DCU in the Community header
DCU in the Community
Group of participants at the PPN Summer School graduation
PPN Summer School participants posing at the graduation ceremony on DCU Glasnevin Campus

PPN Summer School 2025

DCU works with all the Dublin-based Pubic Participation Networks (PPNs) to deliver a summer school involving workshops to empower community groups to influence decisions in their areas.

This Summer, DCU delivered its fourth annual PPN Summer School in partnership with all four Public Participation Networks (PPNs) across Dublin, including Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. 

 

DCU works with the PPN groups to empower community groups and organisations to influence policy and decision-making in their local areas. DCU offers knowledge and expertise from across various schools and units, devising a week-long programme with the PPN coordinators. This initiative has grown since its inception in 2021 as the relationship between the PPNs and DCU's Office of Civic engagement goes from strength to strength. 

 

This year, the PPN Summer School programme included; 

  • Social Media Training with the DCU Communiciations team.
  • Exploring PPN: Beyond a Decade of PPNs in Ireland with the PPN Coordators, Representatives and Jake Ryan (Dept. of Rural and Community Development).
  • Introduction to A.I. with DCU's Learning and Development Unit.
  • Sustainable Energy Communities: Changing How We Think about & Use Energy with Gavin Harte (Sustainable Energy Communities Mentor)
  • How to Recognise and Navigate Disinformation with Dr. Eileen Culloty (DCU School of Communications)
  • Understanding and Navigating the Public Policy Ecosystem in Ireland with Prof. Deiric O Broin (DCU School of Law & Government).
  • The Future of Dublin: How to Make Policy that Works for All with Dr. Arpita Chakraborty (DCU School of Law & Government).

 

It was a wonderful week, with over 150 participants in attendance across all of the in-person and online session. The week finished with a graduation ceremony, including lunch, which took place in the U Building on DCU Glasnevin campus. 

 

DCU is excited to continue to strengthen its relationship with the PPNs and empowering the community groups in its locality. 

 

See images from the week in the carousel below.