18 The role of Community Collaborations in Educating 21st century Horticulturists

Rachel Freeman highlighted how TU Dublin’s Horticulture programme integrates community-engaged learning to prepare graduates for the complex sustainability challenges of the profession. Horticulture spans food production, landscape design, golf course management, community gardening, and therapeutic practice. Given this breadth, graduates must be equipped with critical thinking, adaptability, and innovation skills rooted in sustainability.

Community collaborations have been central for over 16 years. Early projects, such as the redevelopment of a neglected green space with the Blackstone Drive Community Group, exemplified the value of partnership-based learning. Students co-designed and co-created gardens with residents and schoolchildren, gaining practical experience while fostering civic responsibility. Assessment involved presentations to the community and the creation of maintenance manuals, ensuring lasting impact.

Other initiatives include an integrated therapeutic horticulture module where students design activities for adults with intellectual disabilities, deepening empathy and inclusivity. Collaborations with external partners, such as Stepping Stone Forests and Athenry Beekeepers, bring biodiversity, pollination, and climate awareness into teaching while offering students authentic professional experiences. The GLAS Community Garden (Green Living and Sustainability), managed with Fingal County Council and Global Action Plan, provides a thriving on-campus hub for education, food production, and biodiversity.

While challenges exist, Ms Freeman argued that experiential, community-engaged horticulture fosters knowledge-sharing, teamwork, and leadership. Students learn not just horticultural skills but also how to act as sustainability advocates. These partnerships enrich teaching, support community resilience, and create a powerful model of education aligned with TU Dublin’s people–planet–partnership vision.

About the author

name: Rachel Freeman

institution: TU Dublin

Rachel Freeman is a Lecturer in Horticulture in the School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology at TU Dublin.