UCD CampUs Collective: Co-creation in Action

This interactive session invites participants to move beyond discussion and experience first-hand how student-led, co-created initiatives can foster belonging within higher education. Grounded in the work of the UCD CampUs Collective, the session combines a brief contextual presentation with an immersive, student-led creative workshop, modelling inclusive and participatory practice in action.

Participants will engage in a 40-minute creative workshop facilitated by Creative Mode, one of the student groups formed through the UCD CampUs Collective. The Collective supports students to design and deliver small-scale, high-impact initiatives that strengthen connection, foster inclusion, and enhance belonging across the UCD community. Central to this approach is equipping students with the training, resources, and support needed to develop leadership, teamwork, and project management skills while contributing meaningfully to campus life.

Creative Mode has delivered a series of hands-on workshops offering students opportunities to connect, create, and express themselves in low-pressure, welcoming environments. Over 120 students participated during UCD’s “Belonging Week”, highlighting both the demand for and impact of informal, creative approaches to connection. This conference workshop mirrors that approach, using accessible, guided creative activities to encourage collaboration and idea generation − no prior creative experience required.

A 10-minute presentation by Emma Somers and Dr Niamh Nestor will introduce the UCD CampUs Collective as a strategic response to enhancing belonging in higher education. This overview will provide insights into approaches such as Universal Design, equity through paid student partnership, and integration of Design Thinking and experiential learning. Examples of student-led initiatives will demonstrate how diverse student perspectives can inform scalable and inclusive practice.

The session will conclude with a 10-minute Q&A featuring both students and staff, creating space for reflection, dialogue, and shared learning.

By the end of the session, participants will have gained practical insight into implementing student-centred, inclusive approaches to belonging, along with adaptable tools and ideas for their own institutional contexts. This session will be particularly valuable for those seeking actionable and equitable strategies to enhance student engagement, wellbeing, and belonging within the Irish higher education landscape