HEA Rewards DCU for Impact Achieved through DCU Anti-Bullying Centre

DCU has been awarded €1 million in Performance Funding 2024 for its work in establishing the globally recognised DCU Anti-Bullying Centre (ABC), whose research has contributed to national policy, while its government endorsed FUSE Anti-Bullying & Online Safety programme has been rolled out across schools nationwide. 

Located within DCU’s Institute of Education (IOE), ABC was first established over 12 years ago, and following substantial development and adaptation, it achieved designation as a DCU Research Centre in 2016. The purpose of ABC is to transform the lives of people and global societies through promoting positive social relationships in offline and online environments. The objectives of the Centre align with DCU’s mission to ‘transform lives and societies.’

From 2018 to 2022, the Centre published 192 Scopus ranked publications. In 2024, there were 41 doctoral candidates being supervised by Centre members who are based in all of the university's faculties. 

An example of the impactful work that DCU achieved through ABC is its innovative FUSE programme. ABC developed FUSE  Ireland’s only research-based anti-bullying and online safety programme for primary and post-primary schools. Launched in 2019, FUSE consists of a suite of lessons and accompanying resources facilitated by primary and post-primary teachers in a classroom setting. FUSE builds capacity among students to understand their own behaviour, be able to recognise bullying and online safety risks, and be confident in how to report and seek support when they need it.

Supported by Government and other entities, FUSE has been funded with grants totalling €1.75 million over 5 years since 2019. The programme is available across Ireland and free to all schools. ABC has developed partnerships with a significant number of schools who are participating in the Centre’s research related to the FUSE programme. FUSE is now referenced in the new programme for Government and also in the Cineáltas Action Plan on Bullying, which was launched in 2022.

The HEA award also referenced ABCs Observatory on Cyberbullying, Cyberhate and Cyber Harassment (Funded by the Department of Justive), the Centre's policy work, and its international collaboration and engagement. 

More information on the award and ABC available here.