8 October 2026
8 October 2026
Glenveagh and Maynooth University (MU) have announced the second year of their Building Futures partnership, with an increased focus on connecting students with professionals working across construction, design, business, and homebuilding.
Supporting students from DEIS secondary schools through to university, the partnership combines academic support, scholarships and mentoring with practical industry experiences, including workshops, site visits, and challenges based on real business scenarios.
This year, more professionals from across Glenveagh will engage directly with participating students, helping them understand the range of career pathways available within the evolving homebuilding sector. Workshops will move from 45-minute sessions to two-hour engagements, while a dedicated training day will support Glenveagh employees participating as mentors.
The partnership also includes the Glenveagh Scholarship, supporting three MU Access Programme students each academic year across STEM, business and design-related courses. Scholars receive €5,000 in financial support during the final two years of their degree, alongside mentoring from a Glenveagh employee and access to practical industry experience.
The announcement will also highlight the journey of former scholar Olena Kaniuka, who was a recipient of the Glenveagh Scholarship last year. Olena, who moved to Ireland from Ukraine as a teenager, has recently graduated with a BSc in Product Design and Innovation.
Speaking about her experience, Olena said: “Receiving the Glenveagh Scholarship changed everything. Thesupport allowed me to reduce my working hours and focus on my studies when it mattered most. It helped cover accommodation costs when I secured a place on campus and paid for materials needed to build my final-year prototype.
Just as importantly, the scholarship offered wider support such as mentorship, career guidance and opportunities to meet professionals, I gained confidence and a clearer sense of where I wanted my career to go.
Today, I have completed my degree and am beginning the next chapter of my journey in design. Looking back, I know that scholarships do much more than ease financial pressure. They create opportunities, remove barriers and give students the time and confidence to reach their potential.”
Barbara Robinson, Head of Learning and Organisational Development at Glenveagh, said:
“The future of construction depends on attracting talented people from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. Driven by innovation, sustainability, digital technologies, and modern methods of construction, today's homebuilding industry is transforming rapidly, reshaping how homes are designed, manufactured, and delivered. This is bringing new levels of efficiency, quality, and sustainability to the sector.
It’s also creating exciting opportunities across engineering, manufacturing, technology, data, design, and business, and is broadening the range of skills and expertise required to drive this progress.
“Our partnership with Maynooth University plays an important role in connecting higher education with industry, giving students valuable exposure to the people, technologies, and innovations that are shaping the future of homebuilding. By strengthening these links, we can help inspire the next generation of talent to build rewarding careers and contribute to the development of sustainable communities for the future.”
Deirdre FitzPatrick, Widening Participation Community Engagement Manager at Maynooth Access Programme, Maynooth University, said:
“Building Futures supports students at several important stages of their educational journey, from senior cycle through to university and their preparation for working life.
We are particularly pleased to welcome Olena back to share her experience with current students.
The partnership forms part of Glenveagh and Maynooth University’s shared commitment to widening participation in education and helping students progress from school through university and into fulfilling careers.”
Applications for the latest round of Glenveagh scholarships are now open at https://mu.ie/glenveagh-scholarship.