Community Education at An Cosán seeks to build skills and confidence to promote personal and professional development. Our courses are designed to support you at whatever stage of your education journey you are at. There are no assessments, assignments or exams!
For details about each course, click here.
All our Access courses take place in our centre in Kiltalown Village Centre, Jobstown.
Are you afraid of technology? Do you feel like you have been left behind in this digital age? Our computer and technology courses aim to provide learners with the skills and confidence to live and work in a digital world.
Computers for the Terrified! Monday mornings 10am – 12.30pm (12 weeks)
This course is open to both men and women and runs from September to December, and January to June. The aim of the course is to take the fear out of using laptops, tablets, and smartphones and to increase Digital Inclusion. The course is aimed at complete beginners. It provides a fun and relaxed introduction to Digital Steppingstones, the Internet, email and more. Provision is made for progression onto further technology courses.
Digital Inclusion & eLearning Tools:
Next Start Date:
19th September 2022
The health and wellbeing strand aims to provide learners with the space to explore their own sense of wellbeing. To nourish the mind, body and soul and to encourage resilience and self-care in a supportive atmosphere.
Next Start Date:
Learners are welcome to join during the year
The first steps to education courses aim to provide learners with the skills and confidence in the important areas of literacy and numeracy. The courses are designed to support you and make you feel empowered to learn and to progress at your own pace. This programme is targeted at early school leavers and people new to English and Irish languages.
Next Start Date:
Learners are welcome to join during the year
All our Access courses are FREE, but we do ask for a small contribution to assist with hospitality and photocopying.
We are very grateful for the support of our partner organisations: Dublin & Dún Laoghaire Education & Training Board, the HSE and TUSLA.
An Cosán’s Foundation Level programmes provide a supportive, fun, and collaborative virtual learning environment in which we encourage learners to participate actively in their own development. Although they are not officially accredited, learners will receive a Certificate of Achievement from An Cosán on completion.
This programme introduces learners to the main concepts of community development and social action. We will use animation, video, and music to examine key themes such as:
We draw on case studies and learners’ own experiences to discuss the big issues facing their communities, including youth visibility, identity politics, and community empowerment. Learners will identify practical approaches and strategies to support their community’s development.
Cost of Module: €200
Next Start Date:
Depending on demand, please enquire by emailing courses@ancosan.ie
This programme explores the causes, course, and consequences of drug addiction and how they relate to the individual, the family, the community, and society. Addiction issues related to diverse populations are presented, and the connections between local and global contexts in relation to drug use will also be explored. Learners will identify practical approaches and strategies to support community drugs work. We will look at case studies and current response alternatives regarding intervention, treatment, education, and prevention.
Cost of Module: €200
Next Start Date:
Depending on demand, please enquire by emailing courses@ancosan.ie
This programme will explore the role of leadership in the community. Learners will investigate a model of grassroots community leadership in practice, both nationally and globally. Learners will also examine the concept of leadership and analyse different leadership styles and qualities.
Learners will identify their own leadership skills as well as identify strategies and practices that work for community leadership development. Learners will also explore how technology can be used in community leadership.
We will draw on case studies and learners’ own experiences to discuss key issues facing their communities, including:
We will use animation, video, and music to examine key themes such as power and democracy in our community, the role of the state, and digital citizenship.
Cost of Module: €200
Next Start Date:
Depending on demand, please enquire by emailing courses@ancosan.ie
This programme introduces learners to important questions about the meanings of gender in society. We introduce key ideas, including how gender is socially constructed, how gender structures our ways of being and thinking, and how the personal is political. Participants will apply these insights to a variety of current social, political and economic problems.
Key themes we will explore and discuss together include:
An Introduction to Gender Studies will improve your self-understanding, enhance your understanding of the world, and help with advancing gender equality.
Cost of Module: €200
Next Start Date:
Depending on demand, please enquire by emailing courses@ancosan.ie
This programme introduces learners to climate justice, one of the biggest issues of our times. Participants will learn the basics of environmentalism and apply these insights to a variety of current political and ecological problems.
Key themes for discussion include
We will examine national and international case studies of community-led movements and projects for climate justice. An Introduction to Climate Justice will enrich learners’ understanding of the world while developing new and exciting ideas to change it.
Cost of Module: €200
Next Start Date:
Depending on demand, please enquire by emailing courses@ancosan.ie
Where does democracy come from? What does it mean to be a citizen? How can we change society and who is going to do it? The Citizenship and Social Action programme will explore the ideas and practices associated with democracy, citizenship, and social action.
Students will examine Irish and European Union policies on the subject of citizenship and participation. Learners will also analyse digital citizenship in the age of the internet and social media, as well as strategies and practical approaches to support community empowerment.
Cost of Module: €200
Next Start Date:
Depending on demand, please enquire by emailing courses@ancosan.ie