Dean’s Societal Impact Challenge

Dean’s Societal Impact Challenge 

Your work is already making a difference beyond the classroom. Now let’s recognise it. 

Lecturers, researchers and students: enter the work you are already doing for people, communities, organisations or the environment. There is no need to start a new project. 

Register your interest and you will also receive an invite to the online workshop on Friday 27 November. 

Register your interest: Dean’s Societal Impact Challenge – Register your interest – Fill in form 

SECTION 2 · KEY DATES AT A GLANCE 

SECTION 3 · WHY ENTER 

Why enter? 

• Get your work seen. Every eligible entry gets a profile in the Faculty’s online Impact Gallery. 

• Be recognised by the Dean. Shortlisted entries receive a certificate, a letter of recognition from the Dean and Faculty support to produce a poster for the societal impact exhibition. 

• Win a Dean’s Award. Category winners and the overall winner receive a sustainably produced trophy, a feature story about their work and support to develop submissions for other internal and external awards. 

• Help tell the Faculty’s story. Your entry adds to the evidence of the Faculty’s societal impact in PRME, impact and accreditation reporting. 

“Across the Faculty, colleagues and students are already making a real difference to communities, organisations and the environment, often without recognition. This Challenge is our chance to celebrate that work, learn from it and help it grow. Entering is simple, so I would encourage everyone to put their work forward.” 

– Etain Kidney, Dean, Faculty of Business 

Web note: Place the 30-second launch video from Etain here. 

SECTION 4 · CATEGORIES 

Three categories – find yours 

The overall Dean’s Award for Societal Impact will be selected from the category winners. 

SECTION 5 · WHAT COUNTS 

What counts as societal impact? 

Societal impact means making a positive difference beyond the classroom or the research itself. For example: 

• a community group changing how it works 

• a business adopting a student team’s recommendations 

• research helping to inform policy or practice 

You can enter module projects, research, partnerships, community engagement and extracurricular activity from the 2025/26 or 2026/27 academic years – work that is finished or still under way. 

Still early days? Enter anyway. If your project has not yet delivered its full impact, tell us the difference it is on track to make and how it will get there. 

SECTION 6 · WHO CAN ENTER 

Who can enter? 

• Lecturers, researchers and students in the Faculty of Business 

• Individuals or teams, including teams with external partners 

• You can enter your own work, or nominate someone else’s with their agreement 

SECTION 7 · HOW TO ENTER 

How to enter: three steps 

1. Register your interest now. You will receive an invite to the online workshop on Friday 27 November, and we will let you know when submissions open.
2. Complete the online form from Friday 27 November. It takes about 10–15 minutes. You will:

• answer three short questions, of about 100 words each: 

1. 1.  What did you do, and who was involved?
2. 2.  What difference did it make, or is it on track to make, and for whom?
3. 3.  How do you know?

• choose up to three relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals 

• upload or link to supporting evidence (required) – at least one item and up to three, using material you already have (see examples below) 

3. Submit by 23:59 on Friday 26 February 2027.

What counts as evidence? Every entry must include evidence of the difference your work has made, or is on track to make. Use material you already have. For example: 

• Feedback from partners or beneficiaries: a letter, email or short statement from a community group, charity, business or public body you worked with 

• Results and figures: survey results (ideally before and after), numbers of people reached or supported, volunteer hours, funds raised, or reductions in cost, waste, energy or emissions 

• Signs that something changed: a partner adopting your recommendations, a new process, policy or service, or your research cited in a policy document, guideline or industry report 

• Outputs and reports: a project report, policy brief, toolkit or resource that partners are using 

• Recognition and coverage: media coverage, an award or nomination, or a partner sharing your work on their website or social media 

• Photographs or video: with a short explanation of what they show 

Early-stage work? Evidence can show that your project is on track – for example a letter of commitment from a partner, pilot results or early feedback. 

Tip: Your evidence should back up your answer to “How do you know?” Tell us briefly what each item shows. 

SECTION 8 · JUDGING 

What the judges will look for 

The proposed criteria are: 

• societal impact and the evidence supporting it 

• collaboration 

• interdisciplinary work 

• a clear contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 

Final criteria and guidance will be published here when submissions open on 27 November. 

SECTION 9 · WORKSHOP 

Not sure where to start? Join the online workshop 

Friday 27 November 2026  ·  Online  ·  2pm – 3pm. 

This information session and application-writing workshop will help you get your entry right. We will: 

• explain the Challenge 

• discuss what counts as evidence of impact 

• work through an example entry together 

To join, simply register your interest. Everyone who registers receives an invite to the workshop. 

  Register your interest   

SECTION 10 · TIMELINE 

Timeline 

SECTION 11 · FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Frequently asked questions 

Do I need to start a new project? 

No. Enter work you have already done or that is under way. There is no need to create a new project or assessment. 

How long does it take to enter? 

The online form takes about 10–15 minutes. 

My project hasn’t finished yet. Can I still enter? 

Yes. Explain the difference it is on track to make and how it will get there. 

Can students enter without their lecturer? 

Yes. Students can enter independently and as a team. 

Can I enter with an external partner? 

Yes. Teams can include external partners. 

Can I enter someone else’s work? 

Yes, you can nominate someone else’s work with their agreement. 

Can I enter a whole class project? 

Yes. Lecturers can enter a module project as one entry for the whole class. 

Do I have to upload evidence? 

Yes. Every entry must include at least one item of supporting evidence, and you can add up to three. Examples include partner feedback, survey results, figures on people reached or resources saved, a partner adopting your recommendations, a report, media coverage, or photographs with a short explanation. Use material you already have – there is no need to create anything new. 

How do I join the online workshop? 

Register your interest and you will receive an invite to the workshop on Friday 27 November. 

Which years of work are eligible? 

Work from the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years. 

SECTION 12 · CLOSING CALL TO ACTION 

Ready to show the difference your work makes? 

Register your interest today. You will receive an invite to the online workshop on Friday 27 November, and we will let you know as soon as submissions open. 

Register your interest: Dean’s Societal Impact Challenge – Register your interest – Fill in form 

Questions? Contact Dr Ciarán O’Carroll, Chair of the Faculty of Business Sustainability Committee, at Ciaran.ocarroll@tudublin.ie