DCU Impact Review shows unique role university plays in lives and society
A new report released today by Dublin City University provides an important overview of the broad range of impacts that the university is making on wider society.
The report uses the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to convey the various impacts.
It identifies a number of initiatives between Summer 2018 and Summer 2019 which demonstrate the difference being made by the University and, in particular, its response to the UN SDGs, such as promoting healthy lives and well-being for all and delivering inclusive, lifelong education.
1,261 students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds supported by DCU’s Access Programme, which is the longest running Higher Education Access programme in Ireland.
1,500 school children took part in DCU’s Moving Well-Being Well physical literacy project
15,000 workers and caregivers trained in dementia awareness through DCU’s Dementia Elevator Programme
Irish food company ABP licensed new technology developed at DCU’s Water Institute to improve wastewater treatment processes
Over 300 new digital economy jobs created at the DCU Alpha Innovation campus
15% of venture capital in Ireland was raised by companies at DCU Alpha
6,100 gifted school students attended Centre for Talented Youth Ireland classes
10,000 primary school students introduced to Microsoft’s Hour of Code by DCU Education students
2,800 children in disadvantaged areas benefited from the Write to Read literacy project
56 Universities worldwide are now members of the DCU-founded Age Friendly University Network.
Speaking about the report, DCU President Professor Brian MacCraith, said:
“This report, which captures the University’s impact across many dimensions, avoids the typical key performance indicators of academic success, such as publications, citations and research income, and focuses solely on lives and communities impacted by the activities of DCU students and staff.
“Universities like DCU play a unique role in society. We don’t just create and disseminate knowledge and attract and develop talent, but we are also driven by important social values. For DCU, bringing beneficial impact to individuals and communities is central to the DNA of the university.”
The report was officially launched in DCU's Glasnevin campus on Tuesday, March 3rd, by Irish Times Education Editor Carl O'Brien, and Dr Claire O'Connell, science writer and journalist who authored the report.
The report focuses on ten themes in total, including: 1) health & wellbeing, 2) fairer, safer, more inclusive societies, 3) quality education for all, 4) making a difference, 5) climate action, 6) safe water for all, 7) smarter futures, 8) student impact, 9) arts and culture in the community and 10) societal impact through research.
Health and Wellbeing: DCU research is ensuring we adopt healthier lives and promote well-being for all ages. It has also played an important role in areas including cancer, dermatitis, sepsis, blindness, physical literacy and mental health. This can be seen in projects such as: DCU’s Moving Well-Being Well physical literacy project, in which 1,500 school children have taken part to date; SepTec, speeding up diagnosis to save patients with sepsis; or DCU’s Dementia Elevator Programme, through which 15,000 workers and caregivers have been trained in dementia awareness.
Fairer, Safer, More Inclusive societies: The DCU community is enabling more diverse, inclusive and representative workplaces and organisations, and strengthening the fairness and safety of societies. An example of this is the launch of the DCU Centre for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion – the first of its kind – which is driving change in workplace diversity.
Quality Education for All: DCU is ensuring that more people can access and benefit from high-quality education and training. Its Access Programme, which was the first Higher Education Access programme to be established in Ireland, enables students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to study at DCU and from in the 2018–2019 academic year, the university supported 1,261 students in total.
The number of universities in the global Age Friendly University Network grew to 56 in total, an initiative which was led and founded by DCU in 2012 to promote the concept of universities being agents of healthy and active ageing in their regions.
Smarter Futures: DCU is supporting people with ideas and passion to change our futures. A total of five companies spun out of DCU in the 2018 – 2019 period alone. There was an increase of 300 digital economy jobs at the DCU Alpha Innovation campus and 15% of venture capital in Ireland was raised by companies at DCU Alpha.
To view the full report, visit DCU’s Annual Impact Report 2018-2019, Making a Difference