

DCU and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
What are the SDGs?
In an ambitious effort to end poverty, protect the planet, and promote peace and prosperity, the United Nations adopted its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015.
The 17 goals are integrated and interconnected. Poverty, discrimination and exclusion cannot be tackled without improving global health, education and economic growth. And all of these goals must be addressed in the context of climate change and the urgent need to protect our planet’s natural environments and ecosystems.
Achieving social, economic and environmental sustainability will require global cooperation and determination. At DCU, we always strive to ensure we work, study and live in ways that account for the SDGs.
DCU ranks highly in work towards the SDGs
Our efforts have been recognised by the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022, which assess universities around the world according to their work toward the SDGs.
- 88th overall out of 1,438 institutions
- In top 100 for seven specific goals
- 8th place for Reduced Inequalities
- 20th for Gender Equality
- 26th for No Poverty.
Our work has also been encouraged by generous supporters who, during the 2020-21 academic year, pledged over €6.15 million toward projects that will support sustainable development.
Discover some of the ways DCU continually acts on our commitment to the SDGs below

No Poverty
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
DCU takes a comprehensive approach to widening participation in higher education, led the way as Ireland’s first University of Sanctuary and holds a long-standing commitment to eradicating poverty through community engagement.

Zero Hunger
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
DCU participates in Food for Health Ireland, a multidisciplinary research centre that addresses some of today's most pressing global health issues through innovation in food

Health and Wellbeing
Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages
DCU takes a whole-campus approach to health and wellbeing through the DCU Healthy initiative, and our Health Technologies and the Healthy and Ageing Society priority area integrates biomedical research with technology and social sciences for innovative solutions to health problems

Quality Education
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
DCU is committed to the widest possible access to higher education through DCU in the Community and as a Age-Friendly University, while the DCU Educational Disadvantage Centre works to break the cycle of socio-economic and educational exclusion

Gender Equality
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
DCU takes pride in our ongoing progress in addressing gender inequality in senior academic positions, our Women in Leadership initiatives, and the impact of our research in the area of gender equality.

Clean Water & Sanitation
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
The DCU Water Institute tackles national, international and global water resource problems through research, education and innovation, providing informed leadership decisions for sustainable action.

Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
DCU maintains strong links to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), including as a member of the Better Energy Communities Network. Learn more about being energy-smart at DCU

Decent Work & Economic Growth
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
The DCU National Centre for Family Business translates leading Irish and International research into best practice for the present and future generations of Irish family businesses.

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
As the home of the National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, and an academic partner of the Irish Photonic Integration Centre, DCU is at the leading edge of research into sustainable and renewable energy

Reduce Inequalities
Reduce inequality within and among countries
DCU’s leadership in reducing inequality is reflected in the diversity of our student body, our pioneering work as the world’s first autism-friendly university and the establishment of the DCU Centre of Excellence for Diversity and Inclusion

Sustainable Cities and Communities
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
The DCU Entwine Centre’s mission is to provide a networked platform with a global reach to make possible an energy-efficient Internet of Things at the scale required by a smart city.

Responsible Consumption and Production
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
DCU was the first Irish university to feature a plastic-free initiative in its sustainability plans, and our procurement policies take care to consider the sustainability of our consumption

Climate Action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
DCU’s MSc in Climate Change: Policy, Media and Society provides leaders with an understanding of the climate regulatory landscape and the wider environment in which change must be achieved.

UN SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
DCU’s cross-faculty initiative of research and education on water, the DCU Water Institute, holds the promotion of healthy aquatic ecosystems as one of its central goals

Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
The DCU Biodiversity Plan will outline DCU's embedding of biodiversity protection into decision-making across all sectors of the University

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
The DCU Institute for International Conflict Resolution and Reconstruction provides analysis, research and expertise on conflict and peacebuilding around the world

Partnerships for the Goals
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
DCU collaborates with all our stakeholders and partners working to transform lives and society for a better, fairer and more sustainable world. DCU coordinates RCE Dublin, a United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development.