Wellbeing at DCU | Social Wellbeing
Social wellbeing
To be at our best both personally and professionally, we need positive and supportive connections and relationships with others. DCU People fosters an environment that creates opportunities for colleagues to come together to connect, network, collaborate and socialise.
Many informal and formal events are organised across the University, including those detailed here:
Our DCU Coffee Conversations
DCU Coffee Conversationsare social events organised by DCU People that take place across all three campuses during the year. These informal events facilitate opportunities for you to meet and connect with friends and colleagues that you might not ordinarily encounter during your day-to-day work. They provide an opportunity for you to share ideas on how to enrich the staff experience at DCU and hear about recent DCU People-related developments.
Summer and Winter Table Quiz League
Table Quiz leaguesare periodically organised by Learning and Organisational Development. The quizzes are held over a four-week period across all three campuses. Teams of four are invited to participate with prizes for the winners.
Warning: Things can get dangerously competitive!
Staff Networks
Our Staff Networks play a vital role in providing a safe and practical space for staff with experience of protected characteristics to connect with others with shared experiences and by ensure that the views and experiences of network members are heard and represented at a strategic level. These networks are facilitated by colleagues in EDI, please visit EDI Staff Networks for further information.
Retired Staff Lunch
The annual Retired Staff lunch not only facilitates an ongoing connection between DCU and retired colleagues, but acknowledges the contributions of our retired staff community, providing them with the opportunity to reconnect with former and current colleagues in an informal setting. Food, drinks and light entertainment are provided.
Further information for retired colleagues is available on our Pensions website.
DCU Staff Summer Social
The DCU staff summer social is organised by the President’s Office in conjunction with the University Events Team. This event celebrates the end of term and colleagues get the opportunity to relax and socialise over food, drinks, music and maybe even some sunshine!
Recognition
Being recognised and valued for what we do and how we do it can have a significant impact on our wellbeing. Positive feedback enhances our feelings of value and achievement and can increase our overall sense of happiness and life satisfaction.
There are many mechanisms across the University that contribute to this sense of wellbeing, including the following:
The Presidents Awards are run annually to recognise the contributions of staff in Research, Teaching and Learning, Engagement and for professional staff. Colleagues are invited nominate individuals / teams who have demonstrated consistent standards of excellence in their work, making an outstanding contribution to DCU.
Nominated and successful colleagues are recognised by the staff community at an all-university event.
The President's Awards for Research
The President's Awards for Engagement
PRD is a framework through which meaningful conversations and feedback about your performance, professional development and career aspirations take place.