TOGETHERNESS

TOGETHERNESS project to strengthen University-Community research partnerships.

June 2026: call for applications for digital badges and a micro-credential in Community Engaged Research.

TU Dublin’s Research Engagement and Impact Office has developed exciting new continuing professional development opportunities, for staff, PhD students and linked community partners to develop their collaborative research practice.

Applications are now open for our new online Digital Badges and Micro-credential in Community Engaged Research (CER). Our colleagues in Université Libre de Bruxelles are also offering new Digital Badges for lecturers, in Community Engaged Research and Learning in the curriculum. You can find out more about both sets of badges and apply here.

These fully funded professional development opportunities have been developed through the TOGETHERNESS Erasmus+ project. They are designed for TU Dublin staff and PhD students who are interested in working collaboratively to address real-world challenges and contribute to meaningful societal impact, as well as for community partners already involved in collaborative research with the university.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn in an international online environment, to:

Explore community engaged research and its role in addressing societal challenges
Develop skills in collaboration, co-design, and partnership working
Connect with community organisations and international research peers
Develop research ideas responsive to societal needs and priorities

Participants can apply for individual digital badges (starting with Badge 1 and/or 2), or for a Micro-credential (5 ECTS credits at postgraduate level). Places are limited to 30 on each badge.

📅 Closing date: Monday 13 July 2026

📅 Information webinar: Tuesday 30 June, 1–2pm (Irish time)
👉 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/356800842533358?p=FKqtaB5DIfzJ710hoI

🔗 Find out more and apply:
https://togetherness-project.eu/get-involved/

About TU Dublin and TOGETHERNESS

TU Dublin's involvement in Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership: TOGETHERNESS is creating innovative professional development opportunities, educational resources, and partnership models to support collaboration between universities and community organisations, to tackle pressing societal challenges.

Universities and community organisations increasingly want to work together on research that has meaningful impact. However, challenges such as skill gaps, difficulty finding partners, and maintaining long-term collaborations often stand in the way. TOGETHERNESS aims to overcome these barriers by building skills and creating tools for collaborative research, and embedding stronger long-term connections between universities and communities.

The TOGETHERNESS project runs from 2025-2028. It is coordinated by Université Libre de Bruxelles, with partners Sciences Citoyennes, Technological University Dublin, and Università degli Studi di Sassari.

Togetherness Project Front

As Ireland’s representative in the project, TU Dublin is taking a leading role in innovative researcher and community partner development, ensuring that staff and PhD students are supported to do more transdisciplinary Community Engaged Research (CER). TU Dublin has developed short, accredited training courses related to CER, co-created with community partners where possible, which will be available as digital badges which can be combined into a 5 ECTS micro credential.

Over three years, the consortium is focusing on four main strands:

Building sustainable university-community research partnerships by embedding collaboration in universities and creating networks to generate new initiatives.

Innovative development and training for researchers and communities, through short, accredited courses, and curriculum design that integrates CER into research and learning.

Collaborative research in action, from student-led projects to larger-scale funded initiatives addressing community-identified challenges.

Scaling up and sharing across Europe by developing Open Educational Resources, case studies, FAQs, and training-for-trainers workshops.

By the end of the project, TOGETHERNESS will deliver open-access resources and examples of best practice in Community Engaged Research. The overall outcomes will include:

Greater research collaboration between universities and communities across Europe.

Stronger innovation in teaching and learning.

Increased civic participation and employability for students from PhD to undergraduate.

Universities and CSOs empowered as co-creators of positive societal change.

For more information about TU Dublin’s role in TOGETHERNESS, please contact Dr Catherine Bates, Research Engagement Lead, TU Dublin Research Engagement & Impact Office.

Our thanks to the project funder, the European Union through the AEF (Agence Francophone pour l’Education et la Formation Tout au Long de la Vie). TOGETHERNESS ‘Training and Opportunities for Growing Engagement in Teaching and Higher Education Research – a New Engine for Societal Solidarity,’ is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or AEF-Europe. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.