History

In June 2023, the National Institute of Digital Learning was rebranded as the National Observatory for Digital Education (NODE) and relocated to the DCU Institute of Education. 

The previous National Institute for Digital Learning (NIDL) was established at Dublin City University (DCU) in November 2013. It was officially opened by Minister for Education & Skills Ruairi Quinn TD and Lord David Putnam, Digital Ambassador for Ireland. Professor Mark Brown commenced in February 2014 as the inaugural Director and Ireland’s first chair of Digital Learning. DCU has more than 40 years of experience offering online and distance programmes and a rich history of innovation in teaching through new educational technologies. 

In August 2014, building on this history, DCU Connected was launched as a major new initiative to promote flexible and online learning options for both Irish and international students living overseas. Providing flexible pathways to university-level education for diverse and geographically dispersed learners is central to DCU's mission of transforming lives and societies. DCU Connected extends this mission beyond Ireland through a number of strategic transnational partnerships.