Secondment at Maynooth University and the University of Galway

From 4 to 20 June 2026, Professors Alessandra Romano and Alessandra Viviani of the University of Siena carried out research activities in Ireland as part of the I-CIVIC project. Marking an essential milestone in the project’s initial phase of characterizing democratic deficits and educational gaps, this mobility signaled a key transition by moving I-CIVIC from its foundational theoretical frameworks directly into its empirical research phase.

Tackling Student Disengagement at Maynooth University

At Maynooth University, Professors Romano and Viviani engaged in scientific discussions with Professor Ted Fleming. The dialogue centered on student disengagement, civic participation, and the role of Higher Education in contemporary society. Particular attention was given to the relationship between education, social recognition, agency, and Transformative Learning.

These discussions contributed to the development of the first draft of the Focus Group Protocol for University Students. Designed to explore students’ experiences of participation, belonging, recognition, and disengagement through a non-linear and narrative-based approach, this tool represents a shift in methodology. Rather than relying on traditional surveys, the focus groups aim to create spaces for dialogue in which students can reflect on their university experience and discuss the issues that affect their participation and active voice.

Exploring Inclusive Practices

The secondment also provided an opportunity to explore inclusive practices at Maynooth University. During visits to the Maynooth University Access Programme (MAP) and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Office, the UNISI Team examined several groundbreaking initiatives, such as:

• The Disability Access Route to Education (DARE)
• The Inclusion Passport
• The Turn to Teaching programme
• The Race Equality Plan

These activities provided valuable examples of institutional practices supporting access, equality, and inclusion in Higher Education, significantly contributing to the I-CIVIC case study work

Consolidating Research Tools at the University of Galway

In Galway, research sessions continued at the Centre of Adult Learning and Professional Development alongside Professor Michal Molcho. The collaboration focused on consolidating the research tools needed to gather data on misinformation resilience and civic engagement across educational settings. This specific research phase combines quantitative surveys on epistemic resilience with qualitative focus groups, as well as refining data interpretation models and qualitative evaluation criteria for the upcoming transnational fieldwork.

By bridging theoretical concepts with institutional practice, this secondment strengthened the collaborative ties between the University of Siena and its Irish partners, successfully paving the way for the forthcoming phase of transnational data collection across the entire I-CIVIC consortium.