Digital badge(s) on Community Engaged Research (CER)

Call for Applications

Digital Badge(s) and/or Micro-credential in Community Engaged Research Theories and Practice.

DO YOU WANT TO BUILD YOUR SKILLS TO COLLABORATE, CO-CREATE AND DRIVE MEANINGFUL SOCIETAL CHANGE THROUGH RESEARCH?

Community Engaged Research (CER) brings researchers and communities together to address real societal challenges, from shaping research questions collaboratively to co‑designing projects that support the Sustainable Development Goals. Community Engaged Research involves processes like co‑design and participatory research, which focus on working together, sharing decisions, and valuing different types of knowledge.

We are inviting you to apply to participate in new continuing professional development opportunities in Community Engaged Research, including up to 5 digital badge(s)/short courses, or a 5 ECTS credit postgraduate Micro-credential. Both offer the opportunity to join an international learning community committed to collaborative, ethical, and socially impactful research – including university staff, PhD students and community organisations. 

Designed for and by university staff, research students, and community partners, these digital badges will help you to rethink and enhance your research by working meaningfully with collaborative partners.

Through these digital badges, you will explore how to co‑design research that addresses societal challenges, build strong and inclusive partnerships, and develop practical skills that benefit you, your collaborators, and the wider communities you engage with. 

All badges will be facilitated to create opportunities for participants to develop new working relationships, which might potentially lead to collaboration for CER funding opportunities.

Note: At this time, interested participants can apply for digital badges 1 and/or 2, or the full Micro-credential (all 5 badges plus a final reflective assignment). Digital badges 3, 4 and 5 will be advertised at the end of 2026. 

These badges are for people based in, or working in close collaboration with, TU Dublin, ULB and UNISS, who are committed to research that is collaborative, inclusive, and impactful:

  • University staff
  • Postgraduate research students
  • Collaborating community partners (NGOs, civic society groups, public sector, enterprise)

Whether you are new to CER or already working collaboratively, these badges offer a structured space to deepen your knowledge, and enhance your skills and attitudes.

The course costs are fully covered by the TOGETHERNESS Erasmus+ project funding in 2026/7.

Where does the funding for the badges come from, and will they be fully funded next year too?

The European Union is funding the time for staff in the 4 TOGETHERNESS project partner organisations to develop and run the digital badges and micro-credentials in 2026/7 and 2027/8. So the badges will be fully funded for participants for both these years.

Digital Badge 1. Understanding Community Engaged Research (CER)

This badge will help participants understand what CER is, why it matters, and the benefits it brings to society, to research, and to the people involved, (including building skills and helping to develop their careers). This badge is a first step for participants towards getting involved in CER projects, which can be quite different from other kinds of research and collaboration. 

Through this badge, participants will develop their understanding of CER as an ongoing process of trying, learning and refining, and practice some of the essential skills for CER, such as flexibility and ongoing reflection.

At the end of this digital badge, participants will be able to: 

  • Evaluate the relevance of community engaged research, its characteristics and principles, to their own goals and work.
  • Plan their next steps in relation to community engaged research.

Digital Badge 2. Understanding ourselves and our research collaborators

This badge will help participants to learn how to build understanding, and foster respect and inclusion, which are essential for Community Engaged Research (CER). Researchers and communities collaborate closely when doing CER, starting by shaping the research question together. CER involves processes like co-design and participatory research, which focus on working together, sharing decisions, and valuing different types of knowledge. Through practical exercises and reflection, participants will explore how listening well, showing respect, and acting ethically can help create safe and fair spaces where everyone can work together effectively, and embrace change, uncertainty, and the unexpected.

At the end of this digital badge, participants will be able to: 

  • Design a group process to increase their and their partners’ understanding of each other, to implement in their own community engaged research practice.​
  • Evaluate how their own experiences, assumptions or attitudes might positively and/or negatively impact on understanding others, and on building trust.​

Micro-credential (5 ECTS credit postgraduate course)

This module will build capacity among university staff, research students and community partners to collaborate on Community Engaged Research (CER) projects to address societal challenges and Sustainable Development Goals. CER is complex, and this micro-credential will supporting upskilling and continuing professional development in this area, at postgraduate level.

