CFA at NCAD was proud to partner with the British Council x ThinkYoung for an energising two-day Digital Citizens Connect training – part of the Youth Connect Europe programme. The initiative supports young people across Europe in developing the critical media literacy, digital ethics, and collaborative problem-solving skills needed to navigate and shape the evolving AI landscape.

Hosted on campus by the CFA at NCAD, the workshop brought together British Council leadership, expert judges, facilitators, and talented CFA students who spent two days exploring how AI influences media, and how young creators can design solutions that make digital environments fairer, safer, and more transparent.

We were honoured to welcome:

British Council

• Dr Kerry McCall Magan, Country Director, British Council Ireland
• Katarina Loedel Project Coordinator (Arts & Education) British Council
• Cristina Ciampaglione Project and Partnerships Manager (Arts & Education) British Council

Facilitators – ThinkYoung

• Charles Howard Research Manager, Think Young 
• Cristina Leandro De Silva Project assistant  Think Young

Mentors – CFA NCAD 

• Bernie McCoy, Academic Lead, CFA NCAD
• Aoife Mc Inerney Lecturer Communication Design NCAD
• Nadia Armstrong Lecturer Visual Culture NCAD

Judging Panel

• Cliona Harmey, Media Lecturer, NCAD
• Mark Halvey, Trade Policy Officer, British Embassy Dublin
• Adebola Olomo, AI & Tech Leader; Product Builder; Women in AI Global Partnerships
• JP Dowling, Head of Department of Communications, NCAD

Their guidance, professionalism, and care helped shape an inspiring learning environment across both days.

The British Council x ThinkYoung format is designed to help young people move from learning to action in a short sprint—during which mentors play a crucial role.

Day 1 – Understanding the Digital World

Participants explored:

• Digital habits and online behaviour
• AI bias and algorithmic influence
• Misinformation, disinformation, and deepfakes
• Real-life ethical dilemmas shaped by emerging technologies

Mentors and facilitators supported sessions by:

• Joining breakout discussions
• Encouraging critical thinking
• Linking concepts to real-world examples
• Asking open, reflective questions that deepen insight

Day 2 – Creating Solutions That Matter

Day 2 shifted into design mode. Students formed teams to develop a prototype solution – whether a tool, campaign, app, or game – addressing a media literacy challenge they felt strongly about.

Mentors focused on:

• Helping teams refine the problem they wanted to solve
• Stress-testing ethical implications
• Offering constructive feedback on feasibility and impact
• Providing balanced support across groups
• Encouraging clarity ahead of their final pitch

At the end of the workshop, one winning project was selected to attend a British Council study visit in the UK in 2026. There, young creators will:

• Meet winners from across Europe
• Visit institutions working at the intersection of AI, media, and policy
• Participate in an international Youth-Policy dialogue
• Exchange ideas with researchers, policymakers, and industry experts

This opportunity ensures young people are not only learning about the digital world—but shaping it. 

A huge congratulations to the CFA students who won:

• Oliver Jones – Media
• Natalia Burtenshaw – Media
• Holly Flood – Design
• Zofia Palka – Design
• Maria Finnegan – Design

These young designers and media thinkers embraced the challenge with creativity, curiosity, and a real commitment to tackling the complexities of today’s information ecosystem.

The British Council x CFA NCAD workshop showcased precisely what the Youth Connect programme was designed to achieve: helping young leaders build the confidence, skills, and ethical grounding to engage thoughtfully and creatively in digital spaces.

We extend our thanks to the British Council xThinkYoung, our judges, facilitators, mentors and especially our outstanding CFA students whose innovation and passion made the event memorable.