Primary School Programme

Led by the Access Centre at the University of Galway, Uni4U is an outreach initiative that offers engaging, hands-on experiences to over 200 6th class students from five DEIS and Link primary schools across Galway City. In 2025, we were delighted to work with Radharc na Mara, Scoil Bhríde, Scoil Chroí Íosa, Merlin Woods, and Mercy Primary School. 

Students and their teachers visited the university campus once a week for six weeks. During each visit, they took part in a wide variety of interactive workshops delivered by university departments, schools, and external partners. 

This year’s workshops included: 

A visit to the Traveller Archive as part of Traveller Ethnicity Week 

• Irish language and culture 
• Economics 
• Children’s Literature 
• Zoology 
• A Moot Court with the School of Law 
• A Catapult Challenge in the Engineering Lab 
• Computer coding and a guided tour of the Computer & Communications Museum at the Insight Research Centre 
• Italian language and culture with the Italian Department 
• Broadcasting workshops at Flirt FM 
• Galway International Arts Festival workshop 
• Team-building challenges with IdeasLab 

Students also enjoyed a wide range of sports including GAA, basketball, rugby, cheerleading, and Irish dancing. Throughout the programme, students worked closely with their assigned Uni4U mentors, current University of Galway students, taking part in icebreakers, campus tours, games, and a university quiz. Each visit ended with lunch in the campus canteen, giving students a real sense of daily life at university. 

In addition to the six-week programme, Uni4U is also offering a summer camp opportunity. Uni4U students will participate in the Kingfisher Sports Camp on campus, an experience that continues to build confidence, friendship, and familiarity with the university environment. 

Uni4U Graduation 

The programme culminated in a special graduation ceremony held on campus, attended by students, parents, teachers, mentors, and university staff. Students from each school gave short speeches reflecting on their Uni4U journey, and the evening was a celebration of everything they achieved during their time on campus. 

Uni4U Day 

This year we piloted a Uni4U Day with a DEIS school in Tuam. 85 sixth-class students joined us on campus and explored the world of Children’s Literature with Dr Siobhán Morrissey, took on the Catapult Challenge in the Engineering Lab with Joe and his team, and learned about the power of empathy through a brilliant workshop with IdeasLab.