The 5 main topics are:

  • Understanding Community Engaged Research
  • Understanding ourselves and our research collaborators
  • Identifying and supporting collaborative research partners
  • Collaboratively designing research
  • Communicating and sharing engaged research

At the end of this micro-credential, participants will be able to:

  • Plan their next steps in relation to collaboration on community engaged research.
  • Develop a map of potential partners to collaborate with on community engaged research (considering a diversity of sectors, disciplines, demographics, experiences, etc).
  • Develop a concrete plan to engage with one key partner through the different stages of research collaboration, as part of caring for and sustaining an inclusive collaborative team that incorporates diverse expectations, knowledge and skills, and different levels of authority and power, in their specific role and context.
  • Plan a meeting involving community and university partners (and potentially others) to support the group to identify and agree common goals and expectations, and collaboratively develop an initial research question.
  • Assemble a list and sample of relevant documentation required for a formal ethical review of a CER proposal, in their own context.
  • Assess the most effective means of communication and dialogue to achieve the desired societal impact from their community engaged research, with a range of stakeholder groups, at different stages in the research process.
  • Critically reflect on their learning experiences and to what extent these have supported them with CER.

General 

In each of the digital badges, participants will participate in 2 interactive online workshops involving group activities. They will also collaborate in two self-directed small-group meetings/triads to develop and present useful resources to support their CER work.

The group activities may range from developing action plans based on exploring case studies of real life CER projects, to applying relevant theories to their own CER plans or practices, to developing CER-related activities to try out with their peers, to developing resources for CER practitioners on different topics.

Participants will be required to individually reflect on their practice and learning on each of the 5 topics, to develop their skills as reflective practitioners.

Expected Learner Effort for each Digital Badge

20-25 hours, combining online workshops, group activities and independent learning. 

Learning Activities 

3 hours of online workshops, which will be scheduled as 2 x 1.5-hour workshops. 

2 hours of synchronous online group work, which will be scheduled as 2 x 1-hour meetings. This will result in submission of a group assignment. 

15-20 hours of independent learning, including submission of an individual reflection-based assignment. 

Supports provided to learners

3 hours of facilitated online workshops. 

3 hours of on-line drop-in support sessions. 

Prompts and instructions for group work meetings

Reading/viewing lists and key questions for independent learning

Clear briefs for individual and group assignments, including marking rubrics. 

Course schedule

  • Webinars: Tuesdays 1-2.30pm UTC (Irish time)/ 2-3.30pm CET. 
  • Small group meetings will be scheduled by group members at a time that suits everyone. 

Those who successfully complete all 5 digital badges can decide to submit an additional final reflective assignment, to trade the digital badges in for a micro-credential worth 5 ECTS credits at postgraduate level. This new ‘Micro-credential in Community Engaged Research theories and practices’ has been validated by TU Dublin.

Participants will be supported by their local TOGETHERNESS partner to identify and make connections with suitable CER partners. 

Are you planning to run the badges in person?

The badges will be facilitated online only, however, the webinars will be participatory in design, and highly interactive, with small group work in breakout rooms.

Digital badge 1 – Understanding Community Engaged Research (CER)

Participants will be required to participate in online workshops and in small-group meetings. 

You will be required to submit 2 assignments:

  • 1 individual reflective assignment where you assess the relevance of collaboration on CER to their goals and work, and outline a clear plan for their next steps in relation to CER, drawing on the TU Dublin Research Engagement Framework. 
  • 1 group work assignment where the group identifies the potential challenges to collaborating on CER in each of their different roles and contexts, and presents a plan for how these might be effectively addressed.

Digital Badge 2. Understanding ourselves and our research collaborators

Participants will be required to participate in online workshops and in small-group meetings. 

You will be required to submit 2 assignments:

  • 1 group work assignment to design a sequence of group activities to increase their and their partners’ understanding of each other, and facilitate one of these with their peer group. This assignment should include a proposal for how the activities can be adapted to each group member’s own context and practice in relation to CER.
  • 1 individual reflective assignment where they evaluate how their own assumptions or attitudes might positively and/or negatively impact on understanding others and on building trust.

Micro-credential – (following successful completion of 5 digital badges)

Participants will submit a portfolio of learning. This will include: 

  • Outputs from 5 x team tasks relating to understanding and planning for the different stages of CER, from identifying and prioritising stakeholders to building understanding and sustainable relationships with them, to creating inclusive and diverse research teams, collaboratively developing research goals and questions (including ethical review processes), and communicating and dialoguing with different stakeholders to turn the research into positive societal change. 
  • The portfolio will include a final reflection on learning across the digital badges, as well as smaller reflection exercises completed during the course of the badges. Participants will be expected to develop and include in the portfolio a set of touchstones to guide them in the future as practitioners of CER.

