Online Event: First Eco-Campus Global Student Summit
On 14 October, during the 10th National Climate Action Week in Ireland, international Eco-Campus students gathered online for the first-ever Global Student Summit!
Joining from Eco-Campuses in Ireland, Latvia, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic, almost 60 students shared their ideas, discussed their sustainability initiatives, and connected with like-minded individuals. Under the central theme of 'Student Leadership', the participants demonstrated the critical role that students are playing in driving sustainability in their courses, campuses, and communities. The event was organised by Green-Campus Ireland, with the support of FEE Head Office and FEE Slovenia.
Renārs Kairis, National Operator of the Eco-Campus programme in Latvia, opened the summit with the following words:
"Sustainability cannot be derived by one person or department; it requires cooperation across fields of work, ages, groups, and departments."
This message resonated throughout all the presentations.
Seven students, seven perspectives on change
The seven presentations showed different approaches to student-led sustainability initiatives, ranging from student attitudes towards volunteering and environmental journalism to campus initiatives, efforts to become a plant-based university, theatre-based approaches to sustainability, healthcare-inspired climate action, and child-friendly environmental education programmes. All presentations emphasised the importance of sharing ideas and knowledge to inspire further action. Two presenters illustrated these key messages particularly well:
"From the very moment I was starting writing articles I was driven by one mission: To uncover and communicate knowledge that contributes to create a holistic synergy powered and sustainable world. Right action starts with knowledge." - Varvara Vasylchenko, student from Trinity University College
"What we have been doing is maybe just small steps for someone, but I can really see how many things we were able to change at our university in the year and a half we have been doing this." - Ráchel Lokvencová, student from Prague University of Economics and Business
The key takeaways from the summit highlighted how small actions can create a significant collective impact and how being part of a group can encourage long-term engagement.
Another central discussion was student involvement: How can we encourage students to get involved and, more importantly, keep them engaged? The overall conclusion was that students are more likely to remain involved when they can see the impact of their contributions and receive incentives that motivate continued participation.
One presentation in particular highlighted how setbacks can become valuable learning experiences and are sometimes a necessary part of making progress. Resilience is essential for overcoming challenges, and the lessons learned along the way can lead to meaningful change. Joseph Curran, a student from the University of Galway, encouraged participants to reflect on setbacks and the opportunities they may create: "If everyone gave up after encountering their first barrier, would we be happier living with first time perfected designs but also having so many missed opportunities?"
Overall, the summit's central theme, reflected throughout all the presentations, focused on exploring ways to encourage greater student involvement through leadership. A shared understanding emerged that student leadership is about recognising opportunities and taking action. The participants emphasised that every student has the potential to contribute to positive change, regardless of their background or starting point.
This message was particularly well illustrated by Michael Kennedy, a student from Dublin City University, who presented a creative approach to sustainability through theatre. He highlighted the importance of collective action, stating: "Change doesn't come from one leader; it comes from people stopping their indifference at the same time across borders."
Looking into the future
The event clearly demonstrated that universities around the world face many similar sustainability challenges. The presentations offered practical examples of how students can address these challenges by taking action. Nehashri Sagineedu, a student from the University of Galway, highlighted an important aspect of achieving lasting change: "Meaningful change is continuous." This message emphasises that progress builds on the efforts and achievements of those who came before us, while also laying the foundation for future generations of students to continue the work. Every initiative and network established along the way contributes to creating a lasting and greater collective impact.
The central message was clear: student leadership is not about having all the answers or achieving change on your own. It is about recognising opportunities, taking action, learning from setbacks, and inspiring others to get involved.
"A person might often think that their individual contribution doesn't really make much of a difference and multiple people will also luckily imagine the same. I always loved the saying: An ocean is made of a thousand of drops of water. If this resonates with the approximately 256,000 students based in Ireland it would mean a huge difference and what we could do!" - Ninoshka Fernandes, student from TU Dublin.
The summit provided a valuable space for exchanging knowledge and sharing practical experiences. Above all, it demonstrated that sustainability is not just a goal for the future, but something students are already actively shaping today. To quote Lucija Marovt, National Operator of the Eco-Campus programme in Slovenia: “Seeing such a variety of contexts, ideas, and initiatives reminds us that there is no single path to change. Everyone can take the first step from where they are. The shift is not about tomorrow – it is already happening and we all have the opportunity to shape it today.”
A huge thank you to all the presenters, organisers, and participants!
Please find the agenda and the recording here: Eco-Campus Global Student Summit 2026 by Green-Campus - Exposure