Student Engagement Initiatives and Activities

DCU values the importance of ensuring the student voice is heard and the benefits of working in tandem to address issues or concerns raised in an effective and efficient manner.  With strong working relationships currently in place with the DCUSU Executive Team and the Office for Student Life (OSL), DCU is keen to progress these relationships through this Partnership Framework, which details a number of clear working streams to focus our efforts. DCU recognises the importance of student representation, which is evident by already strong membership on University decision-making structures, and remains committed to supporting the advancement of student readiness for participation in these structures through the delivery of appropriate and effective training for all student representatives. 

The DCU Student Partnership Framework identifies three streams of activity under University-Student partnership: student representation, feedback and dialogue, and opportunities for staff-student activities.  Our approach to implementing initiatives under each of these streams will be informed by the values of the Framework, and is underpinned by an acknowledgement that both staff and students will require support in creating positive impact across all streams.

The Framework is aligned to the broader NStEP domains of effective student engagement, this framework will pave the way to advance student participation in

1) Governance and Management
2) Student Experience
3) Quality Assurance and Enhancement

Programme Development and Review

The Framework recognises the value of student representation in academic processes through which the University develops and delivers its programmes.  This includes ensuring student representation on committees tasked with decision-making on new programme development, programmatic review, and curriculum reform.  The Framework acknowledges the important role played by both Associate Deans for Teaching and Learning and student Faculty Convenors in developing strong working relationships for effective representation in these activities.  The Framework also considers the important role played by elected class representatives on programme boards.

Learner Participation in DCU Quality Reviews

Our Quality Review process unites Faculties, Schools, Students and Professional Support areas in a drive to continuously enhance the quality of DCU and the educational experience of all its students.  The QIO strongly encourages the active participation of students in University quality assurance and enhancement processes.  

Students are invited to participate in our quality reviews to ensure that the process covers issues of primary concern to our learners. Students are invited to participate in two ways; 

1. Each Peer Review Group (our panel of external and internal experts) includes one Student Reviewer

2. Peer Review Group visits include meetings with representatives of the student body. 

I have been asked to attend a session with a Peer Review Group (PRG). What to expect as as student representative?

Students are invited to meet with the PRG during their site visit and to comment on all aspects of their student and learning experience. This may involve commenting on curriculum, accessibility of staff, teaching and assessment methods, student supports, etc. Generally, the PRG will meet with representatives at various stages of undergraduate and postgraduate studies. If you are invited to attend a session, you will attend with a number of other students.  These meetings generally last around 45 minutes and the focus typically covers many aspects of the student experience in DCU.

Following the review visit, students have an opportunity to view the  PRG Report and Quality Enhancement Plan following publication on the QIO Webpage.

Why is it important to attend these meetings?

If you have been invited to meet with the PRG, you will be representing your fellow students and ensuring that their experiences are captured in the PRG report.  The variety of voices and views of the student body must be well-represented at these sessions. 

As part of DCU’s commitment to meaningful student engagement, a series of Student-Staff Forums have been developed to foster open, informal dialogue between students and staff. Originating from DCU’s participation in the national NStEP (National Student Engagement Programme), the forums were first piloted in one School and one Faculty in 2017/18 and successfully expanded across all five academic faculties in 2018/19.

Co-managed by the Quality and Institutional Insights Office (QIO) and the Office of Student Life, and facilitated by QIO, the forums complement formal student representation structures such as Programme Boards and Faculty Teaching & Learning Committees. They provide an informal, inclusive space for ongoing conversation, helping to surface emerging issues, share positive experiences, and strengthen student-staff collaboration.

Over the years, the forums have become a valued part of DCU’s student engagement framework, supporting improved communication, increased trust, and more responsive decision-making. A successful pilot in early 2020 extended the model to include key student-facing professional support units, reflecting the importance of student voice across the entire university experience, not just within academic programmes.

After a pause in 2023/2024, the QIO undertook a comprehensive redesign of the forums. Drawing on feedback from previous years, internal consultation, and sectoral best practice, the updated model focuses on enhancing clarity, consistency, and impact. It also seeks to make participation more accessible and outcomes more actionable, with a streamlined approach that supports the evolving needs of the DCU community.

The newly redesigned Student-Staff Forums relaunched in 2024/25 across DCU’s faculties and relevant professional support units. They continue to reflect the University’s commitment to partnership, inclusivity, and continuous enhancement ensuring that the student voice remains central to how DCU learns, grows, and improves.

If you would like to participate in a forum in the 2025/2026 academic year, please contact the Quality and Insights Officer, Caroline Connolly for further details.

Student participation in surveys at both National and University level(s) provides valuable insight into the student experience and an opportunity to enhance the impact of their journey through third-level education.   It is important that both the University continues to work in partnership with students, building on a culture that encourages survey participation, to inform enhancements to the student experience. Student engagement in national surveys like Studentsurvey.ie, as well as university level surveys, strengthens our understanding of student needs and expectations. Data gathered informs strategic change and highlights areas for quality improvement, all of which is widely shared with student reps and the broader student body.  The Framework acknowledges the importance of the sharing of results of student surveys with students and staff, and aims to provide opportunities to demonstrate impact and enhancements as a result of student survey feedback.