In early 2025, Student Affairs Ireland (SAI) granted seed funding to University College Dublin and Atlantic Technological University to establish the EngageAll Community of Practice (CoP). The group initially brought together 19 members from across Ireland, each representing Irish higher education institutions (HEIs) involved in European University Alliances (EUAs). Since then, EngageAll has continued to grow and actively welcomes new members.
This CoP aims to strengthen the professional capacity of its members by fostering knowledge exchange among colleagues in Irish HEIs. It provides a platform to share best practices and discuss common challenges in organising student-focused and student-led programmes. In addition, the group supports professional development through collaborative activities and shared learning opportunities.
Goals of the Community of Practice
Aligned with SAIโs mission of professional growth and sustainability, the EngageAll CoP focuses on scaling best practices for student engagement across Irish HEIs, addressing shared challenges to enhance student participation in the European Universities Initiative (EUI) and increasing international visibility. In doing so, it showcases the expertise of Irish HEIs on the European stage while supporting the integration of EU-wide policies and innovations into local practice.
Since its inception, the CoP has presented posters at the Internationalisation in Higher Education Conference hosted by South East Technological University (SETU) and at the SAI Collaborate Conference at Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork in June 2025. It has also facilitated peer networking opportunities and supported member participation through travel funding. This publication represents a further step in disseminating examples of student engagement activities within European University Alliances across Ireland
Case Study Publication
The publication showcases student engagement activities across 14 HEIs. Through the participation of SETU, the EU-CONEXUS Festival and IAMSTUDENT Congress are highlighted. The case studies demonstrate the wide range of approaches alliances use to encourage student participation, with many incorporating student quotes and feedback, while others reflect on challenges and barriers encountered.
Overall, the diversity of activity highlighted is a testament to the work of European University Alliances. Collaboration is central to this effort, and the publication reflects partnerships across multiple strands of activity and institutions.
The publication is available to view here.
