Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
Aungier Street Campus
Dublin 2, D02 HW71
📅 Dates
22nd – 24th September
DAY 1 • TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER
RECONNECT: Reconnect the Disconnected
9.30 – 16 hrs | TU Dublin, Aungier Street Campus | Courtyard Room
Reconnect with yourself, other people and the places we share. Day 1 creates space to recognise the strengths, experiences and ideas participants bring, while exploring how sustainability, community action and entrepreneurial thinking can contribute to a thriving and inclusive Dublin.
| TIME | SESSION | LEAD / CONTRIBUTORS |
| 9.30–11.00 | Welcome and interactive morning workshop: Step into the Doughnut | Michelle Licciardi (DSCP), Dr Lucia Walsh & Dr Olivia Freeman, TU Dublin |
| 11.00–11.15 | Tea / coffee break | |
| 11.15–12.45 | Unrolling the Doughnut: exploring local and global social and ecological perspectives | Dr Lucia Walsh & Dr Olivia Freeman, TU Dublin |
| 12.45–13.30 | Lunch | |
| 1.30–14.15 | Not My Bag: documentary screening and conversation with the director | Beta Bajgart, See the Light Production Co |
| 14.15–15.00 | Outdoor microgarden activity: environmental storytelling and connection to place | Beta Bajgart, See the Light Production Co |
| 15.00–16.00 | Reflection, ideas exchange and formation of action groups around shared interests | |
| 16.00 hrs | Close | DSCP |
What participants will take away
New connections, a practical sustainability lens, emerging opportunities for collaboration, and a personal or collective first step to take forward.
Day 1 facilitators
| Michelle Licciardi – Social Innovator/Connector & Social/Enterprise Manager, Dublin South City Partnership
Beta Bajgart – Filmaker and Photographer, See the Light Dr Lucia Walsh – Sustainability Education & Innovation Lead/Senior Lecturer, TU Dublin Dr Olivia Freeman – Sustainability Education Lead/Senior Lecturer, TU Dublin |
DAY 2 • WEDNESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER
IMAGINE: From Good Idea to Real Opportunity
9.30 – 16 hrs | TU Dublin, Aungier Street Campus | Room 5050
Day 2 focuses on testing whether an idea responds to a real need and exploring how it could become a viable project, social enterprise or business. The sessions combine practical enterprise guidance, commercial thinking and accessible technology tools.
| TIME | SESSION | LEAD / CONTRIBUTORS |
| 9.30–10.00 | Welcome and introduction to DSCP supports and pathways | Michelle Licciardi, DSCP |
| 10.00–11.15 | Reality check: understanding the problem, the people affected and the opportunity | Noel Davidson, Entrepreneurs Academy |
| 11.15–11.30 | Tea / coffee break | |
| 11.30–13.00 | Commercial viability: value, customers, income and sustainability | Noel Davidson, Entrepreneurs Academy |
| 13.00–14.00 | Lunch | |
| 14.00–15.00 | Technology and next steps: practical tools to develop and test an idea | Noel Davidson, Entrepreneurs Academy |
| 15.00 – 15.45 | From student projects to local impact and scaling –
BiaBox S’port for Grief |
Ethan Levins & Giada Franzolini |
| 15.45 – 16.00 | Reflections, supports and close | Michelle Licciardi, DSCP |
What participants will take away
A clearer, reality-tested entrepreneurial idea; an introduction to customers, value, income and sustainability; and practical next steps with awareness of available supports.
Day 2 contributors
| Michelle Licciardi – Social Innovator/Connector & Social/Enterprise Manager, Dublin South City Partnership
Noel Davidson – Entrepreneurs Academy Ethan Levins and Giada Franzolini – Co-founders of S’port for Grief and BiaBox |
DAY 3 • THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
CREATE: From Opportunity to Action
9.30 – 16.00 hrs | TU Dublin, Aungier Street Campus | Room 5050
Day 3 presents a hands-on innovation challenge focused on public transport, safety, connection and user experience. Participants will hear short inspiration bursts, explore the Luas experience and work collaboratively to design practical ideas for a safer and more social Luas stop.
| TIME | SESSION | LEAD / CONTRIBUTORS |
| 9.30–10.30 | Inspiration bursts: recent projects in sustainable mobility, inclusion, customer experience and Luas operations | Transport Infrastructure Ireland team |
| 10.30–10.45 | Hands-on design-thinking challenge: “Make Luas More Safe and More Social” | Transport Infrastructure Ireland team |
| 10.45 – 11.00 | Tea / coffee break | |
| 11.30–13.00 | Facilitated design-thinking challenge – hands-on working in groups | Gavan Cleary, TU Dublin |
| 13.00–14.00 | Lunch and opportunity to finalise ideas | |
| 14.00–15.00 | Facilitated design-thinking challenge – pitching of ideas | Gavan Cleary, TU Dublin |
| 15.00–15.40 | Motivational talk and programme reflection | Pearl Olesitse |
| 15.40–16.00 | Ideas, next steps, connections and close | DSCP & programme contributors |
Featured inspiration contributors
- Eimear Fox (TII) – nature-based solutions and gender in Luas Finglas
- Kathleen Jacobi (TII) – empowering women to cycle
- NTA representative: customer experience
- Deirdre Miller (TII) and Graziela Laoide Kemp (TII): operating the Luas
What participants will take away
Experience of collaborative design thinking, a stronger understanding of transport user experience, greater confidence in communicating ideas, and a practical pathway forward.
Day 3 facilitators and contributors
| Eimear Fox – Senior Landscape Architect, TII
Kathleen Jacobi – Sustainability Portfolio and Climate Action Coordinator, TII Deirdre Miller – Customer Experience Manager, TII Graziela Laoide-Kemp – Engineer, TII Gavan Cleary – Entrepreneurship Lecturer and Facilitator, TU Dublin Pearl Letlotlo Olesitse – Pearl Holistic Hub founder, Author & Healtcare Leader |
