UL Citizens’ Assembly
2nd May 2024
Shaping our Shared Future
On 2nd May 2024, the university and people of Limerick will join together in a citizens’ assembly to identify 3 x projects to help us work towards a more sustainable future.
Want to get involved? Have a look at what will happen on the day and complete this expression of interest form.
What is a Citizens’ Assembly?
A ‘safe and respectful space’ for citizens to come together and discuss SDG focused actions for Limerick.
A means to strengthen democracy and involve citizens in meaningful decision-making.
An opportunity for collective learning and experimentation.
What is a Citizens’ Assembly?
A ‘safe and respectful space’ for citizens to come together and discuss SDG focused actions for Limerick.
A means to strengthen democracy and involve citizens in meaningful decision-making.
An opportunity for collective learning and experimentation.
Why are we holding a UL Citizens' Assembly?
To provide a public focus on sustainability and SDG focused actions from UL that can have a positive impact for Limerick.
To provide a public and inclusive forum to share our collective knowledge and experience about the kind of projects that UL should support.
To provide an opportunity for UL academics to develop their public engagement skills and experience.
To provide the public with a chance to connect with UL academics, ideas and activities.
What will the UL Citizens’ Assembly look like?
An engaging and interactive day out for UL and the community.
An academic cross between ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Dragons’ Den’.
Short-listed project teams will each be given 10 minutes max to tell the Assembly about their proposed project – with a strong emphasis on making the presentations as interesting, educational and entertaining as possible.
What will the UL Citizens’ Assembly look like?
An engaging and interactive day out for UL and the community.
An academic cross between ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Dragons’ Den’.
Short-listed project teams will each be given 10 minutes max to tell the Assembly about their proposed project – with a strong emphasis on making the presentations as interesting, educational and entertaining as possible.
Process
Who makes up the Citizens’ Assembly?
Our Assembly will be comprised of stakeholders and citizens from Limerick city and county, taking representation from all six Limerick municipal districts, based on county demographics and principles of inclusivity. Limerick’s Public Participation Network (PPN) and Comhairle na nÓg are collaborating to ensure the Assembly is as representative as it can be, supported by Limerick City and County Council and Limerick Community Educational Network (LCEN).
What kinds of Projects will be presented?
Project proposals may come from any part of the University and may be related to teaching, research, or any kind of collaborative project, but all project proposals must:
- Address an identified Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
- Explain how the project will develop civic engagement
- Demonstrate the potential positive impact for Limerick
The Citizens’ Assembly will vote for three winners who will each receive a project funding award of €10,000.
What must Assembly Members do?
The job of Assembly members is to choose the projects that will receive a €10,000 award.
Assembly members are looking for a smart project – it doesn’t have to be really complicated – but it should:
- Be focused on one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Include a clear plan for how the project will make an impact in Limerick
- Provide details about how the engagement envisaged for the plan will continue through the life-time of the project
All Assembly members will receive a user-friendly resource pack in advance of the Assembly with information about the SDGs, the projects, and how the voting will work on the day.
Project posters will be publicly available to view in advance.
The Assembly will be arranged in a ‘world café’ style, leaving space in the schedule for participants to share their thoughts about the project presentations before casting their vote.
Citizens' Assembly Agenda
- Registration, coffee, chat
- Presentations and discussion
- Break/Lunch
- Presentations and discussion
- Vote
- Winners announced
- Reception
Planning Group
Maura Adshead, UL Engage; Lorraine Broderick, Limerick Public Participation Network (PPN) – Limerick City and County Council; Eoin Brady, UL; Patrick Fitzgerald, Limerick Community Education Network (LCEN); Tracey Gleeson, UL Engage; Eileen Hoffler, UL Engage; Christine Houghton, UL student; John Real, Limerick Comhairle na nÓg, Denis Tierney, UL;
2024 Expert Panel
Comprising of 5 representatives from UL (one from each of the four faculties plus the Research office) and 5 external panel members reflecting public, private and community sectors and relevant experience in public engagement and educational outreach, the Expert Panel will short-list the projects for participation in the Assembly and give their feedback on all project proposals
Christine Brennan
UL Research Strategy and Policy Manager
Kevin Burke
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Patrick Fitzgerald
Limerick Community Education Network
Liz Gabbett
Maigue Rivers Trust Project
Officer
Read Bio
A senior executive, strategic planner, policy advisor and science communication professional specialising in research, development and innovation. Skilled at: working collaboratively with senior leadership and stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategies; driving implementation through engagement, organisational policy and communications planning while objectively evaluating and monitoring success. An adept communicator with a track-record of delivering while building strong collaborative partnerships into the future.
