Principles of Student Engagement in Ireland

Democratic Practices for Higher Education Institutions

Student engagement in decision-making in higher education institutions benefits not only the student but also the institution because it enables more informed decision-making. Meaningful student engagement can also allow higher education institutions to realise their duty to foster democratic citizenship. Student engagement practices can take many forms and they can also be driven by differing ideals. A recent project in Ireland developed ten principles of student engagement for higher education institutions, which were designed to foster a sense of the student as a member of the learning community, rather than as a consumer of a service. It is anticipated that these principles will be used by institutions in enhancing their student engagement practices.