In late 2021, the Centre for Engaged Research (CER) of Dublin City University (DCU) contacted Dublin City Public Participation Network (PPN), to discuss an initiative to bring the member groups of the PPN closer to the academics of the CER.
The idea was, that if DCU Masters and PhD candidates, could have a closer relationship with PPN member groups, they could have a panel of people to invite to focus group discussions and for semi-structured interviews, to help with academic research. After many meetings and much discussion, the idea formed of holding a PPN Summer School on the campus of DCU, to bring together PPN member groups and academics connected to the CER.
The first summer school took place in the summer of 2022 and was a great success. Covid protocols were still in place, but participants carefully came to the sessions at DCU in the Community for a week’s worth of learning. In 2023 the summer school moved to the main DCU campus, and it was another successful week’s worth of training sessions. 2024 was the most successful PPN/DCU summer school yet – with morning in-person classes, evening online sessions and time for networking over lunches. 2024 was also opened to three Dublin PPNs, including Fingal and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown.
The sessions offered in person, in the mornings were:
- Social Media Training with Jane Last and Gerard Shiels (DCU Comms)
- Grant Application Writing Workshop with Angela Boyle-Shafer (Northside Partnership)
- Public Policy and Advocacy with Deiric O’Broin (DCU Law and Government)
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) with Tanya Ni Mhuirthile
And for the first time in 2024, evening sessions were offered and those sessions covered were:
- An introduction to the PPN with Ruth Powell and Simone Sav
- How to Engage with Councils Effectively with Colette Bennet (The Wheel)
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with SAOLTA
Hot drinks and refreshments were provided on arrival to the in-person event and lunch was provided every day. However, on the final day of the Summer School participants were invited to the main Student Union for music and more refreshments and a time to chat with the lecturers and speakers who had been involved in the week’s programme.
PPN member groups could attend one, many or all of the sessions and every attempt was made to make reasonable accommodations to disabled people, people with learning difficulties and to older people, who needed assistance.
We hope to see more people at Summer School 2025!