Digital badge participants will receive digital badges on successful completion of all badge assignments, issued by TU Dublin. 

Micro-credential participants who successfully complete all digital badges and the reflective assignments will receive 5 ECTS credits at postgraduate level, accredited by TU Dublin. 

  • Drop-in information webinar: Tuesday, 30 June 2026 (see For Further Information below for the details, and the link to join)
  • Closing date for applications: Monday 13 July 2026 (If all places are not filled there may be a second opportunity to apply before September)
  • Notification of outcome of applications: no later than 28 August 2026. 
  • Deadline to confirm acceptance of place: Friday 4 September 2026. We will operate a waiting list, and places that are not accepted will be offered to the next person on the list. 
  • Start of digital badge 1 and Micro-credential: webinar 1 on Tuesday 22 September 2026, webinar 2 on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
  • Start of digital badge 2: webinar 1 on Tuesday 10 November 2026, webinar 2 on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

  • I am interested in community engaged research (CER) as a collaborative approach to address real world challenges, to work towards solutions with partners as co-creators of research.
  • I am a university staff member or PhD student in TU Dublin, UNISS or ULB who would like to learn more about CER, to engage communities, NGOs or public bodies to co-develop research that addresses issues experienced by communities, that improves peoples lives and that contributes towards achieving the UN SDGs.
  • I am a member of a community organisation, NGO, social enterprise or public body which is already engaged with TU Dublin, UNISS, ULB, that would like to collaborate with researchers on research to address community ideas or challenges, to create positive social change.
  • I have a high level of English (written and spoken) to enable me to participate in the digital badges.
  • I am prepared to make a time commitment and actively participate in collaborative working in a Digital Badge (20-25 hours) or Micro-credential (approximately 100-125 learning hours).

Applications have closed for the autumn intake, but we will publish a new call for applications in November 2026

The TU Dublin TOGETHERNESS coordination team will first shortlist applications and then the TOGETHERNESS international coordination team will review and agree final decisions on applications. To support this process, data you provide in the application form will be made available to the TOGETHERNESS local and international coordination teams.

Evaluation Criteria (see the table below for more detail):

  • English language ability 
  • Interest and/or experience in CER
  • Potential to co-develop and collaborate on a CER project 
  • Clear personal goals for the digital badge/ micro-credential
  • Awareness of strengths and potential challenges (reflexivity)
  • Ability to commit to the work required for the digital badge(s)/micro-credential 

Not yet at level requiredAt level requiredAbove level required
Relevant experience/interest in CERNo interestQuite interestedVery interested
Potential to develop/collaborate on a CER projectNo time available, no contacts at all with potential partners, and/or retiring/leaving role/organisation within 1 year. Insufficient potential for CER.Some available time, at least one initial contact made. Not retiring/leaving organisation within 1 year. Some potential for CER.Significant time available, relationship(s) already established, and 3+ years ahead in role, with clear potential for CER
Clear personal goals for the digital badge/ micro-credentialNo clear goals, and/or clear goals not related to the digital badge/ micro-credentialClear goals, related to the digital badge/ micro-credentialVery clear goals, very closely related to the digital badge/ micro-credential
Awareness of strengths and potential challenges.Little or no articulation of strengths and potential challenges, and/or strengths and challenges given but unrelated to the digital badge/ micro-credentialClear articulation of strengths and potential challenges, related to the digital badge/ micro-credentialVery clear articulation of strengths and potential challenges, very closely related to the digital badge/ micro-credential
Ability to commit to doing the work requiredNo clear plan for how to create the time, or manage other commitmentsGeneral plan for how to create time and manage other commitmentsSpecific, achievable plan for how to create time and manage other commitments.
English language abilityNot adequate for 
the digital badge/ micro-credential		Suitable for 
the digital badge/ micro-credential
 requirements		Fluent

We are looking for a diversity of participants, to enhance your learning and support you to practice collaborating with a wide variety of people across sectors. We welcome a range of participants in different organisations and roles, with different levels of experience of Community Engaged Research, from beginner to experienced practitioner. By ‘diversity’ we also mean gender, mix of disciplines, mix of levels of research experience, and mix of organisation types.

