The Center for Research on Student-Learning and Teaching (CReST) is a newly established research cluster within DCU. Its objective is to provide a cohesive framework for high quality, innovative research on student learning and teaching.
Members of the research center have worked on a variety of research projects that include: students' approaches to learning; students’ motives and expectations; prior learning experiences; conceptions of learning; understanding academic success, occupational reality shock; professional accounting education and students' career decisions.
To date, most completed projects have focused on accounting and business students; however, work with other faculties within the university is underway. In addition, collaborative projects are on-going with the Sheffield Hallam University and Loughborough University in the UK, University of Seville in Spain and with the University of Otago in New Zealand. The activities of the center help to operationalise the university's strategic commitment to enhance and strengthen its pedagogical research and its goal to create 'a distinctive DCU student learning experience'.