Pioneering Student Partnership Policy launched

Posted on: 12 May 2017

Ireland’s first partnership agreement to improve the engagement of staff and students was signed in Trinity College Dublin this week.

The pioneering Student Partnership Policy reinforces the joint commitment of the University and the TCD Students’ Union and Graduate Students’ Union to developing and supporting effective student partnership, engagement and representation. Its purpose is to present the work being done to improve the student experience in partnership between Trinity and the TCDSU/GSU, and to show students how they can get involved in that activity.

The policy was signed by the Provost, Dr Patrick Prendergast, the Vice Provost/Chief Academic Office, Professor Chris Morash, TCDSU President, Kieran McNulty, TCDSU Education Officer, Dale Whelehan, GSU President, Shane Collins and GSU Vice President, Elisa Crespo after being approved by the University Council.

Commenting on the significance of the agreement, TCDSU Education Officer, Dale Whelehan, who was instrumental in its development said: “It is an important statement to the obligation and duty to further developing as a University community within which we all have a role and a function to perform and where we all have rights and responsibilities. Student engagement is a partnership between all stakeholders involved. Through this, students have the opportunity to engage at all levels of decision making in teaching, learning, assessment and the overall student experience. This thereby promotes an inclusive environment which empowers the student voice”. 

The Vice Provost/Chief Academic Officer is the project’s primary academic sponsor while the SU Education Officer and GSU Vice President are the student champions.

The policy, which was written collaboratively by Trinity staff and students, consists of three sections: Student Engagement and Representation; Partnership Theme and Associated Projects for 2017-2018, and Scope of the Partnership Agreement Policy.