About the DCU Engage Student Award

All students are automatically registered for the DCU Engage Award. Visit My DCU to find out more.

The prestigious DCU Engage Student Award provides our students with a recognised pathway for developing skills for university and career success.

The Bronze Award encourages incoming students to develop the key skills required for a successful transition to university. These skills have been updated to reflect the particular needs of our students this year and include digital learning, resilience, goal-setting, connecting and belonging, motivation and well-being.

The Bronze Award consists of 3 stages which, when combined, will give you the academic and life skills to kick-start your university journey. 

Students who complete these 3 stages will each receive the Bronze Engage award, as recognition of their efforts in developing these key transition skills.

Students should ideally do this in First Semester of First year but can do it at any point during the academic year in First Year.

Overview of the Silver Award:

The DCU Silver Engage Student Award, aimed at second year, third year and postgraduate students (not final years), encourages the development of practical career-planning skills, in addition to the 21st century skills valued by employers, such as communication, critical thinking and leadership. 

The Silver Award consists of 3 core elements – the Career Interest Inventory Assessment, the Career and Workplace Skills Series and a short assignment which will aid  you in reflecting on your experience and setting goals. - which combined will give you the edge when it comes to finding and landing the perfect job for you.

Students who complete these 3 core elements will each receive the Silver Engage award, as recognition of their efforts in developing these key career areas.

See your guide to completing the award below.

Step by Step Guide to Completing the DCU Engage Silver Student Award

• Register for the award by emailing engageaward@dcu.ie
   
• Complete the Career Interest Inventory Assessment. You will need to log in to the Profiling for Success website to access this assessment. 

• Complete the online Career and Workplace Skills Series. Participants who attend 2 skills sessions  will receive a certificate of completion.   

          OR

• Complete the DCU Access to the Workplace Programme (Open to Access students only). 

• Complete the reflective assignment. 
• Submit your assignment on Loop for grading before May 1st 2023. You may submit your assignment whenever it is fully complete.

The final level of your award is the Uaneen Award, the gold standard in commitment to extra-curricular activity and engagement. This level is for final year students only.

Some students can take this as an integrated part of their studies, others will take it in addition to their studies – either way, it is testament to your commitment to reaching your full potential and enhancing your community.

More information about the Gold (Uaneen) award can be found here.

What is an Engage Portfolio?

As part of the DCU Engage Award, you are required to submit a portfolio via Loop, documenting your engagement with the programme. The submission deadline for this portfolio is April 2023.

There is a different portfolio template for the Bronze and Silver awards - please see a link to each template below, as well as guides for creating your portfolio at each level. 

In the case of Silver Engage Award participants, you will need to make a copy of the Silver Award portfolio template and then upload the documents required for your level (The first page of your Careers Interest Inventory Assessment report, your Career and Workplace Skills Series certificate and your completed 1000 word reflective essay template on how you developed your two chosen Graduate Attributes).

For more information on each award level see the webpage sections above.

Completed portfolios will then need to be submitted via the Engage Award homepage on Loop for final grading.

Those who have submitted all the required documents for their level will receive the award.

Please note that Engage portfolio submissions are not currently open. More information on submitting your completed portfolio will be issued to registered participants via email once submissions open.

How Do I Create My Portfolio?

To create your Engage portfolio, you will first need to make your own copy of the Engage portfolio template (Silver template), save this copy under your own name and then upload the required badges and certificates. This will form your Engage portfolio.

Please see the links to the Silver portfolio templates below, along with step by step instructions on how to create and complete your portfolio at each level.

Portfolio Template Link - Silver Engage Award:

  rebrand.ly/silverengageportfolio

See step-by-step guides to completing and submitting your Silver portfolio:

In order to achieve the Silver Engage Award, participants will need to get involved in extracurricular activities which will support them to develop two DCU Graduate Attributes of their choice.

See a list of suggested extracurricular activities to develop your chosen graduate attributes here.

Bronze Award

"Participating in the DCU Bronze Engage Award gave me the confidence and motivation to break out of my comfort zone." 

DCU Bronze Award Participant (2020)

The DCU Engage Student Award has been a great way to get involved in university as a first year. 

DCU Bronze Award Participant (2020)

Silver Award

“I found the DCU Silver Engage Award very useful in acquiring new skills that will benefit me in my future career. I took part in workshops and activities that improved my communication, writing and leadership skills. 

DCU Silver Award Participant (2020)

“Doing the Engage Award was a great way to learn new skills, improve old ones and be ready for whatever comes in front of me, being exams, careers and life.

DCU Silver Award Participant (2020)

General Award queries (all levels)

Why should I do this award?

Participating in the DCU Engage Student Award will enable you to develop valuable skills that will enhance your life and boost your future career opportunities.

Our Award is endorsed by IBEC & is recognised by Ireland’s top employers, so it will make your CV stand out from the crowd!

What will I need to do to complete the award?

See the process for completing each level of the DCU Engage Student Award above.

Who is eligible to apply?

All incoming students can register for the Bronze Award. All second and third (but not final) year students can register for the Silver Award. All final year students can register for the Gold (Uaneen) Award.

How do I register for the award?

All incoming UG students are automatically registered for the award. New PG students can register on their My DCU page. Second and third years can register here  for the Silver Award.  

For information on applying for the Gold (Uaneen) Award for final years see here.

How do I create my Engage Portfolio? What should this portfolio contain?

For more information on the Engage Award portfolio see the 'Your Engage Portfolio' section of this webpage. 

Here you will find the template link for creating your portfolio (a link for Bronze and a link for Silver), as well as step-by-step guides on creating yoir portfolio and adding content to your portfolio.

Please note that there are different portfolio templates for each level, so be sure to check that the template is the correct one for your level.

How do I submit my portfolio when it's complete?

Your completed Engage portfolio should be submitted for grading on the Engage Award homepage on Loop.

Registered participants will receive further information on the submission process via email.

Silver Award Queries 

 

What are the DCU Graduate Attributes?

See here for a list of the DCU Graduate Attributes and a description for each one.

For the Silver award, it says that I am required to get involved in extracurricular activities which will help me to develop two of the DCU Graduate Attributes. What kind of activies count for this?

To see a list of suggested extracurricular activities that will help you to develop the DCU Graduate Attributes see here. 

Where can I get more information on the Career and Workplace Skills Series?

Visit this page for more information on the Career and Workplace Skills sessions.