Registration Open: National Student Engagement Network Event

Date: Thursday 28th November 2024

Time: 10am – 3pm

Location: National College of Ireland, Mayor Street, IFSC, Dublin 1

We are delighted to announce our keynote speaker – Rebecca Roper.

Rebecca Roper (she/her) is a dedicated leader in enhancing student success in Higher Education through innovative approaches. As an early adopter of Generative AI (GenAI), she spearheaded the GenAI Champions Project, a groundbreaking initiative involving 36 students across seven Irish HEIs, focusing on students with learning differences and disabilities. The project has gained recognition at several conferences for its impact and inclusivity.

With over 20 years of experience teaching across disciplines including Film, the Arts, Business, and Humanities, Rebecca has a distinguished career that includes her tenure as Head of Teaching and Learning at the Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. Currently, she is seconded to the Higher Educational Authority (HEA) as a Teaching and Learning Expert Advisor in Student Success, contributing her expertise to national projects and policy.

Rebecca’s influence extends beyond the classroom. She is the visionary behind IADT’s acclaimed ‘First Year Matters’ and ‘Final Year Matters, Moving On’ programs, both designed to support student transitions in higher education. Her professional background as an internationally recognized Casting Director informs her teaching philosophy, having collaborated with prominent filmmakers such as Luc Besson, Christopher Nolan, and Oliver Stone.  Rebecca’s ongoing contributions to higher education include her role as IADT Lead for the National Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Project in Higher Education (HCI Pillar 3), Path 4 Phase 1 UD Staff project, National Academic Integrity Network (NAIN), AISCHE, ECSB and Women in Film.

Linda O’Sullivan is an Academic Project Lead (APL) with the Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU) at Munster Technological University (MTU), which encompasses six campuses and serves approximately 18,000 students and 2,000 staff. Having worked for over 20 years at MTU, Linda spent the first 15 years as a Computer Science lecturer before transitioning to her current role.

She holds a BSc in Computer Science and Statistics, an MSc in Statistics, and is pursuing an MA in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (MATLHE). Recently, she has been recognised as a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, highlighting her commitment to educational excellence and leadership in higher education.

Fiona Mullins graduated with a degree in Social Science in 1992 and a Master’s in Social Work in 2000. Throughout her career, she has worked in a number of different positions in social care, social work and education. In all her roles, Fiona believes in the power of listening and supporting each individual to set personal goals of empowerment and transformation. In 2004, she joined the Munster Technological University (formally the Institute of Technology, Tralee), lecturing on a number of different programmes in the Department of Social Sciences. Fiona embedded her passion for amplifying student voice and graduate readiness skills as she prepared students for the Health and Social Care sectors.

Fiona has a strong interest in student engagement and the application of universal design for inclusion for all. In recent years, she has been seconded to the Assistant Registrar’s Office. In this role, she has led out on staff capacity enhancement training to meet the needs of students with disabilities and to develop sustainable approaches to student partnership and engagement that equips students with skills of representation, advocacy and impact. 

As a Senior Executive Officer in the Higher Education Authority, Caroline is responsible for the progression of the Healthy Campus Charter and Framework across higher education institutions in Ireland, as well as supporting the progression of the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework.

Her background is in health promotion, specifically in third-level institutions and previously schools with a focus on health and education and systems theory. She is a strong advocate for whole-system approaches to improving health and wellbeing, understanding that health and wellbeing goes beyond the individual and is complex.

Sinead Lynch is a PhD researcher and lecturer at the School of Policy and Practice, Institute of Education, Dublin City University. Sinead’s PhD research explores the experiences and requirements of disabled students enrolled in online higher education, an area she became passionate about as a student in the BA. in Humanities (Psychology Major) programme delivered online at Dublin City University. 

Sinéad is also an NStEP Student Trainer and Student Quality Assurance Reviewer. 

Dr. Lorraine Tansey is the Programme Manager for Student Volunteer Ireland (StudentVolunteer.ie) the national network for growing and enhancing student engagement. Lorraine is the Chair of the Research Working Group and Higher Education Representative to the National Volunteering Strategy Implementation Group. 

StudentVolunteer.ie enables students to have the opportunity to: enrich their personal development and employability skills, have a fun experience, meet new people, and give back to their communities.