Public Access to DCU Library Collections

In 2023 QuID funding helped acquire high-quality LED-lit display cabinets, enabling the Library to extend a DCU-wide programme of exhibitions and displays to the Cregan Library. We already have curated three major exhibitions in the O'Reilly Library, including currently 'Charles J. Haughey: Politics in a changing Ireland'.

The cabinets were received in August, just in time for our visually exciting 'Children's Books Ireland Collection' exhibition launched in September, which will be on display in the Cregan Library foyer until Easter. The exhibition celebrates DCU's ongoing partnership with Children's Books Ireland and features winners of the CBI annual awards, showcasing the breadth of themes, publishers, and age ranges in Irish children’s literature. This exhibition is a snapshot of the growing collection of almost 4,000 English and Irish titles available for consultation in DCU Special Collections & Archives in the O'Reilly Library. 

The Library looks forward to using the new cabinets to bring an even greater variety of book and archival collections to the attention of the students, staff and members of the public who visit the Cregan Library.

Virtual Reality and User Innovation

Prof. Vlad Glaveanu and Patrick Boylan from the School of Psychology obtained QUID Funding in 2023 to acquire VR headsets for a series of workshops with young people from secondary schools in north Dublin. The theme of these workshops is user innovation in the use of technology within the classroom. 

This project starts from the basic premise that we should involve students in imagining what technologies - like those that make virtual and immersive realities accessible - can offer teachers and learners alike. Young people are often more engaged with such technologies than their teachers are and this experience can be leveraged to find new and creative ways of enhancing education with the help of VR. 

In addition, empowering students to become agents in their own education is likely to positively impact their (technology-enhanced) learning and creativity. Some of the ideas coming out of these workshops will form the basis for a seminar on the real impact of virtual worlds in education, to be co-organised in 2024 by the School of Psychology at DCU and the Centre for the Science of Learning and Technology at the University of Bergen. 

Your Collection, Your Choice Project

Over a period of 10 weeks in 2023, 13 DCU staff from across the University were engaged in a collaborative programme, to acquire new artwork for the DCU Art Collection. The participants were provided with acquisition knowledge and curatorial tools to facilitate an informed choice of new work by artist Deirdre Frost.

Funded by DCU's QuID initiative, facilitator and artist Helen Barry was engaged to assist with the project and to introduce the group to artworks in the collection through Visual Thinking Strategies, a facilitation method used to create inclusive conversations, build confidence and support critical thinking. Helen oversaw the planning and coordination of the project and assisted the group with the development of a list of artists for the selection process. 

"The Art facilitator was an excellent choice to lead us through the project, I felt empowered to discuss openly and contribute to the project"

"Meeting and working with a cross-section of colleagues across the University further added to the richness of the project, I would participate again in a heartbeat"

The artwork entitled Spreag by Deirdre Frost was installed in DCU's main reception, on Glasnevin campus in September 2023. Further information on the project can be viewed here.

All Hallows Community Garden

After obtaining QuID funding in January, the All Hallows Community Garden was established and has since flourished into a vibrant hub of fresh produce and rich biodiversity.

Consisting of a polytunnel and numerous raised beds, the Community Garden has already seen 32 varieties of vegetables and plants grown on-site using the most sustainable and organic methods.

The Community Garden’s success is largely owed to the collaborative efforts of several departments and personnel at DCU and is maintained by Paddy Browne (Estates) and members of the Community Employment (CE) scheme. The initiative has allowed various external community members, including school groups, to come to the garden and learn the benefits of horticulture.

With the Community Garden’s first spring and summer seasons of growing now under its belt, plans to further engage with both the internal and external DCU communities are progressing - with hopes to further educate, inspire and encourage the ways of GIY (Grow It Yourself).

Developing and Assessing Critical Approaches to Generative AI in Media, Communications, and Journalism

The AIMCJ project was initiated as a proactive response to the growing influence of Generative AI in higher education, particularly within the fields of media, communications, and journalism (MCJ) at DCU School of Communications. 

The project aims to provide a framework for similar initiatives in other departments, addressing several key areas: (a) increasing staff knowledge and confidence in AI use, which was initially lower than anticipated; (b) testing relevant GenAI tools and integrating broader AI services into teaching; (c) developing expertise in the legal and data-handling implications of using these tools in educational and production settings; (d) creating an AI citation policy; (e) establishing an AI integration policy for the school; and (f) fostering external engagement with the MCJ industry to inform module content.

The project commenced in 2024 with efforts to gather insights on AI usage among school staff and outreach to alumni in key MCJ sectors. A legal advisor specialising in data protection was consulted to review a selection of tools, with plans to extend this review to the most relevant tools for the discipline. 

Promoting and Supporting the Wellbeing of Students

The PAWS (Promoting and Supporting the Wellbeing of Students) Project at DCU, led by Dr. Anna Donnla O'Hagan and Dr. Hannah Goss, successfully brought therapy dogs from Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind to campus to help alleviate exam stress. Funded by the DCU Quality Improvement and Development (QuID) Fund, the initiative wrapped up on April 30th, 2022.

Feedback from approximately 300 participants, including both students and staff, highlighted the project's positive impact. Many reported reduced stress and improved well-being after spending short periods with the dogs during this traditionally high-pressure time.

As part of the research, participants completed assessments measuring anxiety, mood, and perceived stress before and after their interactions with the therapy dogs. The findings showed significant reductions in stress and anxiety and noticeable mood improvements.