 Dublin City University got off to a bright start this year after being designated as Ireland's first University of Sanctuary. The College was awarded the title by the City of Sanctuary, an organisation that welcomes asylum seekers and refugees into the country and also creates a welcoming environment for those seeking refuge. DCU has also offered 15 scholarships to refugees and asylum seekers. Each faculty in the university is offering one scholarship, with the remaining scholarships being offered by the online platform DCU Connected. DCU SU President Dylan Keough feels that the scholarship scheme is a huge boost to the status of the university. For me, it shows that DCU is saying that we're here for everyone and we support everyone and we accept everyone. I think it's a great move and symbolically it looks really good on behalf of the university and I think it sheds a really good light on the people here in DCU. Before the University of Sanctuary came along, we were actually working with the Red Cross and stuff in terms of the refugee crisis so we're doing a few things, Cody in particular has a couple of campaigns organised around welcoming refugees and setting up refugee packs so when they do arrive, we'll be there to welcome them in the airport with items like whether it's refreshments, toiletries, guides about Ireland and how to just settle in and how to become integrated in Irish culture and society is a very easy one to fit into and people seem to like it and get on with it so there shouldn't be an issue but it's just an opportunity for us to get out there face to face with them and just show them but that friendly DCU atmosphere that we know so well that it is there for others to be a part of. So there's some little things we'll be doing over the coming weeks and Cody's very excited to launch that and tell everyone more about that. The students selected for the scholarships will begin their studies in September 2017. DCU President Bray McRoss said that the title is not a destination but rather the marker on the beginning of a journey. Shirley Donlin DCU TV News.