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 progress of Work Package 1 (WP1), this mobility signaled a key transition by moving I-CIVIC from its foundational theoretical frameworks directly into its empirical research phase.
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. 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 sense of agency.
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 initiatives such as the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE), the Inclusion Passport, the Turn to Teaching programme and the Race Equality Plan. These activities provided valuable examples of institutional practices supporting access, equality and inclusion in Higher Education and contributed to the I-CIVIC case study work.
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 for WP1, Task 1.3, which 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.