Read Bio
Kevin is an Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick (UL). His research focuses on the development of statistical and machine learning methods for a wide range of application areas such as health, medicine, and psychology. He also has 10 years of experience in collaborating with external industrial partners and organisations, including directing UL’s Industrial Mathematics Unit (2016-2020) and working as a Science Foundation Ireland Public Service Fellow within the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2020-2021).
Read Bio
Patrick has worked in the community sector of Limerick for many years covering mental health and adult community education. He is passionate about raising the awareness of services available and has sat as Director of Limerick Mental Health Week for a number of years and Chairs the current Limerick LifeLong Learning Festival Organising Committee. Patrick also works with the Limerick Community Education Network and represents the LCEN on the Limerick PPN as Facilitator of the Secretariat. He holds an MA in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has co-founded Evolve Mental Health, Limerick’s CBT clinic based in Castletroy.
Read Bio
Liz is an ecologist; instructional designer; citizen scientist; administrator; people coordinator; project officer; and farmer! In the past, Liz was a student advocate; she managed multiple campaigns to improve students’ academic experience and welfare services. Liz holds a BSc Hons in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen and an MA in Technical Communication and eLearning from UL. A talented all-rounder, Liz is passionate about the environment and Limerick’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prof. Nigel Healey (Chair)
VP Global and Community Engagement, UL
Prof. Anne MacFarlane
School of Medicine
Niall O’Callaghan
Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP)
Seamus O’Connor
Limerick City and County
Council
Read Bio
Dr Nigel Healey is Professor of International Higher Education and Vice-President Global and Community Engagement at the University of Limerick. Prior to joining the UL in 2020, he was Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University (2016-20), Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) at Nottingham Trent University (2011-16), Pro-Vice Chancellor International and Dean of UC Business School at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (2004-11) and Dean of the Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University (2000-04).
Read Bio
Anne is Professor of Primary Healthcare Research, School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. She has specialist expertise in participatory health research, implementation science and migrant health.
Anne is founder and overall academic lead for the School of Medicine’s Public and Patient Involvement Research Unit, which is designated as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Migrant’s Involvement in Health Research, which is hosted in the Unit. She established, and was theme lead for Public and Patient Involvement in the HRI, from 2016-2019.
Read Bio
Niall O’Callaghan leads Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) as CEO, an independently funded charity which invests all its revenue from its commercial property into community projects of impact across Limerick’s most disadvantaged communities. He is currently a member of a number of regional social and economic inclusion committees and boards, including Our Lady of Lourdes, the I.NY Project, UL Student Life, and Limerick Regeneration, amongst others.
Read Bio
Seamus O’Connor is Chief Officer to Limerick City and Council Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), responsible for liaising with a range of local economic and community development stakeholders to implement the Limerick Local Economic and Community Development Plan
Prof. Helen Phelan
Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (IWAMD)
John Real
Limerick Youth
Services
Andrea Deverell
Centre for Sustainable Futures and Innovation, UL
Read Bio
Helen Phelan is Director and Professor of Arts Practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. She is an Irish Research Council recipient for her work in music, migration and the use of arts-based research methods. A singer, she is co-founder of the female vocal ensemble Cantoral, specializing in Irish medieval chant. She is founder of the Singing and Social Inclusion research group and Chair of IMBAS, a national network for artistic research in Ireland. Recent books include her monograph Singing the Rite to Belong: Music, Ritual and the New Irish with Oxford University Press and The Artist and Academia, co-edited with Graham Welch. She is HRI cluster lead for PART-IM: Participatory and Arts-Based Methods for involving Migrants in Health Research.
Read Bio
By day, John Real is the coordinator for Limerick Comhairle na nÓg and Youth Mental Health Worker with the Be Well Team in LYS’ Northside Youth space. By night he’s a well-known events creator and curator, planning, managing, promoting and organising fantastical metal gigs and events in Limerick. He’s partnered the University on a number of collaborative projects, including successful IRC and Erasmus grant applications.
2024 Expert Panel
Comprising of 5 representatives from UL (one from each of the four faculties plus the Research office) and 5 external panel members reflecting public, private and community sectors and relevant experience in public engagement and educational outreach, the Expert Panel will short-list the projects for participation in the Assembly and give their feedback on all project proposals
Christine Brennan
UL Research Strategy and Policy Manager
Kevin Burke
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Read Bio
A senior executive, strategic planner, policy advisor and science communication professional specialising in research, development and innovation. Skilled at: working collaboratively with senior leadership and stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategies; driving implementation through engagement, organisational policy and communications planning while objectively evaluating and monitoring success. An adept communicator with a track-record of delivering while building strong collaborative partnerships into the future.
