Cork charity partners with university to help people with disabilities achieve success in work and education

Munster Technological University and the Crann Centre charity in Cork have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide increased opportunities in education, employment, and leisure

Prof Maggie Cusack, president of Munster Technological University, and Kate Jarvey, chair and founder of the Crann Centre, at the playground in the Crann Centre, Classis, Co Cork. Picture: Joleen Cronin

A strong partnership has been deepened to help people of all abilities excel in business and academia.

It's thanks to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Munster Technological University (MTU) and the Crann Centre charity in Cork, with both groups pledging to work even more together on various inclusive enterprise, innovation and research projects.

Crann provides life-long and life-changing solutions for children, adults and families living with neuro-physical disabilities, by providing wrap-around services and supports to a child or adult with a disability, as well as to their family members, so everyone can enjoy better health and wellbeing, and increased participation in leisure, education and work.

MTU and the Crann Centre have worked together a lot in recent years, including undertaking a research review of wheelchair skills training, developing Crann's first website, on MTU’s Innovation Challenge, and on the planning and development of the inclusive employment and enterprise unit at Crann’s HQ in Ovens, The Impact Hub, through input from MTU’s Rubicon Centre enterprise hub. 

The new memorandum of understanding will see both groups focusing on:

• Further developing the Impact Hub, a fully inclusive and accessible co-working space; 
• Running joint programmes, events, and mentoring;
• Collaboration between the Crann Centre and MTU’s innovation ecosystem, including the Rubicon Centre and its various academic departments;
• And knowledge-sharing on inclusivity and support for entrepreneurs and employees of all abilities.

MTU president Professor Maggie Cusack said the memorandum of understanding builds on a long history of the two entities working together on research and innovation.

“This MOU [memorandum of understanding] is an exciting opportunity to increase the collaboration between our academic departments and centres like the Rubicon Centre to support further joint research initiatives and knowledge transfer," she said.

Crann board chair and founder Kate Jarvey said having MTU as a partner was a major contributor to the development of its Impact Hub.

“Their willingness to share their expertise and knowledge, support our team, and actively look for opportunities to collaborate has a real value for a relatively new organisation like ours that is looking to scale,” she said.

“I am delighted that we share a vision for how people with disabilities experience better health and wellbeing and increased opportunities for participation in leisure, education, work and careers.” 

The memorandum of understanding extends to two years, with annual reviews.