Our News 4 University of Galway students named University Innovation Fellows by the Stanford d.school programme

For the second year in a row, University of Galway students have been named as University Innovation Fellows by the Stanford d.school. SarahJane Hughes (Electronic and Computer Engineering), Ethan O’Brien (Electronic & Computer Engineering), Olamide Jalaade (Psychological Studies & Philosophy) and Foziyah Alqahtani, (Structured PhD, Discipline of Medicine) join 160 students from 44 higher education institutions in 13 countries have been named.

The University Innovation Fellows programme is run by Stanford University’s Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school) and empowers students to become agents of change at their schools. Fellows work to ensure that all students gain the attitudes, skills and knowledge required to navigate a complex world and build the future.

Fellows create student innovation spaces, start entrepreneurship organisations, facilitate experiential workshops, work with faculty and administrators to develop new courses, and much more. They serve as advocates for lasting institutional change with academic leaders, lending the much-needed student voice to the conversations about the future of higher education.

Fellows are nominated by faculty and administrators as individuals or teams of students and selected through an application process each year. Following acceptance into the programme, students participate in a 6-week online training experience. During training, Fellows learn to analyse their campus ecosystems and identify opportunities for change related to innovation, entrepreneurship, design thinking, and creativity. They work to understand the needs of peers across disciplines and the perspectives of faculty and administrators. They apply this new knowledge and perspective to design new educational opportunities for their peers. After training, Fellows implement the projects they crafted. They continue to serve as change agents and leaders at their schools and beyond.

Director of Entrepreneurial Development, Dr Natalie Walsh said "We are incredibly proud of SarahJane, Ethan, Olamide, and Foziyah for their recognition as University Innovation Fellows by the Stanford d.school. They embody the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial mindset that define our students at University of Galway. This fellowship empowers them to be catalysts for change, not only on our campus but also in the broader higher education ecosystem. Their work will inspire others, and we are excited to see the impact they will have in fostering a culture of creativity, innovation, and collaboration."

“I knew that the Stanford UIF programme was for me when I saw the application form. I was asked to answer questions like "What do you want your legacy to be?", "How would you change the way your college educates students?" and "If you had 3 wishes what would they be?". Reflecting on these questions made me feel a part of something bigger than me. I understood that with this fellowship I could learn valuable skills that I could use to make an impact on campus and to help people. I have always thought of myself as innovative and entrepreneurial, and this fellowship has confirmed to me that I am those things!” said SarahJane Hughes.

Faculty and administrators who guide Fellows, known as Faculty Champions, can engage in a community of Faculty Innovation Fellows. IdeasLab team members from University of Galway, Dr Natalie Walsh and Dr Neil Ferguson are undertaking this cohort-based programme, a two-year experience that helps educators work to identify and design their own projects to make a difference at their institutes. Led by a team of veteran Faculty Champions, candidates are part of a community of practice, collaborating with other faculty and staff from around the world to learn new change strategies.

Find out more about University of Galway UIF project https://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Priorities:University_of_Galway_Student_Priorities