Final year Social Science student chosen for Washington Ireland Programme which focuses on reconciliation between Northern Ireland and the Republic
A SETU student is one of 30 chosen to take part in the prestigous Washington ireland Program which has been running for the past 20 years. Participants spend one summer in the Washington D.C. region in the US to work and develop themselves personally and professionally.
WIT's 2016 representative is final year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Science student, Anya Ryan who will take off to the States this summer for two months.
Ryan says her interest in the programme developed due to the focus that is put on leadership and young people.
“The programme is aimed at young future leaders with a dedication and proven track record of leading and a long term commitment to service. I've been involved in numerous leadership roles and have always been a dedicated volunteer interested in helping and working with young people in my community,” she explains.
Ryan's leadership is evident in her many roles at SETU, including class representative, student ambassador and a SETU Students Union welfare crew volunteer.
In the past, Ryan has volunteered as a mentor on WIT’s Learning for Life programme, where she was awarded a Community Service Award.
“The programmes main focus is leadership and service and it includes work placements and service placements in Washington DC. I'm looking forward to experiencing new cultures and building further on my own personal experiences of leading and serving the community,” she says.
Having completed her final exams, Anya has thought ahead to her future and says following her return from Washington, further education is on the cards.
“I’ve already applied for a Master’s degree. For the moment that's as far as my future plan goes, I am taking things one year at a time so I'm not exactly sure where I see myself in the future but my main goal in life is to continue helping others and working for the betterment of society.”
About Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Science
The BA (Hons) Social Science is a multi-disciplinary three-year course. In times of rapid social and economic change, this programme offer students the opportunity to understand and critically analyse contemporary Irish society and Ireland’s place in an increasingly globalised world.
The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Science degree is an undergraduate course in the School of Humanities. Other undergraduate courses in this area include: Bachelor of Arts (Hons), BA (Hons) in Psychology, BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies, LLB Bachelor of Laws, BA (Hons) Social Science, BA in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, BA (Hons) in Social Care Practice, BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies, Higher Certificate in Arts in Legal Studies