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Student Partnership Programme

Headshots of the Student Partners

Student Partnership Programme

The Student Partnership Programme directly involves students in the work of breaking down barriers to inclusion in UCD through Universal Design. Recognising “Nothing About us, Without us”, the Programme seeks to foster genuine and meaningful partnership with students; empowering them to advocate for a more inclusive university experience for all. Student Partners are appointed for a full academic year.

The 2025/2026 Student Partners:

Victoria Adesioye - Chemical Engineering

Olasumbo Ajisafe - Medicine

Ciara Buckley - Structural Engineering

Matthew Collins Kearns - Science

Blessed Fonkoh - Computer Science

Vaishnavi Kannan - Computational Science

Kevin Landers - Business & Law

Sofia Mashkantseva - Business & Law

Hari Mohan - Computer Science

Kenny Ogundipe - MSc Quantitative Finance

Eleanor O'Kelly - MA Global History

Amaliia Shmyhovska - English & Philosophy

Cat Stüer - English & Linguistics

Programme Goals

  • To bring attention to the potential barriers that some university students may face. The Student Partners work together to brainstorm how they can break down these barriers. 
  • To create training materials for students that introduces them to the ideas of diversity, inclusion and Universal Design. They aim to teach students what their role can be in creating an inclusive university for all. 
  • Once these training materials have been developed. The student partners will deliver this training to a variety of students across campus, particularly those who directly work with and support their fellow students such as class reps, peer mentors, student ambassadors, etc.
  • To create communication materials and resources such as posters, social media content, flyers and videos to raise awareness for Universal Design and University for all in a way that is student focused and accessible to all. 
  • To support the implementation of Universal Design in UCD, working in particular with the Faculty and Professional Staff Partnership Programme

Role of the Student Partners

  • Develop and co-facilitate student workshops focused on Universal Design, inclusion and accessibility. 
  • Actively communicate the message of University for All and Universal Design through social media and other communications channels.
  • Support the development, planning and delivery of different events highlighting inclusivity and accessibility throughout the academic year.
  • Generate, create and organise resources for students, explaining diversity, inclusion and Universal Design.
  • Work with the members of the Faculty and Professional Staff Partnership Programme in rolling out the implementation of Universal Design across the University.

Play your part in a University for All

Every member of UCD's community is responsible for inclusion - that includes you as a student! Here's what you can do:

  1. Be respectful of everyone in our community and always treat others with dignity. This includes the way we speak with and about one another.
  2. Chat with other students and step outside your comfort zone. Talk to anyone you observe standing alone or who appears anxious and strike up a conversation. This is how we create a welcoming environment.
  3.  Don’t make assumptions about others. Although we are all here now, you never know what path someone else has taken to get here. By being open minded, we can learn a lot from others.  
  4. Remember that everyone is different and to acknowledge that we all can learn from each other, particularly those that are different from ourselves.

UCD Access and Lifelong Learning

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7123