A stakeholder meeting was held between academic and research staff at the Technological University of the Shannon on 28 May 2025. Representatives from community development sector were in attendance. The stakeholder forum was facilitated by Dr. Shane O’Sullivan (Department of Applied Social Sciences & Sustainable Development Research Institute). Participants reviewed a selection of scan cards prepared by the ACE project consortium. It was noted that the higher education sector can engage with a wide array of stakeholders (communities of place, attachment and interest).
The topic of meaningful community engagement was a central focus of the stakeholder forum discussion. Key messages on this topic included:
- There should be more collaboration and engagement between higher education and communities / industry. Collaboration is pivotal. The communities need to feel like an equal partner and have a role in formulating ‘new knowledge’. Communities should feel they are involved in the university eco-system and ‘it is their university’.
- Research and Development initiatives sponsored / supported by universities can be empowering for communities. However, researchers need to be careful of not using communities as data sources for academic papers / scientific publications. There needs to be meaningful, long-lasting and sustainable interactions between both parties.
- Structures need to be put in place to support interactions between universities and local communities. There needs to be active engagement and communication with Local Development Companies (in Europe, these are known as LAGs – Local Action Groups); municipalities / local government; social inclusion programmes; and other relevant stakeholders. It is important to develop meaningful relationships with those agencies who have direct access to communities.
For more information about this event, please contact Dr. Shane O’Sullivan (Sustainable Development Research Institute) at [email protected])