Unlocking the Dark Matter of Student Experience
What if the biggest drivers of student success are the ones you cannot yet see?
Join evasys across Maynooth, Galway and Cork for three exclusive roadshow events exploring the hidden signals behind belonging, teaching excellence and student success.
Exploring how richer insight can reveal the ‘dark matter’ of student experience
What shapes student success is not always what institutions can easily see. Beyond headline metrics sits the ‘dark matter’ of the student experience: belonging, disengagement, confidence, transition points and the everyday signals that often go unnoticed until it is too late. The evasys Ireland HE Roadshow brings together senior leaders and higher education practitioners to explore how institutions can surface those hidden signals, turn insight into action and strengthen student success at every stage of the journey.
From reactive reporting to proactive student success
Across Irish higher education, leaders are under increasing pressure to make timely, evidence-based decisions that improve student outcomes, support teaching excellence and strengthen the student experience. Yet many of the factors that most influence success are the hardest to capture through conventional reporting alone.
This roadshow series explores how institutions can go beyond static snapshots and delayed data, using student voice, targeted feedback and intelligent analysis to reveal what matters earlier. From recognising teaching excellence, to identifying belonging gaps and connecting fragmented data across the student journey, each event examines a different dimension of the challenge – and the opportunity.
Who should attend
This series is designed for senior leaders and decision-makers across higher education, including colleagues in professional services, academic leadership, quality, planning, student success, teaching and learning, institutional research, student engagement and related areas. It will be particularly relevant for those looking to use richer evidence and more timely insight to support strategic decision-making and targeted intervention.
Choose the events most relevant to you, or join us for all three
Each event stands alone, but together the series offers a wider view of how institutions can better understand and respond to the hidden forces shaping student experience and success.
| Time | Session Title | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 – 10:15 | Arrival & Networking | Registration and morning coffee with sector colleagues. |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Setting the stage for the ‘Dark Matter’ roadshow. |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Strategic Trilogue | A moderated panel discussion on the invisible barriers and opportunities within the student journey. |
| 11:30 – 12:15 | The Evidence Engine (Show & Tell) | Peer-led showcase of real-world impact and efficiency gains within Irish HEIs. |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Networking Lunch | Collaborative lunch and informal benchmarking. |
| 13:15 – 14:00 | Illuminating the Journey | A live demonstration of the evasys survey ecosystem and its AI-driven insights. |
| 14:00 – 14:50 | The Strategic Compass | A collaborative forum to discuss future roadmaps for student engagement and success. |
| 14:50 – 15:00 | Wrap-up and Closing Thoughts | Summary of key takeaways and next steps. |
Choose the events most relevant to you, or join us for all three
Each event stands alone, but together the series offers a wider view of how institutions can better understand and respond to the hidden forces shaping student experience and success.
| Time | Session Title | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 09:30 – 10:15 | Arrival & Networking | Registration and morning coffee with sector colleagues. |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Welcome & Opening Remarks | Setting the stage for the ‘Dark Matter’ roadshow. |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | Strategic Trilogue | A moderated panel discussion on the invisible barriers and opportunities within the student journey. |
| 11:30 – 12:15 | The Evidence Engine (Show & Tell) | Peer-led showcase of real-world impact and efficiency gains within Irish HEIs. |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Networking Lunch | Collaborative lunch and informal benchmarking. |
| 13:15 – 14:00 | Illuminating the Journey | A live demonstration of the evasys survey ecosystem and its AI-driven insights. |
| 14:00 – 14:50 | The Strategic Compass (Sector Discussion) | A collaborative forum to discuss future roadmaps for student engagement and success. |
| 14:50 – 15:00 | Wrap-up and Closing Thoughts | Summary of key takeaways and next steps. |
Confirmed Speakers
Professor Tim Thompson
PVC Students & Learning, Maynooth University
Tim is the inaugural Vice-President (Students & Learning) at Maynooth University, previously serving as Dean of Health & Life Sciences at Teesside University and holding several academic leadership roles there. He began his career as a Lecturer in Forensic Anthropology at University of Dundee. His research focuses on post-mortem skeletal changes and forensic anthropology, and he also works as a scientific advisor and consultant for a wide range of organisations, including government bodies, NGOs, universities, health tech companies, and the media.
Amelia Lown
Amelia served as President of the Technological University of the Shannon Students’ Union from 2023 to 2025 and she is now Vice-President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region at AMLÉ.
Stephen Fogarty
Stephen Fogarty is a student leader from Kerry who previously served as President of the Munster Technological University Kerry Students’ Union and now holds the role of Vice President for the Southern Region at AMLÉ.
Professor Judy Williams
Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, Queen’s University Belfast
As Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, Professor Judy Williams is responsible for steering the University’s education strategy, including maintaining oversight of educational performance and ensuring the highest standard of student learning experience and an environment and culture of innovation in pedagogy and educational enhancement.
Dr Sinéad O’Sullivan
Director of Quality, University of Limerick
Dr Sinéad O’Sullivan is Director of Quality at the University of Limerick and is responsible for providing strategic institutional quality-related leadership and developing policies and procedures in relation to quality. She is a member of several key institutional-level committees, namely Academic Council, Management Committee and Quality Committee.