Read Bio
Kevin is an Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick (UL). His research focuses on the development of statistical and machine learning methods for a wide range of application areas such as health, medicine, and psychology. He also has 10 years of experience in collaborating with external industrial partners and organisations, including directing UL’s Industrial Mathematics Unit (2016-2020) and working as a Science Foundation Ireland Public Service Fellow within the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2020-2021).
Patrick Fitzgerald
Limerick Community Education Network
Liz Gabbett
Maigue Rivers Trust Project
Officer
Read Bio
Patrick has worked in the community sector of Limerick for many years covering mental health and adult community education. He is passionate about raising the awareness of services available and has sat as Director of Limerick Mental Health Week for a number of years and Chairs the current Limerick LifeLong Learning Festival Organising Committee. Patrick also works with the Limerick Community Education Network and represents the LCEN on the Limerick PPN as Facilitator of the Secretariat. He holds an MA in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has co-founded Evolve Mental Health, Limerick’s CBT clinic based in Castletroy.
Read Bio
Liz is an ecologist; instructional designer; citizen scientist; administrator; people coordinator; project officer; and farmer! In the past, Liz was a student advocate; she managed multiple campaigns to improve students’ academic experience and welfare services. Liz holds a BSc Hons in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen and an MA in Technical Communication and eLearning from UL. A talented all-rounder, Liz is passionate about the environment and Limerick’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Niall O’Callaghan
Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP)
Seamus O’Connor
Limerick City and County
Council
Read Bio
Niall O’Callaghan leads Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) as CEO, an independently funded charity which invests all its revenue from its commercial property into community projects of impact across Limerick’s most disadvantaged communities. He is currently a member of a number of regional social and economic inclusion committees and boards, including Our Lady of Lourdes, the I.NY Project, UL Student Life, and Limerick Regeneration, amongst others.
Read Bio
Seamus O’Connor is Chief Officer to Limerick City and Council Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), responsible for liaising with a range of local economic and community development stakeholders to implement the Limerick Local Economic and Community Development Plan
Prof. Nigel Healey (Chair)
VP Global and Community Engagement, UL
Prof. Anne MacFarlane
School of Medicine
Read Bio
Dr Nigel Healey is Professor of International Higher Education and Vice-President Global and Community Engagement at the University of Limerick. Prior to joining the UL in 2020, he was Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University (2016-20), Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) at Nottingham Trent University (2011-16), Pro-Vice Chancellor International and Dean of UC Business School at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (2004-11) and Dean of the Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University (2000-04).
Read Bio
Anne is Professor of Primary Healthcare Research, School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. She has specialist expertise in participatory health research, implementation science and migrant health.
Anne is founder and overall academic lead for the School of Medicine’s Public and Patient Involvement Research Unit, which is designated as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Migrant’s Involvement in Health Research, which is hosted in the Unit. She established, and was theme lead for Public and Patient Involvement in the HRI, from 2016-2019.
Prof. Helen Phelan
Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (IWAMD)
John Real
Limerick Youth
Services
Read Bio
Helen Phelan is Director and Professor of Arts Practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. She is an Irish Research Council recipient for her work in music, migration and the use of arts-based research methods. A singer, she is co-founder of the female vocal ensemble Cantoral, specializing in Irish medieval chant. She is founder of the Singing and Social Inclusion research group and Chair of IMBAS, a national network for artistic research in Ireland. Recent books include her monograph Singing the Rite to Belong: Music, Ritual and the New Irish with Oxford University Press and The Artist and Academia, co-edited with Graham Welch. She is HRI cluster lead for PART-IM: Participatory and Arts-Based Methods for involving Migrants in Health Research.
Read Bio
By day, John Real is the coordinator for Limerick Comhairle na nÓg and Youth Mental Health Worker with the Be Well Team in LYS’ Northside Youth space. By night he’s a well-known events creator and curator, planning, managing, promoting and organising fantastical metal gigs and events in Limerick. He’s partnered the University on a number of collaborative projects, including successful IRC and Erasmus grant applications.
Expert Group
Comprising of 5 representatives from UL (one from each of the four faculties plus the Research office) and 5 external panel members reflecting public, private and community sectors and relevant experience in public engagement and educational outreach, the Expert Panel will short-list the projects for participation in the Assembly and give their feedback on all project proposals
Christine Brennan
UL Research Strategy and Policy Manager
Read Bio
A senior executive, strategic planner, policy advisor and science communication professional specialising in research, development and innovation. Skilled at: working collaboratively with senior leadership and stakeholders to develop evidence-based strategies; driving implementation through engagement, organisational policy and communications planning while objectively evaluating and monitoring success. An adept communicator with a track-record of delivering while building strong collaborative partnerships into the future.
