TU Dublin Leads the Way in Active Travel, Awarded Gold Smarter Travel Mark

Published: Thursday 16 April 2026 - 15:00

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) has been awarded the Smarter Travel Mark at Gold level, the highest level of recognition under the national programme led by the National Transport Authority (NTA). The award recognises the University’s commitment to promoting sustainable travel and encouraging greater use of walking, cycling and public transport among students, staff and visitors.

Achieving the Smarter Travel Mark Gold level acknowledges TU Dublin’s leadership in implementing measures that facilitate and support sustainable transport choices across its five campus locations. The award highlights the University’s work to change travel behaviour through initiatives that make environmentally friendly commuting options more accessible and attractive for its community.

With approximately 28,000 students and 3,500 staff across its campuses, TU Dublin is one of the largest journey-generating higher education institutions in the Dublin region. Through its participation in the Smarter Travel programme, the University is helping to influence the daily travel choices of more than 30,000 people, contributing to a healthier, safer and more liveable city.

Transport currently accounts for 21% of Ireland’s greenhouse gas emissions, making it the second largest contributor after agriculture. TU Dublin’s Smarter Travel initiatives aim to address this challenge by encouraging active and public transport options while reducing single-occupancy car use.

Speaking at an event to celebrate the University’s achievement on the University’s Grangegorman Campus, Dr Deirdre Lillis, President of TU Dublin, said:

“We are incredibly proud to have achieved the highest level of the Smarter Travel Mark at Gold level. This recognition reflects TU Dublin’s strong and ongoing commitment to building a more sustainable, accessible and environmentally responsible university. Across all five of our campuses, we are continuing to invest in initiatives that make sustainable travel the easier choice for our students, staff and visitors”

“Recent geopolitical developments, including the conflict in the Middle East and disruption to key maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, demonstrate just how vulnerable global economies remain due to our continued dependence on fossil fuels. Even the perceived risk of disruption to oil and gas flows can trigger price shocks, supply uncertainty and wider economic consequences. These events highlight the urgency of accelerating the transition to sustainable transport and energy systems.”

“Universities have an important role to play in leading this transition. By encouraging active travel, public transport, and low-carbon mobility, TU Dublin is helping to reduce emissions while also strengthening resilience to the energy shocks the world is currently experiencing. This Gold award is both an achievement and a motivation, and we look forward to expanding our efforts to support active, low-carbon travel for our university community.”

Jennifer Boyer, Vice President for Sustainability at TU Dublin, added:

“This Gold Smarter Travel Mark recognises the collective effort across the TU Dublin community to make sustainable travel a practical and attractive option for everyday journeys. Through improved cycling facilities, better connections to public transport and strong engagement with students and staff, we are working to make active and low-carbon travel the normal way to get to and between our campuses.

Reducing transport emissions is essential if we are to meet Ireland’s climate targets, but it also brings immediate benefits for health, well-being and the quality of our urban environment. Initiatives like the Smarter Travel programme demonstrate how universities can act as living laboratories for sustainable mobility, helping to shape travel habits that extend far beyond the campus.”

In February 2025, TU Dublin became the first multi-campus higher education institution in Ireland to make a single application for the Smarter Travel Mark and be recognised with a whole-of-university award.

The University’s work in sustainable transport is supported by a broad network of students, researchers and staff across faculties, research hubs, the Students’ Union, clubs and societies, professional services teams, the Green Campus Committee and the University Sustainability Council.

TU Dublin has also achieved significant success in the NTA's Smarter Travel Student Awards, winning a first-place award in each of the last three years, reflecting the University’s strong practice-based approach to sustainability, mobility innovation and behavioural change.

 

The University now joins a small group of Irish universities to receive the Gold Smarter Travel Mark, recognising outstanding measures that support sustainable and active commuting.