National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP)

@nstepie.bsky.social

44 Followers 38 Following

Promoting student engagement and student-staff partnership in Irish higher education, working collaboratively with 30 Irish HEIs. #studentengagement #studentpartnership https://linktr.ee/nstepie

Final Training Sessions. Our training sessions for 2025/2026 are closing soon! Introductory Class Rep Training Advanced Class Rep Training Representing Diversity Training Register for our final ‘open sessions’ before its too late! Training will be available again in Autumn 2026. To register use the link in our bio or head to ‘Book Training’ on the NStEP website.
Understanding the SLE. This module will introduce you to the Student Learning Experience (SLE), a valuable tool for collecting relevant ideas and suggestions based on students’ views. It will explore the idea of the ‘learning experience’, help you evaluate all the main areas that impact the learning experience of you and your peers. This module also offers practical suggestions on how to use the SLE tool to turn student views and opinions into a valuable source of feedback and information. This will help you to build partnerships with staff that can improve education for all!
StudentSurvey.ie and You. StudentSurvey.ie works with institutions across the country to collect students’ feedback on their experience. This helps institutions to identify areas of good practice and areas that may need improvement – ultimately allowing institutions to improve and enhance the student experience This module will introduce you to StudentSurvey.ie and how you can get involved in different aspects of the survey’s lifecycle – from promoting participation to helping analyse and communicate the results. This is a great opportunity to help your institution and influence the future experience of students in higher education!
Online modules. Did you know NStEP has a number of online modules? Swipe to learn more ➡️
Student Engagement Recognition Awards. Did you know you can use your digital badges to earn awards with NStEP? Swipe to learn more. Right arrow emoji.
This is a photo of the NStEP Development Coordinator, SETU President, SETU Chief Operating Officer, SETU Students' Union, and students taking part in SETU Perspecta. Some of the individuals are holding foam-boards with NStEP and SETU Perspecta branding.
Open Sessions Now Available! NStEP are delighted to announce that the Booking Portal for our 'open sessions' is open, and sessions are now available for the Spring Semester! Click through to learn what's available.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Thank you for all your support in 2025 and best wishes for 2026.
National Access Plan Mid-Term Review Student Advisor. NStEP also assisted with the recruitment of 2 Student Advisors for Applied Inspiration. These Student Advisors contributed to the National Plan for Equity to Access to Higher Education mid-term review, ensuring the team built a strong rapport and engagement with student stakeholders. Student Advisors co-created engagement strategies, curated student-friendly content, co-facilitated online consultations, and supported change via social media, outputs, and dissemination. Upon completion, participants received a digital badge. For
Commitment to Skills Development. This final Skillset Award was awarded to students who attended all 5 of Applied Inspiration’s Students’ Online Training and Development workshops: Fantastic Focus Groups, Using Cognitive Interviewing Techniques, Using Inclusive Practice, Awesome Outputs and Designing Sensational Surveys! Upon completion, participants received a digital badge.
Designing Sensational Surveys. This workshop explored how to identify when a survey is the most appropriate tool for evaluation, how to design efficient and engaging surveys that maximise response rates, and how to address ethical considerations with confidence. By the end, participants were equipped to use surveys effectively as a reliable method of collecting evidence. Upon completion, participants received a digital badge.
Awesome Outputs. In this workshop from Applied Inspiration, participants examined how to understand their audience, establish clear and accessible communication goals, and apply multimedia techniques to strengthen delivery so that outputs truly resonate with their intended audiences. Upon completion, participants received a digital badge.
Using Inclusive Practices. This workshop focused on creating safe spaces that support personal growth, emphasising the importance of listening to and respecting diverse opinions. Participants learned how to encourage others to explore and value their own experiences, recognised the significance of recognising and celebrating diversity, and discovered how inclusive practices strengthen engagement and learning. Upon completion, participants received a digital badge.
Using Cognitive Interview Techniques. This workshop introduced the purpose of cognitive interviewing in evidence gathering and developed participants’ understanding of key techniques used to refine questions. Attendees gained practical experience applying these methods to ensure questions are clear, accurate, and easily interpreted. By the end, participants were equipped to use cognitive interviewing to enhance the quality and reliability of the data they collect. Upon completion, participants received a digital badge.
