Why DCU?
DCU has pioneered micro-credentials both nationally and internationally. We were the first Irish Higher Education Institution to embrace micro-credentialing, and have established a record and reputation for consistent excellence across research, practice and partnership, both within the institution, and across national and international boundaries.
DCU Business School delivered Ireland’s first national credit-bearing micro-credential FinTech - Financial Innovation in response to the rapid transformation and technological innovation in the financial services sector. Since then DCU has developed micro-credentials in collaboration with numerous partners and organisations.
Micro-credentialing advancements in DCU are;
- underpinned by our expertise in delivering short learning experiences,
- shaped by leading international research and,
- enriched by our national and European partnerships.
Expertise in Short Learning Experiences
Dublin City University has a long and unique experience in the design, development and research of relevant and innovative learning approaches for higher education. DCU Studio drives the design and development of these courses in partnership with academic and industry stakeholders. Through DCU’s national and international partnerships we offer Massive Open Online Courses at scale and credit-bearing short and long courses in areas as diverse as Business Ethics, AI, Big Data, Social History, Education and an award-winning suite of courses in Irish language and Culture.
Research Driven Micro-Credential Development
DCU maintains the Micro-Credential Observatory, a hub with a global focus on the development of micro-credentials. DCU is actively engaged in micro-credentials research and policy development on the national and international stage. DCU is committed to evidence-based approach to micro-credentials, and to ensure that practice is informed and infused with the lessons and learnings of high-quality research.
A National Partner
DCU is an active leader within the MicroCreds project, a national consortium coordinated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA), and has established a bilateral network, MicroNet, to share practice in a peer-to-peer forum. The university is committed to national collaboration to deliver learning experiences which are responsive to Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025.
A European Perspective
DCU is a leading university within one of the largest European University Alliances (EUAs), the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU). Through this consortium, DCU learners, staff and academics have links to more than a dozen partner institutions across Europe. Micro-credentialing is one mechanism through which the ECIU are realising their objectives of socially-transformative, cooperative and impactful learning, and DCU are playing a leading role in shaping the agenda in this space.