Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

The School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship is committed to creating an inclusive academic community where students and staff can learn, teach, research and work with dignity and respect.

As Ireland’s only dedicated School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, we recognise our responsibility to shape future leaders who understand equity not only as a value, but as a professional and societal imperative.

Our EDI approach is embedded across:

• Curriculum design.
• Teaching and assessment.
• Research activity.
• Student support and access pathways.
• School culture and governance.

Across our three campuses, we serve a diverse student community. Our responsibility is not only to reflect that diversity, but to ensure that it is supported, visible and meaningfully represented in academic and professional preparation.

Inclusive Teaching and Learning

Inclusive practice informs programme design and delivery across NFQ Levels 6–10. Rather than being treated as an add-on, inclusive design shapes how teaching, learning and assessment are structured within our programmes.

Our approach includes:

• Adoption of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to support varied modes of participation and engagement.
• Inclusive assessment design, including diverse assessment formats and alternative ways for students to demonstrate learning.
• Industry briefs, collaborative projects and digital engagement tools that enable equitable contribution from students with different strengths and learning styles.
• Integration of global, intercultural and societal perspectives within marketing and entrepreneurship curricula, including themes such as sustainability, ethics, culture and social responsibility.
• Structured personal and professional development modules that support students’ academic and career progression.
• Responsible integration of AI in teaching and assessment, ensuring that emerging technologies are used ethically and inclusively.

Staff development underpins this work. Ongoing professional development in inclusive pedagogy and EDI-responsive teaching is a priority within the School.

Through these practices, we aim to ensure that graduates leave the School not only with strong professional skills, but also with the awareness and critical understanding required to operate responsibly in diverse and global environments.

Access, Participation and Retention

In line with TU Dublin’s commitment to widening participation, the School actively supports diverse student pathways into and through higher education.

Our approach includes:

• Engagement with HEAR, DARE and Access programmes to support equitable entry into higher education.
• Outreach to DEIS schools, including initiatives such as the Climate Entrepreneurship Camp, pre-college workshops and progression activities
• Support for students from underrepresented backgrounds, including initiatives such as the Breakthrough Scholarship, which provides tuition, accommodation and paid placement opportunities
• Flexible progression pathways, including advanced entry routes and part-time study options
• Collaboration with the University’s Disability Office to ensure appropriate academic supports and reasonable accommodations

Student experience and progression are monitored through feedback mechanisms including focus groups, Programme Committees and analysis of the Irish Survey of Student Experience (ISSE).

We recognise that retention is both an academic and an equity issue. Targeted retention strategies are therefore embedded within the School’s Action Plan, particularly across multi-campus programmes where patterns of attrition require additional attention.

Through these initiatives, the School contributes to TU Dublin’s broader commitment to equity of access, participation and student success.

Research and Inclusion

Equity and inclusion are central to the School’s research agenda. Our work contributes to national and international conversations about inclusive economic participation, responsible marketing and socially conscious enterprise.

The School has developed a recognised profile in research addressing themes such as minority entrepreneurship, disability empowerment, LGBTQ+ representation and socially responsible marketing practice.

The establishment of the Centre for Entrepreneurial Behaviour, Inclusion and Innovation (CEBII) reflects the School’s sustained leadership in research on inclusive entrepreneurship and enterprise ecosystems.

Through CEBII and wider School research activity, scholarship explores topics including:

• Gender and entrepreneurship.
• Minority and migrant entrepreneurship.
• Inclusive innovation ecosystems.
• Structural inequalities within business environments.
• Intersectional and lived-experience perspectives on enterprise and work.

Industry partnerships further extend this work beyond academia, supporting dialogue around inclusive communication, ethical marketing and responsible entrepreneurship.

Governance, Culture and Accountability

We work closely with TU Dublin’s institutional EDI framework and policies, including:

• TU Dublin Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy.
• Athena Swan Action Plan.
• Race Equity Action Plan.
• Ending Sexual Violence & Harassment initiatives.
• Gender Identity and Gender Expression Policy.

EDI considerations are integrated into programme reviews and quality enhancement processes.

We aim to foster a psychologically safe environment grounded in:

• Respect.
• Collegiality.
• Transparency.
• Recognition of diverse contributions.

This aligns with TU Dublin’s broader institutional Equality Statement 2023-2028 and Strategic Intent 2030.

Our Ongoing Commitment

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is not treated as a compliance exercise.It is integral to how we educate marketers, digital innovators, entrepreneurs and researchers — professionals who will shape markets, organisations and societies.

We are committed to continuous review, transparent reporting, and meaningful action to ensure our School remains inclusive, equitable and forward-looking.