DCU People
Professional Awards - Impact on Students
Impact on Students (Individual Award)
An individual staff member or team who reinforces DCU’s Transformative Student Experience. Promoting tangible improvements in access, innovation, student support, wellbeing, belonging or service quality.
Key Behaviours: Responsiveness, innovation in student support, measurable impact, student-centred decision making.
Eligibility & Nominations
- Who is Eligible? All currently employed staff members within the DCU Community.
- How to Nominate: Nominations must be made by a member of DCU staff using the official nomination form.
- Please Note: Self-nominations (by individuals or teams) are not accepted.
How to Write a Strong Nomination
To ensure a nomination is successful, it must go beyond general praise. Use the following Five Pillars to structure your evidence:
| Pillar | What to Include |
|---|---|
| The Action | Describe the specific initiative, change or contribution. |
| The Behaviour | How did they demonstrate DCU values (e.g., ambition, inclusion or student focus)? |
| The Impact | Why is this meaningful to colleagues, students or the wider community? |
| The Evidence | Provide qualitative or quantitative results (feedback, metrics or outcomes). |
| The Distinction | What makes this contribution exceptional, unique or sustainable? |
Core Requirements
Every nomination should clearly demonstrate:
- Strategic Alignment: How the contribution supports the DCU Strategy.
- Value & Impact: How DCU Values are shown through behaviours and how they impact colleagues, students and community.
- Sustainability: The scope of the impact relative to the resources available.