TU Dublin Highlights Community Engaged Research at DFHERIS National Conference
Dr Catherine Bates, from TU Dublin's Research Engagement and Impact Office, was invited to present at the inaugural Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) conference, Strengthening the Impact of Research and Data on Policy Development, held on 25th June 2026.
Drawing on almost 20 years of research and practice, Dr Bates presented TU Dublin's work on supporting Community Engaged Research (CER) in higher education as a model for knowledge exchange and co-creation. Her presentation addressed one of the four conference themes, 'To Promote the Pursuit of Knowledge as a Public Good', which match the Department's four strategic priorities.
Community Engaged Research is a collaborative approach in which research is designed and conducted with those most affected by, and interested in, societal issues. Often emerging from questions and priorities identified by communities themselves, CER strengthens partnerships between universities and community organisations, improving the quality, relevance and impact of research.
Beyond generating new knowledge, CER supports lifelong learning, builds capacity within charities, social enterprises and community organisations, and creates valuable learning opportunities for university staff and students. It also contributes to stronger communities by helping address local challenges while supporting progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals. When embedded within academic programmes, Community Engaged Research enhances student learning by developing critical thinking, transferable skills and the capacity to collaborate across sectors, while increasing awareness of complex societal issues.
Since 2008, TU Dublin has developed and evaluated a wide range of supports for Community Engaged Research through four funded European collaborations. These initiatives have strengthened CER both within the curriculum and as a distinctive approach to research, through international partnerships beyond the university.
In 2024, several of these supports were independently evaluated as part of the international Responsive and Responsible University research project, coordinated by the Magna Charta Observatory. More recently, the TOGETHERNESS project has enabled TU Dublin to develop new digital badges and a 5 ECTS postgraduate micro-credential in Community Engaged Research, further strengthening opportunities for researchers, students and community partners to build expertise in collaborative research.
For more information, contact Dr Catherine Bates at catherine.bates@tudublin.ie or visit:
TU Dublin's Research Engagement Resources webpage.
Photo caption: Dr Catherine Bates (TU Dublin), Dr Zeta Dooly (SETU) and Dr Chris May (HEA), who presented on the conference theme, 'Knowledge as a Public Good.'