Student Experience 2020-2021
In the Autumn of 2020, DCU welcomed students back to campus, as Covid restrictions were eased. However, Mask-wearing and other public health measures were very much a feature of the student experience for much of the year. Despite the challenges represented by the return of in-person teaching and learning, students and staff showed extraordinary resilience and commitment.
DCU advanced again in the global University rankings. Times Higher Education placed DCU in the top 200 universities in the world for subject choices in the Arts and Humanities, marking a significant rise. DCU maintained its position as Ireland’s top University for Communications and Media Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021.
The University’s Curriculum is continually evolving to reflect the needs of students and the demands of our wider society. A major new Teaching and Learning initiative, DCU Futures, received government funding of €20 million investment under Government Human Capital Initiative. As part of the proposal, DCU will work with industry partners to design programmes that future-proof graduates and enhance capacity. Meanwhile, DCU’s School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health launched a new course module on ‘Post Covid Syndrome Rehabilitation’ - the first of its kind in Ireland to examine the treatment of ‘Long Covid’. As part of its membership of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU) DCU committed to the creation of the ECIU University 2030 - a new model for Higher Education that aims to upskill and reskill the European workforce, developing creative and resilient citizens with an entrepreneurial mindset.
The student experience is about much more than academic achievement. DCU is harnessing the power of technology to promote student wellbeing and connection.
DCU launched a new initiative to better understand how first-year undergraduate students are adapting to university life. The study is called ‘First year Check-in at DCU’ and invites students to take part in a weekly short online survey. Meanwhile, FLOURISH is a new programme aimed at Year 2 students in DCU that uses data analytics to deliver personalised advice in the areas that impact everyday wellness, including sleep, nutrition and exercise.