National Student Engagement Network

Event Report – 9th May 2025

Thank you to the teams at the Maynooth University and Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU) for their support in organising and hosting this exciting opportunity to bring students and staff from across the Irish higher education sector together. The theme of the event was focused ‘From Participation to Partnership: Enhancing Student Engagement in Higher Education‘.

Attendees heard from staff and students across the sector on the importance of engaging students as co-creators and decision-makers in academic and institutional planning, developing engagement strategies that are sustainable and adaptable over time, bridging the gap between students and staff through collaborative projects and mutual learning, and ensuring that all students, especially those from marginalised groups, have opportunities to influence their educational experience.

If you weren’t able to join us in-person, please find the speaker presentations below, as well as our Event Report which includes contributor and attendee perspectives on the event.

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 Class Rep Census Project. 

From Agenda Item to Impact: Embedding Staff-Student and Student-Student Engagement Across a Faculty

Alex Candon – Dublin City University

This session focused on Alex’s work as the Science and Health Faculty student representative in Dublin City University in transforming informal engagement into formal governance structures, reviving post-pandemic engagement culture, creating sustainable, inclusive engagement pathways, and providing key points for replication across institutions.

ReFridge: From Food Relief to Co-Creation – A Student-Led Social Enterprise Driving Partnership and Change

Bohdan Yeriemienko – Technological University Dublin

This session focused on ReFridge, a student-led social enterprise tackling food insecurity and food waste on campus. ReFridge demonstrated how students can go beyond consultation to become active decision-makers, leading the design, implementation and growth of a social enterprise that addressed real student needs. 

UpSkill Initiatives at MU: Student Success Micro Internship Programme & The SPUR Supporter Programme

Máire Buckley, Rebecca Boyle, Seamus O’Neill – Maynooth University

This session focused on Maynooth University’s Careers & Employability Service, in particular their UpSkill initiatives which represent a portfolio of experiential learning opportunities that develop students’ future focused skills and competencies, empowering students to understand themselves as people, as engaged citizens and as independent thinkers, and ultimately thrive personally, professionally and academically.

Keeping Student Engagement Opportunities Relevant and Scalable

Zuzanna O’Sullivan – Munster Technological University

This session centered on the academic supports available under AnSEO –  Munster Technological University’s Student Engagement Office, and how their Academic Learning Centre is keeping student engagement opportunities realistic, relevant and scalable. 

Panel Discussion with Students with Disabilities

Caoimhe Cronin – AHEAD
Cal De Nicolas Audoin, Joseph McLoughlin – Student Representatives

This panel discussion centered on the importance of engaging students as co-creators and decision-makers, with a particular focus on the AHEAD – AMLÉ/USI Students with Disabilities Advisory Group. Members of the advisory group spoke on their experiences. 

Student Volunteer Ireland Student Advisory Group

Faith Holmes, Thomas Burke, Uliana Vasiliuk

This panel discussion focused on Student Volunteer Ireland’s Student Advisory Group, where members of the group spoke on their experiences in shaping the future of Student Volunteer Ireland, training they received to support their roles, and on the Student Volunteer Ireland Conference in Barretstown. 

Engaging Postgraduate Students

Sarah Fitzpatrick – Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (Union of Students in Ireland)

This session delivered by AMLÉ’s Vice President for PostGraduate Affairs focused on the importance of engaging postgraduate students and including this cohort of students in conversations of student engagement and partnership, considerations for Students’ Unions and staff on how to engage these students, and advice for postgradutes.

Voices at the Table: A Partnership Approach to Institutional Project Planning

Eddie Corr, Charli Middleton, Emma McDermott – Maynooth University

This session focused on Maynooth University’s THRIVE initiative and the THRIVE Advisory Group, established to give students and staff a voice in the development of an essential strategic framework which supports student success in the university.

Autism Summer Programme

Katie Quinn – AsIAm
Fiona Earley – Dublin City University

This co-delivered session discussed AsIAm’s work to support autistic students in tertiary education, and the Autism Summer Programme at Dublin City University which aims to support autistic students in their transition to studying at third level.