Kevin Burke
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Read Bio
Kevin is an Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick (UL). His research focuses on the development of statistical and machine learning methods for a wide range of application areas such as health, medicine, and psychology. He also has 10 years of experience in collaborating with external industrial partners and organisations, including directing UL’s Industrial Mathematics Unit (2016-2020) and working as a Science Foundation Ireland Public Service Fellow within the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (2020-2021).
Niall O’Callaghan
Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP)
Read Bio
Niall O’Callaghan leads Limerick Enterprise Development Partnership (LEDP) as CEO, an independently funded charity which invests all its revenue from its commercial property into community projects of impact across Limerick’s most disadvantaged communities. He is currently a member of a number of regional social and economic inclusion committees and boards, including Our Lady of Lourdes, the I.NY Project, UL Student Life, and Limerick Regeneration, amongst others.
Seamus O’Connor
Limerick City and County
Council
Read Bio
Seamus O’Connor is Chief Officer to Limerick City and Council Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), responsible for liaising with a range of local economic and community development stakeholders to implement the Limerick Local Economic and Community Development Plan
Patrick Fitzgerald
Limerick Community Education Network
Read Bio
Patrick has worked in the community sector of Limerick for many years covering mental health and adult community education. He is passionate about raising the awareness of services available and has sat as Director of Limerick Mental Health Week for a number of years and Chairs the current Limerick LifeLong Learning Festival Organising Committee. Patrick also works with the Limerick Community Education Network and represents the LCEN on the Limerick PPN as Facilitator of the Secretariat. He holds an MA in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and has co-founded Evolve Mental Health, Limerick’s CBT clinic based in Castletroy.
Liz Gabbett
Maigue Rivers Trust Project
Officer
Read Bio
Liz is an ecologist; instructional designer; citizen scientist; administrator; people coordinator; project officer; and farmer! In the past, Liz was a student advocate; she managed multiple campaigns to improve students’ academic experience and welfare services. Liz holds a BSc Hons in Zoology from the University of Aberdeen and an MA in Technical Communication and eLearning from UL. A talented all-rounder, Liz is passionate about the environment and Limerick’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Prof. Nigel Healey (Chair)
VP Global and Community Engagement, UL
Read Bio
Dr Nigel Healey is Professor of International Higher Education and Vice-President Global and Community Engagement at the University of Limerick. Prior to joining the UL in 2020, he was Vice Chancellor of Fiji National University (2016-20), Pro-Vice Chancellor (International) at Nottingham Trent University (2011-16), Pro-Vice Chancellor International and Dean of UC Business School at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand (2004-11) and Dean of the Business School at Manchester Metropolitan University (2000-04).
Prof. Anne MacFarlane
School of Medicine
Read Bio
Anne is Professor of Primary Healthcare Research, School of Medicine, Faculty of Education and Health Sciences. She has specialist expertise in participatory health research, implementation science and migrant health.
Anne is founder and overall academic lead for the School of Medicine’s Public and Patient Involvement Research Unit, which is designated as a World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Migrant’s Involvement in Health Research, which is hosted in the Unit. She established, and was theme lead for Public and Patient Involvement in the HRI, from 2016-2019.
Prof. Helen Phelan
Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (IWAMD)
Read Bio
Helen Phelan is Director and Professor of Arts Practice at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. She is an Irish Research Council recipient for her work in music, migration and the use of arts-based research methods. A singer, she is co-founder of the female vocal ensemble Cantoral, specializing in Irish medieval chant. She is founder of the Singing and Social Inclusion research group and Chair of IMBAS, a national network for artistic research in Ireland. Recent books include her monograph Singing the Rite to Belong: Music, Ritual and the New Irish with Oxford University Press and The Artist and Academia, co-edited with Graham Welch. She is HRI cluster lead for PART-IM: Participatory and Arts-Based Methods for involving Migrants in Health Research.
John Real
Limerick Youth
Services
Read Bio
By day, John Real is the coordinator for Limerick Comhairle na nÓg and Youth Mental Health Worker with the Be Well Team in LYS’ Northside Youth space. By night he’s a well-known events creator and curator, planning, managing, promoting and organising fantastical metal gigs and events in Limerick. He’s partnered the University on a number of collaborative projects, including successful IRC and Erasmus grant applications.