Identifying innovative models for supporting vulnerable learners achieve educational progression: Early findings from an evaluation of Social Innovation Fund Ireland's Education Fund
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2019-06Author
Kovačič, Tanja
Forkan, Cormac
Dolan, Pat
Canavan, John
Furey, Eamonn
Shaw, Aileen
Dolan, Brendan
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Kovačič, Tanja, Forkan, Cormac, Dolan, Pat, Canavan, John, Furey, Eamonn, Shaw, Aileen, & Dolan, Brendan. (2019). Identifying Innovative Models for Supporting Vulnerable Learners achieve Educational Progression; Early findings from an Evaluation of Social Innovation Fund Ireland’s Education Fund. Galway: UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, NUI Galway
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Abstract
This document is the first of three reports (2019, 2020,
and 2021) from a major study being conducted by the
UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre (UCFRC),
NUI Galway, on Social Innovation Fund Ireland’s
Education Fund. Social Innovation Fund Ireland (SIFI)
was established by the government in 2015 to stimulate
philanthropy and fill a gap in funding innovation for the
non-profit sector. Its mission is to provide growth capital
and supports to the best social innovations in Ireland,
enabling them to scale and maximise their impact.
Recognising the persistence of educational inequality
and disadvantage in Irish society, SIFI introduced the
Education Fund in late 2017 as a way to confront this
extremely complex issue. The Fund was open to projects
focused on improving educational outcomes for those
experiencing educational disadvantage, and which
specifically supported learners to progress from levels 3–6
on the National Framework of Qualifications. Following
a rigorous selection process, 10 projects were chosen as
recipients of the Award (see Table 1.1 below). Eight are
based in Dublin and two in Cork. Each offers a form of
alternative education when compared to the mainstream
system.