders and industry partners to create meaningful societal impact.

Dr Eunice Phillip won the 2025 Engaged Research Award for ‘Community Perspectives on Health Needs and Assets in Sláintecare Healthy Community Programme areas in Dublin.’ The project, led by Professor Debbi Stanistreet, formed part of RCSI’s partnership with Dublin City Council and Sláintecare Healthy Communities. In April 2025, ‘Uisce Cliste: Healthy Hydration for Dublin,’ a novel drinking water initiative, led by Dr Grace O’Malley in partnership with Dublin City Council, was launched to expand access to free, high-quality drinking water in public spaces and address health inequalities.

A group of people pose with various signs, including RCSI, Healthy Ireland, Dublin City Council and Slaintecare as part of the Uisce Cliste launch event.