National Student Engagement Network
Webinar – 1st December 2025
The NStEP were delighted to host another National Student Engagement Network event bringing together student representatives and staff from across NStEP’s 30 participating higher education institutions. The theme of the webinar was ‘Beyond Feedback: Building Effective Student Voice Mechanisms‘.
Student voice is essential to student engagement and quality enhancement, but collecting feedback alone does not guarantee meaningful change. This webinar explored how higher education institutions can go beyond traditional feedback models to develop student voice mechanisms that are inclusive, responsive, and embedded in genuine partnership.
Drawing on NStEP’s national principles and emerging practices across Irish higher education, the session examined how institutions can strengthen their feedback culture, ensure students feel heard, and close the feedback loop in transparent and impactful ways. Participants will gain practical insights into designing systems that empower students, support staff, and drive continuous improvement.
Attendees heard from staff and students across the sector sharing projects, experiences and research centred on highlighting the importance of the student voice and how it is critical to creating meaningful student engagement and partnership.
If you weren’t able to join us, please find the speaker presentations and event recording below.
National Student Engagement Network - Event Recording
Welcome Address & NStEP Updates
Niamh Kennedy – Programme Manager, NStEP
Rachael Sarsfield Ryan – Development Coordinator, NStEP
This session opened the National Student Engagement Network and included a welcome address from the NStEP Programme Manager. It was followed by updates from the NStEP Development Coordinator on the Student Training Programme and the Student Training Programme Report 2020 – 2025.
Chorus: Amplifying Student Voice through Creative STEAM Engagment
Dr. Sharon Shannon – University College Dublin
Adam Breen – University College Dublin
Priyanka Saini – University College Dublin
Alya Ozalp – National College of Art & Design
Calin Dragoi – Institute of Art, Design + Technology
Chorus explores how inclusive, interdisciplinary ecosystems can be built around creativity, collaboration, and research-informed practice. Through partnerships between third- and second-level students, creative resources and skills videos are co-designed to scaffold flexible, interdisciplinary STEAM workshops. Their shared outputs later culminate in a mixed-media STEAM anthology for primary classrooms. The presentation highlights how creative STEAM engagement amplifies voice, fosters collaboration, and bridges research, practice, and policy. Attendees also heard from 3 students who have taken part in Chorus, and spoke on their experiences of the project.
Student Voice in Quality Assurance
Orlaith O’Loughlin – Quality and Qualifications Ireland
This session heard from one of our colleagues in QQI discussing Student Voice in quality assurance processes (with a specific focus on CINNTE reviews), QQI’s relationship with NStEP, and ensuring that the student voice is central to all quality assurance and enhancement processes, with students effecting change from within their instiutions and providing them with the skills and confidence to communicate feedback effectively.
Beyond Feedback: The Student Voice We’re Not Hearing
Joan Broderick – Pathways
First Year Focus & Creative Pathways
Mary Collins – Institute of Art, Design + Technology
Ethan Taylor – Institute of Art, Design + Technology
Creative Pathways is a course exclusively for mature students with intellectual disabilities with an interest in film, animation, photography and design (under Pathway 4 in the National Access Plan). This exciting new course has implemented non-traditional feedback measures, which will be explored in this session.
Student Voice Amongst Postgraduate Students and Researchers
MJ Quill – Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn
Growing Through Voice: How Meaningful Voice Opportunities Transform Student Growth and Engagment
Dhanushi Rodrigo – Atlantic Technological University