Fantastic Focus Groups. This workshop offered practical guidance on using focus groups effectively for evidence gathering. Participants explored hands-on strategies to enhance facilitation, boost engagement, manage group dynamics, and structure discussions to generate richer, more actionable insights. Upon completion, participants received a digital badge.
Beyond Feedback: Building Effective Student Voice Mechanisms Webinar. Meet the Speakers. MJ Quill (they/them) is the Vice President for Postgraduate Affairs in Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ). MJ is the Chairperson for the recently established National Postgraduate Engagment Network. The Network is jointly operated by AMLÉ and NStEP. The Network is responsible for the discussion of matters surrounding PG Research and PG Taught engagement for the purpose of strengthening postgraduate representation within Student’s Unions and higher education governance, building student/staff/researcher partnerships, and providing resources to increase capacity in these areas, in line with NStEP’s organisational goals.
Beyond Feedback: Building Effective Student Voice Mechanisms Webinar. Meet the Speakers. Dhanushi Rodrigo is a PhD Business at Atlantic Technological University, Galway. Dhanushi has been a member of the NStEP’s Student Quality Assurance Reviewer Pool since 2023. Dhanushi has sat on multiple quality assurance review panels as the learner representative, championing the student voice within quality assurance and enhancment. Dhanushi was also an N-TUTORR Student Champion engaging through the thematic area of Education for Sustainability, and was involved in a number of projects through the N-TUTORR programme.
Beyond Feedback: Building Effective Student Voice Mechanisms Webinar. December 1st 1pm-4pm via Zoom. This webinar explores how HEIs can go beyond traditional feedback models to develop student voice mechanisms that are inclusive, responsive, and embedded in genuine partnership. register today 🔥Few tickets remaining
A group photo of SETU student reps after completing Introductory Class Rep Training.
SETU student reps discussing student engagement in groups during Introductory Class Rep Training.
Niamh Reddan Project Manager of StudentSurvey discusses the next steps for the survey and looking ahead to the future
Valerie Harvey of the HEA guides us through an overview of the redesigned StudentSurvey Ireland Taught survey
Bryan O’Mahony Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn President discussing the AMLÉ and student perspective of the new StudentSurvey Taught
Seán O’Reilly of Technological Universities Association (TUA) talks through the review process and development of the new StudentSurvey Taught survey 2026
Dr. Kieran McNally from StudentSurvey shares results of the PostGraduate Research Survey National Report 2025
A screen which reads StudentSurvey.ie flanked by two pull-up banners.
A group of student reps from Maynooth University, Maynooth SU President, and NStEP student trainer Isobel smiling after completing a training session.
A selfie of NStEP student trainers Ebere and Jamila with students and SU officers from IADT.
A screen reading ‘QQI Insights: Launch of Thematic Analysis of CINNTE Reviews of Technological Universities.
NStEP Development Coordinator Rachael supporting student trainer Michaela on the LAPS Strategy.
A photo of some of the Dublin Business School student rep attendees on a Zoom call, along with NStEP student trainers Damian and Caren.
A photo of student trainers Rani and Caren with students reps at Independent College Dublin after a training session.
A room filled with class reps listening to student trainer Jean delivering Introductory Class Rep Training
Student trainers Elle and Ebere with class reps in Carlow College after a training session. They are standing in front of a projection screen and smiling.
A photo of student reps receiving Introductory Class Rep Training at Dundalk Institute of Technology.
A photo of NStEP student trainers Elle and Leahrose with a cohort of recently trained student reps in NCAD.
A group of student reps from IADT in a classroom attending Introductory Class Rep Training with NStEP.
A photo of a room full of student representatives. They are listening to Introductory Class Rep Training by NStEP.
A full debate hall with class reps listening to Student Trainer Jean discuss student engagement in the context of the class rep role.
Our Student Trainer Jean showing off NStEP goodies - pens, highlighters, stress balls, notebooks, tote bags.
We want you! Do you want to represent the student perspective and take part in quality assurance reviews? Applications for NStEP's QA Reviewer Pool now OPEN. Applications close 1st October 2025 at 5pm.
A photo of members of the Vietnam National Union of Students delegation, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science staff, and the NStEP Development Coordinator.
Class Rep Census Project Report 2024/25 by the National Student Engagement Programme