Partnerships and Collaborations

In 2018, a partnership between DCU Institute of Education and Fighting Words was formed. The initial phase of this partnership included carrying out research with staff across the Institute of Education to identify how and where a Fighting Words learning model might support and complement the content of pre-existing modules, ahead of its development and introduction. Since then, Fighting Words has contributed to existing courses and modules as part of the primary and post-primary teacher education programme. In 2022, the MOU agreement was extended to continue the programme, building an understanding of the importance and benefits of creativity for learners. 

This partnership and agreement sees the transfer of Children’s Books Ireland’s entire archive of award-winning books - dating back to the 1900s - into the care of DCU Library. 

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2021 which saw the start the process behind the transferral and also frame this developing partnership.

The MoU confirmed that future shortlisted titles for the Children’s book awards are also added to this collection, ensuring its continued growth into the future. 

The Children’s Books Ireland collection is an extensive collection of children's books by Irish authors and illustrators – and those who have made their home on this island. 

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Chamber Choir Ireland 

DCU and CCI have a long-standing relationship going back to the late 90's. In 2022, DCU and CCI strengthened the partnership with a new MOU agreement. As Associate Artists, the choir will continue to perform in All Hallows Chapel and will explore new connections with DCU’s Choral Music academic programmes. The collaboration will also focus on broadening access and engagement with choral music, particularly in the context of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. It builds on a twenty eight year relationship between both organisations.

AIB Art Collection

DCU's host a number os artworks from the AIB Arts Collection across it's Glasnevin and St. Patrick's campus. These long term loan agreements are part of the AIB"s renewed emphasis on public accessibility to the collection. 

The Arts Council 

DCU works in partnership with the Arts Council to offer two Arts Council Writer in Residence positions each year - an Irish Language Writer in Residence which is based in Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge and a Writer in Residence based in the School of English. DCU also applies to the Arts Council each each to host a YPCE Artist in Residence. This residence support artists or arts organisations to spend an academic year in residence in a Higher Education Institution in Ireland that provides initial teacher education (primary, post-primary or further education) and/or a recognised qualification in early childhood education and care.

In 2022, DCU welcomed Poetry Ireland to campus as their temporary home as they embarked on a capital project on Parnell Square. This move represents a new exciting collaboration with both organisations planning poetry initiatives as well as hosting launches and live events on campus in the coming years, for loyal audiences of poetry and spoken word lovers as well as the DCU university community. In 2021, DCU, Poetry Ireland and the Adrian Brinkenhoff Poetry Foundation funded a two- year Poetry Ireland Poet in Residence, a role which involves extensive work with a number of diverse communities within the north inner city, on campus at DCU and in its neighbourhood. In 2022, poet Anne Tannam was awarded the residency. 

The DCU Jesuit Library Partnership launch took place in 2019 in All Hallows. The Irish Jesuit Provincial Leonard Moloney SJ and Professor Brian MacCraith, then DCU President, signed a partnership agreement in which the Jesuit Province confirmed the transfer of its renowned Milltown Park library collection to the University.

Professor MacCraith said the library would mark “a massive advance for the university but also for scholarship in general in Ireland. It will be a great resource for anyone interested in the areas covered by the library.”

Daire Keogh, Deputy President of DCU, who played a key role in the negotiations surrounding the move, said the partnership “will transform the student experience”

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In 2020, five award-winning and internationally-acclaimed artists were selected for Accenture’s Women on Walls at DCU initiative, which celebrates the lives of female pioneers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) through a series of commissioned portraits. The commissioned artists were Bríd Higgins Ní Chinnéide, Jackie Hudson Lalor, Una Sealy, Jim Fitzpatrick and Blaise Smith. The five female pioneers in STEM honoured in these portraits are Beatrice Alice Hicks, Katherine Johnson, Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, Marie Maynard Daly and Kathleen (Kay) McNulty.

All five women made significant contributions in their specific discipline, through outstanding research work, scientific breakthroughs and lasting cultural and social change for future generations. 

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Fire Station Artists Studios

Since 2019, DCU has hosted two visual artists in residence in studios located on All Hallows Campus. These residencies were developed with guidance from the Fire Station Artists Studios.