TU Dublin’s University Education Model (UEM) is a whole-of-institution approach that places practical, applied, and inclusive learning at the heart of the university experience. Developed through a process of co-design with staff, learners, and partners, the UEM provides a shared foundation for how we teach, support, and assess across diverse disciplines and campuses.
Structured around three core components, Learner Support, Learner Choice, and Learner Experience, and underpinned by seven cross-cutting Fundamentals, the UEM champions active, hands-on, and authentic learning as central to programme design. This includes a strong emphasis on practice-based assessment, real-world engagement, and interdisciplinary opportunities that prepare learners for a rapidly changing world.
The recently developed Framework of Learning Experiences brings the UEM to life by highlighting three core curriculum design threads: authentic, inclusive, and digital. These are supported by a suite of open-access tools, curriculum mapping cards, graduate attribute guides, and self-assessment dashboards, which are now being used across TU Dublin to support programme approval, validation, and review.
More than a framework, the UEM is shaping a “university way of being” one that prioritises relevance, flexibility, and impact. It reflects TU Dublin’s mission to create practice-based, learner-centred experiences that equip graduates to thrive personally, professionally, and as engaged global citizens.
To access the UEM resources or learn more, visit:
https://arrow.tudublin.ie/totalarcrepg/12/
Submitted by: Dr Barry Ryan, Dr Fionnuala Darby and Shaun Ferns, University Education Model Team, TU Dublin
