DCU welcomes HEA’s funding support for European University Alliances

This funding is critical to enabling Irish higher education institutions sustain input into key aspects of planning and delivering on their respective initiatives. It will also support student exchanges, researchers, and engagement.  

DCU is part of the largest European university alliance which currently includes 14 universities, and was in the first group of alliances. Partners share a focus on engaged and innovative education, research, and knowledge exchange. ECIU University (the European Consortium of Innovative Universities) is building something very new: a European-wide ecosystem connecting societal stakeholders, researchers and learners to provide flexible learning opportunities and European answers to future societal challenges. 

ECIU University is committed to developing capability across all of its institutions in Challenge Based learning, research and innovation. There is a strong focus on continuous learning and on micro-credentials as a vehicle to support an ambitious agenda in that regard. DCU has been leading on this dimension of ECIU University and, via the European Initiative, has become a key policy influencer in the micro-credentials space. 

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, commented

"This announcement signals our Government’s commitment to the ambitious vision of innovative, globally competitive and attractive European Education Area and European Research Area, in full synergy with the European Higher Education Area. 

Higher education needs to provide students, staff, and researchers with the skills to find their way in a changing labour market - where a demand for highly skilled people is rising - and to navigate the green and digital transitions. These alliances will assist our institutions in delivering these objectives while promoting gender equality, inclusiveness, and equity.”

Prof. Lisa Looney, Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Registrar at DCU, said

“There is much we can gain from the collaboration and innovation intrinsic to our European University Alliance. We welcome the Minister’s response to our call for funding support to build capacity to deliver on this potential. This funding will provide additional resources,  enabling us to focus on this agenda and achieve significant impact at a European level."