We need to recruit a minimum number of participants interested in the full Micro-credential (5 digital badges plus overall reflection on learning), and we also want to recruit people who are only interested in doing one or more digital badges. We also need to recruit a minimum number of participants of each type (PhD student, community partner, university staff). These are both requirements of our funding.


Each digital badge has a cap of 30 participants, which will be spread across the 4 partner countries and 3 participant groups.


To ensure the sustainability of the project outcomes, we may prioritise applicants who demonstrate the most potential to co-develop/collaborate on CER projects.

How can I find out more?

Come to our information event

Contact us 

What is TOGETHERNESS?

TOGETHERNESS (‘Training and Opportunities for Growing Engagement in Teaching and Higher Education Research – a New Engine for Societal Solidarity’) is an Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnership. You can find more information here: https://togetherness-project.eu/

Who are the people in the TOGETHERNESS co-ordinating team? 

See contact details listed under each partner’s description here: https://togetherness-project.eu/

What is Community Engaged Research (CER)?

CER is research that is designed collaboratively by researchers and the people who will be most affected by and interested in the issues it addresses, ​not by researchers alone. ​It is not research on society. ​It is co-designed by researchers and societal representatives, for society, ​usually in response to questions from society. CER ​focuses on societal challenges, ​and UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Do I need to be experienced in CER?

No, we are looking for a range of participants, from those completely new to CER to those with extensive experience of it. 

Do I need to be experienced in reflection? 

Not formally. We will provide templates, supports etc. 

Can I withdraw? 

We would ask that once you have confirmed the offer of a place, you honour that commitment. As this is a competitive process, if you withdraw it means you have taken a place that someone else might have used to the full. 

Where will I find partner(s) for my research?

Your local TOGETHERNESS partner will facilitate events where you can meet potential research partners.

What happens if something goes wrong during the course? 

Please contact the course facilitators: Dr Catherine Bates and Ms Zoryana Pshyk in TU Dublin – https://togetherness-project.eu/about/tud/

If I am finishing my PhD studies during the academic year when the digital badges are running, will I be accepted onto the microcredential?

  • If there are more applications than places, we will prioritise participants who will continue in their role for at least 1 year, to maximise the chance of your learning on the microcredential being put into practice on CERL projects. However, if you are almost finished your PhD, and you are committed to bringing the learning into your future career, we will consider this when assessing your application.
  • You are definitely eligible to apply for the Digital Badges that will run while you are still a registered PhD student.

Do I have to start the badges in September 2026, or can I apply next year or the year after?

Applications are now open for the digital badges happening in the autumn of 2026. In late November we will have another round of applications for the badges that will run in spring 2027. The same thing will happen in 2027/8. You can apply at whatever time suits you best. There is also the possibility of spreading the badges over the 2 years (subject to places being available) – e.g. one digital badge in September, one in April, another next October, and so on.

If I’m not sure if I want to do the full Micro-credential, what should I do?

  • You can apply for the first and/or second digital badges before the July 13th deadline, and decide afterwards whether you wish to apply for the other badges, to complete the full Micro-credential.
  • In late November we will have another round of applications for the digital badges that will run in spring 2027. The same thing will happen in 2027/8. You can apply at whatever time suits you best. There is also the possibility of spreading the 5 badges required for the micro-credential over the 2 years (subject to places being available) – e.g. one digital badge in September, one in April, another next October, and so on.

When will you issue the call for the next digital badges?

We are planning to advertise the rest of the badges in November 2026. If you wish to be notified about this information, please sign up for our TOGETHERNESS digital badge updates by emailing Zoryana.pshyk[@]tudublin.ie or catherine.bates[@]tudublin.ie. Otherwise, you can check the relevant pages here late in the autumn: https://togetherness-project.eu/get-involved/

Acknowledgements: 

This information for applicants, and the application form, build on work done as part of the Erasmus+ CIRCLET project (2019-22) by Queen’s University Belfast, TU Dublin, Corvinus University Budapest, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. We would like to thank the other partners for permission to adapt their work.

Our thanks to the TOGETHERNESS project funder, the European Union through the AEF (Agence Francophone pour l’Education et la Formation Tout au Long de la Vie).  

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