2023–28
FOUNDATION
Strategy sets the ambition.
Transformation for an Unscripted Future commits DCU to a culture that is student-focussed, open, inclusive, collegial, collaborative and ambitious.
DCU People
Living Our Values
Values in Action
Turning DCU's values into everyday practice.
DCU's strategy commits us to being student-focussed, open, inclusive, collegial, collaborative and ambitious. Living Our Values is how we turn those words into a shared, practical understanding of how they show up in daily work, and how they'll be recognised, led and reinforced.
Purpose
A behavioural framework grounded in how we work.
Values statements alone don't shape culture unless they're translated into clear, shared expectations about behaviour. Living Our Values is the project that does that translation, producing the DCU Values Behavioural Framework: a concise set of practical, observable behaviours staff and leaders can actually apply.
It's one of the central commitments within Values in Action, a pillar of the new Our DCU employee engagement plan focused on making sure DCU's values are not just an aspiration, but are understood, demonstrated and embedded in everyday decisions.
Background
The 2025 Employee Engagement Survey found a gap.
Staff report real pride in DCU and a strong sense of connection to their teams and the university's mission. But the survey also surfaced a clear gap between what's expected and what's experienced day to day, and that gap varies noticeably across units and roles.
Collaboration and openness came through as the areas staff most want to see improve. That's the specific problem Living Our Values is designed to address.
Timeline
2025
EVIDENCE
Employee Engagement Survey
Strong pride and connection, but a clear gap between communicated expectations and lived experience, particularly around collaboration and openness.
2025
FRAMEWORK
Values in Action
Living Our Values is established as a central commitment within this pillar of the new Our DCU framework.
Sept - Dec 2026
ENGAGEMENT
World Café sessions across campus
Five events across Glasnevin, All Hallows and St Patrick's, plus dedicated sessions on leadership perspectives, gather staff views on what the values look like in practice.
Next
SYNTHESIS
A Behavioural Framework is drafted and approved
Insights from staff sessions and the Employee Engagement Survey are brought together into a draft DCU Values Behavioural Framework.
Ongoing
EMBEDDING
Built into how DCU already works
Rather than a standalone document, the framework is incorporated into leadership development, PRD conversations, recognition and team practice.
2027
IMPACT
Progress checked against the next survey
Success is measured against the next Employee Engagement Survey, with a goal of moving agreement that “people in DCU live the values of DCU” from 50% to 60%."
Embedding
Embedded, not standalone
01
Leadership development
Underpins DCU's Leadership Framework and the new Leadership Academy.
02
Staff development
Gives PRD conversations shared language for discussing behaviour and setting goals.
03
Recognition & reward
Informs criteria for the DCU President's Awards and everyday team recognition.
04
Team practices
Shapes everyday collaboration, communication and decisions across units.
05
EDI, Dignity & Respect
Reinforces existing work on equality, dignity & respect, and psychological safety.
06
Communications
Highlights real examples of values in action across the University over time.
Questions
Get in touch
Get in touch
For questions about the project or how to get involved, contact the EDI & Culture team at rachel.power@dcu.ie.
Want to take part in a session?
Staff World Café sessions are running now across Glasnevin, All Hallows and St Patrick's.