Louise Lumsden
Head of Fellowships, Advance HE
Louise Lumsden is Head of Fellowships (Teaching) at Advance HE. Louise has been working with the Professional Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher education for ten years. Louise’s work is primarily to support individuals to be professionally recognised for their teaching and supporting learning practice through the Advance HE direct route to fellowship, but also supports institutions through teaching and learning accreditation. Louise is a Senior Fellow.
Dr Michelle Morgan
Dean of Students, University of East London
Dr Michelle Morgan is Dean of Students at the University of East London. She is extensively published in the area of supporting student diversity, improving the student learning experience and the student voice at undergraduate and postgraduate taught level in, through and out of the student study journey. She is a national and internationally recognised Student Experience Transitions Specialist across all levels of study and is extensively published in the area.
Lisa Bennett
Senior Institutional Research Analyst, University College Dublin
Lisa Bennett is a Senior Institutional Research Analyst at University College Dublin, where she supports UCD strategic projects, working with the Director of Institutional Research. She provides quantitative and qualitative analytical support to UCD and national surveys, including StudentSurvey.ie. She has been involved in projects including the Student Feedback on Modules review, Covid Learning at Distance surveys, EDI surveys and Athena Swan data support. She was a member of the StudentSurvey.ie National Report Editorial Board.
Dr Duncan Berryman
Student Surveys Officer, Queen’s University Belfast
Duncan looks after the analysing of the NSS, QSS and PTES/PRES surveys. He also manages online survey tools (scripting and setting up surveys), as well as data analysis and production of reports for ad hoc queries. He supports the roll out of Module/Teaching Evaluation (MEQs, TEQs), software (evasys), and the development of relevant methodologies associated with MEQs), as well as the development of PowerBI Surveys Dashboards. Duncan also provides support to the Business Operations Manager in presenting survey reports and briefings to University Committees, Faculties and Schools and provides NSS briefings to students, where requested by School.
Rachael Sarsfield Ryan
Development Coordinator, National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP)
Rachael Sarsfield Ryan is Development Coordinator at the National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP), where she works to support and expand NStEP’s Student Training Programme, to identify and develop resources for students and staff to ensure the successful implementation of the programme strategy, to manage the National Student Quality Assurance Reviewers Pool alongside Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), and to support the Programme Manager in day-to-day operations.
Maura McGinn
Director, UCD Institutional Research & Analytics
Maura McGinn is Director of Institutional Research and Analytics at University College Dublin. She leads the development of data-informed insight to support institutional strategy, planning and performance, with a focus on enabling better decision-making through robust analytics and evidence.
Dr Emily McIntosh
Chief Student Officer, Harper Adams University
Dr Emily McIntosh is Chief Student Officer at Harper Adams University, where she leads strategy across the student experience, engagement and success. She has overseen a portfolio of high-impact, cross-institutional transformative change projects and brings direct experience in leading core HE services teams and service design across learning, teaching and student experience.
Her leadership experience has included oversight of Centres for Academic Practice/Learning & Teaching, Technology Enhanced Learning, Student Success/Support, Academic Registry, and Student Services and Careers. Emily is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2017) and was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2021.
Karen Jones
Registrar, NCI
Karen is Registrar at NCI, having previously served as Director of Quality and Institutional Effectiveness. With nearly 30 years’ experience across eight universities in the UK, Ireland, the Middle East and New Zealand, she has led the design and implementation of quality assurance and improvement systems at programme, institutional and national levels. She has contributed to major student feedback initiatives, including the National Student Surveys in the UK and Ireland, and has extensive experience in peer reviews of programmes, institutions and national QA agencies.
A member of NCI’s Executive Team, Karen supports the delivery of strategic goals and leads initiatives that promote continuous quality improvement and institutional effectiveness, including the Streamline Student Success Structures Initiative.
Dr Helena Lim
Educational Excellence Lead at Queen Mary University of London and Academic Lead, evasys
Dr Helena Lim is Educational Excellence Lead at Queen Mary University of London and Academic Lead with evasys. She is a highly experienced leader in UK higher education with more than 25 years’ experience across teaching, research and institutional leadership. She has held senior roles at organisations including Southampton Solent University and the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE).
A specialist in institutional research and student experience, Helena is the founder of the UK and Ireland Higher Education Institutional Research (HEIR) Network and has played a leading role in advancing data-informed approaches to teaching and learning. She has lectured at institutions including the University of Bath and the Open University, and holds Honorary Fellowships from the University of Liverpool and Aberystwyth University.
Bruce Johnson
Former Head of Student Systems, University of Edinburgh and MD, evasys
Bruce Johnson is Managing Director at evasys, bringing more than 20 years of experience working within higher education across both academic and professional services environments. Prior to joining evasys, he spent 14 years leading Student Systems within the Academic Registry at the University of Edinburgh, where he was responsible for student record systems and platforms such as SITS.
He has extensive expertise in survey systems, student data and institutional processes, with a strong focus on integrating systems to support effective decision-making. As a former evasys customer, Bruce brings a practitioner perspective to his role, helping institutions use student feedback and insight to drive continuous improvement and enhance the student experience.
Intimate, exclusive sessions
Attendance is free and strictly by invitation only. Capacity is intentionally limited to keep each event focused, high-value and discussion-led.
Small room format. Senior-level conversation.
A clearer view of what students need next
Join evasys and sector peers across Ireland to explore how better evidence, smarter analysis and earlier intervention can help your institution to understand more, and to act sooner.
