In this special publication, colleagues from across the Connacht Ulster Alliance (CUA), including GMIT, IT Sligo and LYIT, share insights and innovations on their teaching and learning practice over the last 18 months. Many will touch on their experiences of adapting to remote learning and teaching during COVID, and also reflect on lessons learnt and plans for the future. The DigitalEd.ie Knowledge Platform forms part of the iNOTE project, funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) Ireland.
What does success look like as a student?
In this short film, students in higher education across Ireland reflect on confidence, perseverance, first-time experiences, learning, and the small moments that can make a big difference.
The student voices featured here were gathered through the HEA Student Success Survey and Focus Groups in 2025 and are shared in their own words.
The animations are creative interpretations of those reflections, imagined and produced by second-year Animation students at Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT).
From communicating in a second language to returning to education as a mature student, overcoming anxiety, and simply choosing not to quit, these stories explore the many ways success can be experienced.
Even small moments in college can be a success. What are yours?
Credits
Animation, Backgrounds & Compositing — Arantxa Vara
Animation & Backgrounds — Giada Randolfi
Animation — Zach Louis Ng Nocum
Animation & Backgrounds — Alex
Music composition & production — Darragh Winters
Special thanks
Karima Dillon
Eimhin Mc Namara
Rebecca Roper
The students who shared their experiences
