Building PPI capacity
Working together to educate PPI leaders
A group of 42 Network members, (academics, charity representatives, and PPI contributors) collaborated to co-develop a new, accredited PPI module for postgraduate students. In 2024 and 2025, PPI Ignite Network staff, other academics and PPI contributors worked together to deliver the module to PhD scholars at UCC and RCSI.
In addition to advancing postgraduate PPI education, this project has created a strong, interdisciplinary network and set a precedent for future multi-stakeholder engagement in curriculum development. Educating future research leaders on PPI has the potential for significant impact in the years ahead.
Sharing knowledge, enhancing practice
Several well-established Network Shared Learning Groups (SLGs) bring together people from different backgrounds, with different perspectives, levels of knowledge and PPI experience to share PPI knowledge, skills and expertise. The SLGs are open spaces where all attendees can engage in informal learning. No one form of knowledge is privileged above others and people facing similar challenges can ask questions in a safe space.
Supporting PPI in lab-based research
The PPI Ignite Network developed the outline for a postgraduate module on PPI in laboratory-based health or biomedical research. Defining the recommended content and format for a Level 8 postgraduate module. A companion module for PPI contributors was also developed, and can be delivered in parallel to the postgraduate module, simultaneously building the capacity, knowledge and confidence of PPI contributors.
Accredited, quality education
The UCC Digital Badge in Patient and Public Involvement in Research is a free online micro-credential, validated by UCC. The Digital Badge can deepen the knowledge of learners already familiar with PPI, as well as serving as an introduction to beginners. The Badge serves to formalise and validate PPI education and has benefited students and early career researchers through early exposure to high quality PPI in research education. It has laid the foundations for subsequent collaborations across the Network in co-creating an accredited PPI postgraduate module.
A consensus on what matters
The PPI Ignite Network Values and Principles Framework provides a means by which people can discuss, plan, assess, and celebrate what is meant by excellent PPI in an Irish context. Developed by PPI Ignite Network @ TCD, with input from PPI contributors, researchers and other stakeholders, and launched during the National PPI Festival 2022, the framework offers guidance on what is considered good quality approaches to PPI.
Since the launch of the framework, there have been positive indicators of change as different partners have begun to adopt the framework to guide their work. By becoming integrated into PPI education and training and practice, the framework is helping to shape how researchers engage with PPI partners.
Building capacity, changing culture
Maynooth University’s (MU) inclusion in the PPI Ignite Network as a national partner has enhanced the growth and development of meaningful PPI in research at this site, as well as establishing and fostering valuable professional connections across the various national partners and Lead Sites. Through knowledge exchange opportunities within the Network, MU has delivered tailored training days to researchers, runs an annual MU-HRCI collaborative PPI Festival event on building relationships and partnerships with charities, and disseminates best-practice in PPI excellence, aiming to embed PPI across MU’s research ecosystem.
