DCU Leadership Academy

The DCU Leadership Academy is all about bringing leaders together from every part of the University, creating a stronger, more connected leadership community.

The Leadership Academy

Key Information

The DCU Leadership Academy offers a series of programmes designed to support and develop leadership at all levels across the University.

We are delighted to announce the launch of the first two programmes:
Leading with Impact – designed for Heads of School, Heads of Unit, and Directors.
Leading in Action – designed for our line manager community at P6–P7 level.

To participate, you must currently be in role as a HoS, HoU, Director, or Line Manager for the respective programme.

Looking ahead, we are excited to introduce our Emerging Leaders Programme in Spring 2026, which will be tailored for the future leaders of DCU.

Each programme is made up of carefully designed modules. While they are tailored to the different levels of leadership, they are underpinned by consistent core themes.

These programmes will run from November 2025 – April 2026.

What we will cover:

Each programme is tailored to its audience but underpinned by consistent modules that reflect DCU’s leadership vision and mission.

Leading with Purpose
Exploring why we lead and how we lead:
-Expectations, roles, and responsibilities of leaders at DCU.
-Connecting leadership to the University’s mission and strategy.

Operational Excellence
Building the foundations for effective delivery:
-Budgets, recruitment, and key University policies.
-Practical guidance on DCU systems and processes.
-Panel discussion with experts from the DCU People Team.

Leading Self and Leading Others
Developing self-awareness and team leadership:
-Discovery Insights Personality Styles and emotional intelligence.
-Building trust and high-performing teams.
-Supporting team development through inclusive leadership practices.

Coaching Masterclass
An interactive session with DCU’s in-house coach, Jo Cawley, covering:
-Fundamentals of a coaching approach to leadership.
-Practical techniques for embedding coaching in everyday management.
-Creating a coaching culture to empower teams.

Leading Strategically & Sustainable Leadership
Equipping leaders to think and act for the future:
-Strategic thinking and decision-making.
-Effective stakeholder engagement and communication.
-Navigating change and driving sustainable leadership practices.

Programme Structure & Dates

	Module 1 Leading with Purpose	Module 2 Operational Excellence	Module 3 Leading Self	Module 4 Coaching Masterclass	Module 5 Leading Others	Module 6 Leading Strategically	Module 7 Sustainable Leadership
Leading with Impact [HoS, HoU and Director]	Tuesday Nov 18th 2025* 9.30-4	Tuesday Nov 18th 2025* 9.30-4	Tuesday Dec 9th 2025 9.30-4	Tuesday Jan 13th 2026 9.30-4	Thursday Feb 12th 2026 9.30-4	Thursday Mar 12th 2026 9.30-4	Tuesday Apr14th 2026 9.30-4

	Module 1 Leading with Purpose	Module 2 Operational Excellence	Module 3 Leading Self	Module 4 Coaching Masterclass	Module 5 Leading Others	Module 6 Leading Strategically	Module 7 Sustainable Leadership
Leading in Action [P6, P7 in role]	Thursday Nov 20th 2025* 9.30-4	Thursday Nov 20th 2025* 9.30-4	Thursday Dec 11th 2025 9.30-4	Tuesday Jan 20th 2026 9.30-4	Tuesday Feb 17th 2026 9.30-4	Tuesday Mar 24th 2026 9.30-4	Thursday Apr 16th 2026 9.30-4

*Modules 1 & 2 will run on the same day.

How to Apply

To apply for the Leading for Impact (for Heads of Schools, Heads of Units, and Directors), complete the relevant application form.

To apply for Leading in Action (P6, P7 in role), complete the relevant application form.

Deadline

The Deadline for submission of the application for this programme is October 10th 2025 at 5pm.

Eligibility

These programmes are reserved for DCU Staff. Please note, each programme is capped at 25 participants. Preference will be given to those currently in role, and we encourage early registration to avoid disappointment. Final allocation will be managed by DCU People to ensure fairness and alignment with development goals.

Costs

A fee of 250 euro is charged to your school, research centre or unit.