Building Engagement for First Year Students – An SAI Collaboratively Created Resource

This presentation introduces Building Engagement from Day One: Fostering Belonging for Every First-Year Student, a sector-informed resource developed to support staff in creating inclusive, coherent, and evidence‑informed approaches to first-year student transitions.

Emerging from an SAI seed-funded initiative, this year-long project involved intensive collaboration across 11 higher education institutions (HEIs). Through the process of gathering and sharing knowledge, challenges and expertise, a creative design approach evolved, showcasing how HEIs can build relationships while sharing good practice. The project produced a guide which reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the student experience and improving success outcomes across the Irish higher education landscape.

The presentation will reflect on the key learnings that emerged from navigating both the challenges and advantages of collaborating with a large, geographically dispersed group of contributors. The presentation will also outline the origins of the project and the collaborative process that informed the guide’s development. It will highlight the value of collective professional expertise in addressing sector-wide challenges such as early disengagement, uneven transition experiences, and the growing complexity of student needs.

Drawing on insights, examples, and effective practices from colleagues across the sector, the guide consolidates sector-wide knowledge into a practical resource for staff working with first-year undergraduate students. Its central aim is to help institutions foster a welcoming environment from the outset, embedding practices that support belonging, encourage early academic engagement, and respond to the diverse needs and backgrounds of incoming students. The resource is underpinned by key theoretical perspectives on transition and belonging, complemented by case studies and adaptable activities suitable for both academic and professional services contexts.

Attendees will be introduced to the guide’s structure and core themes, including inclusive communication, proactive outreach, community‑building, and both classroom and co‑curricular approaches that strengthen student engagement in the first year.