{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/6654b705d950260012df3b93/69ccd6a6074f2e4d629b31a5?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"How smart public services are winning back users — with one simple design shift","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6654b705d950260012df3b93/1775031952237-f47593c1-47a4-4393-90c4-02d88641db2c.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>COVID changed how people engage with online services — permanently.</p><p><br></p><p>The organisations that adapted are now seeing <strong>better engagement, better access, better outcomes</strong>.</p><p><br></p><p>The rest are still catching up.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of Transform Gov, Maeve Kneafsey speaks with <strong>Aoife Prendergast of Technological University of the Shannon (TUS)</strong>, whose team won the <strong>Universal Design category at the Ireland eGovernment Awards 2025</strong>.</p><p><br></p><p>What they discovered is something every CIO, digital leader, and public service provider needs to hear:</p><p><br></p><p>People have changed.</p><p><br></p><p>Since COVID, expectations have shifted:</p><ul><li>always-on</li><li> bite-sized</li><li> easy to use</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Most services haven’t caught up.</p><p><br></p><p>Aoife’s team did.</p><p><br></p><p>They spotted the gap, redesigned using Universal Design, boosted engagement — and unlocked new funding and global collaboration.</p><p><br></p><p>This isn’t compliance.</p><p><br></p><p>It’s whether your service gets used at all.</p><p><br></p><h2>Key Topics </h2><ul><li>Universal Design in public services</li><li>Digital transformation in higher education</li><li>Public sector accessibility strategy</li><li>Citizen engagement post-COVID</li><li>Service design and UX in government</li><li>Inclusive digital services Ireland</li><li>eGovernment Awards Ireland</li><li>TUS (Technological University of the Shannon)</li><li>Accessibility vs usability</li></ul><p><br></p><p><br></p>","author_name":"Maeve Kneafsey"}