SDG 17 : Partnerships for the Goals

In 2025, University of Limerick (UL) worked with eight European partner universities to develop a new model for student internships that places community partnership at the centre of the experience. 

BRIDGE was developed through the EMERGE European University Alliance, a consortium of nine universities including UL. The programme is designed to offer practice-based summer internships in which students work with community organisations, combining practical experience with intercultural learning and community engagement. 

BRIDGE is designed to give community partners a role in shaping internships and identifying local needs with students, alongside opportunities for students to gain practical and intercultural experience. 

Development work took place between September and December 2025, bringing together UL and partner universities in Spain, France, Norway, Slovakia, Germany, Cyprus and Greece. The first internships were planned for Ireland and Slovakia in June and July 2026.

Connecting co-operative research with practitioners and policymakers creates opportunities for evidence and practical experience to inform discussion of the sector’s future. In 2025, a Research Ireland-funded network led from University of Limerick (UL) brought these groups together across Ireland and Britain. 

CoopNet: Establishing a Social and Solidarity Economy Research Network of Ireland was established to connect people researching and working within the co-operative movement. Its first major event was a conference at Boundary Brewery in East Belfast on 21 and 22 February 2025, jointly organised by the Society for Co-operative Studies Ireland, chaired by UL's Patrick Doyle, and the UK Society for Co-operative Studies. 

The conference brought together co-operative researchers and practitioners from across Ireland and Britain. Participants included Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA and Linda Ervine, founder of Turas. 

The partnership subsequently moved from networking into direct policy engagement. Following the February conference, the Minister for the Economy asked Patrick Doyle and Tiziana O'Hara of Co-operative Alternatives to organise a policy event on co-operatives at Stormont in November 2025. The event fed into the Department for the Economy's review of plans to grow the co-operative economy in Northern Ireland.

Working as partners in research involves understanding how projects are designed, funded and managed. RISE provides training for social economy organisations intended to support their participation in research partnerships. 

In 2025, UL Engage, University of Limerick’s (UL) community engagement unit, helped develop and deliver the first Irish pilot of RISE: Engaging Research in the Social Economy, an Erasmus+ programme. 

The project is led in Ireland by the Wheel, working with Diesis Network in Belgium, Science for Change in Spain and the European Citizen Science Association in Germany. UL Engage contributed its expertise in engaged research to the development and delivery of the Irish training. 

The first pilot began in November 2025, involving 25 participants in six sessions delivered over four days. Training covered the ethics and values of engaged research, building effective partnerships, research funding, data management and assessing impact, with each topic considered from the perspective of social economy organisations. 

Participants also worked towards digital badges recognising their learning. A second pilot was planned for early 2026, with the programme ultimately intended to become an open-access, self-directed online course.

In May 2025, more than 100 people from across Limerick city and county came together at the University of Limerick (UL) Citizens' Assembly to decide which university-community projects should receive funding.

The annual Assembly is a partnership between UL, Limerick City and County Council, Limerick Public Participation Network and Limerick Comhairle na nÓg, supported by the Limerick Community Education Network. It creates a forum where local citizens and community organisations can participate directly in decisions about university-community collaboration. 

On 1 May 2025, participants considered proposals for projects addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Each proposal had to include a developed community-engagement plan and demonstrate potential for positive impact in Limerick. Proposals were also reviewed by a panel representing academic, public, private and community sectors before being put to the citizen vote. 

Three university-community projects were selected, each receiving a €10,000 award. 

The process also gives researchers feedback on their proposals and requires them to explain their work to a non-specialist audience.

From mentoring and fundraising to coaching and environmental initiatives, University of Limerick students contributed 47,123 registered volunteering hours recognised at the 2025 President’s Volunteer Awards.

A total of 797 students were recognised for their contribution during the 2024/25 academic year. This exceeded UL’s target of 580 awards and compared with a baseline of 530 in 2022/23.

Behind the figures were personal commitments to people and causes. Among five Student Volunteers of the Year, Cora Rooney volunteered with Nemo Special Olympics Sports Club, while Óran Fleming supported the Alzheimer Society of Ireland in memory of his grandfather.

Students received Gold, Silver, Bronze and Plassey medals acknowledging their volunteering. Their achievements are also recorded on their academic transcripts.