Key facts
Qualification
Level 9 Professional Certificate (15 ECTS)
with the option to continue on to a Level 9 Professional Diploma (25 ECTS in total)
How it's delivered
- 3 weeks in June: 3rd – 20th June 2025
- Online
Duration
Full course timetable available below.
This course will be delivered across 3 modules, over 3 weeks.
Module 1: Creativity & Innovation:
Module 2: The Entrepreneurial Mindset:
Module 3: Leadership Development:
Scroll down to “Timetable” for details on dates and timings for each module.
Fees, Funding, Deadlines & Info Events
Summer 2025 Fees
Certificate: €1,500 (EU) or €3,000 (Non-EU)
Diploma: an additional €1,500 (EU) or €3,000 (Non-EU)
There are a limited number of other bursary places available for the Professional Certificate. Please see the bursaries’ T&Cs in the ‘How To Apply’ section below.
90% Bursary Deadline: 29 April 2025
50% Bursary Deadline: 13 May 2025
Final Deadline to Apply: 27 May 2025
Full bursaries are available for UCD Academic and Teaching Staff.
Partnerships
Hear from one of our long time collaborators below.
What Our Students Say
“The three weeks I spent doing the Professional Certificate in Creativity and Innovation for Education were among the best three weeks in my 25-year career.” Dr Linda Dowling Hetherington, Lecturer
“I think there can be a misconception that what’s interesting can’t be useful and vice versa. This programme is both.” Ailish O’Halloran, Deputy Provost
“I was keen to push myself, to get out of my comfort zone and to be more future looking in how I approached my work as an educator.” Sean Gallagher, Referee Development Manager
Hear more from our students in the video below.
Overview
As educators, we must keep pace with our rapidly changing world, and adapt to what we now understand about the neuroscience of learning. By developing our own creative and entrepreneurial mindsets we can help our students to fully realise their capacity for innovation, for the good of society.
Through this course, you’ll experience new approaches to education – all underpinned by academic rigour – from the perspective of a student. By stepping outside your comfort zone you can update your knowledge, build empathy with your students, and reignite your passion for teaching.
The course is highly flexible, allowing your cohort to co-create the learning experience based on the needs and experiences of each group. You’ll learn a more practical, action-based approach to learning, including the chance to lead some parts of the course yourself.
By the end, you’ll be part of a pioneering community of educators who are promoting these experiential learning approaches. You’ll be ready to influence and inspire your colleagues, your institution, and the broader educational community.
The diploma module gives you a further chance to develop your professional practice as an Entrepreneurial Educator.
Brochure
Click the fullscreen icon down below to take a read of our 22/23 Brochure
Who is it for?
This intake is particularly suited to second and third level educators and those in education roles in a professional setting.
We welcome educators from all backgrounds, disciplines and levels of experience here at the Innovation Academy. Anyone who designs and delivers learning experiences can benefit from this postgraduate diploma or certificate in Education course.
This course is for:
- Passionate educators wanting to enhance your teaching practice.
- Educators ready to take a step up in your career.
- Anyone feeling stuck as an educator, keen to reignite your passion.
- Anyone new in their post – or new to Ireland – looking for a supportive network and new approaches.
- Teachers, Lecturers, Program Managers, Education Technologists, Teaching and Learning professionals… to name a few.
So what are you waiting for?
Timetable
You’ll learn from Innovation Academy’s inspiring educators and engage with leaders and influencers in education from across Ireland and beyond. This fully immersive, experiential learning experience is delivered through online classes with self-directed learning, and collaborative group activities.
The timetable for the full-time, online June 2025 intake is available in this section.
Click the links below to read about the 3 core modules on this postgraduate course, totalling 15 ECTS:
- IA40320: Creative Thinking and Innovation for Educators (5 ECTS)
- IA40440: Leadership Development for Educators (5 ECTS)
- IA40330: Entrepreneurial Mindset for Educators (5 ECTS)
For the Professional Diploma, you’ll also complete:
For students completing the diploma, the Professional Practice module consists of a real-world Diploma Project. This runs over the 5-6 months of the course, with no classes, facilitated through one-to-one mentoring sessions.
- Why choose us?
- Learning outcomes
- How to apply
- Assessment
- Who leads this course?
- Career opportunities
UCD Innovation Academy sits at the cutting-edge of education in Ireland, and the world.
We’ve been challenging students to see the world differently since 2010, when we became one of the first universities to offer experiential learning experiences.
Our team has been innovating ever since, shaping and refining our courses with input from some of the world’s best. Thousands of students have passed through the Academy, and each one has played their part in making our courses better and better. We have countless examples of our alumni accelerating their careers and changing the world from within organisations or as entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs.
Students at the Academy also have access to the latest technology to support their creativity. The IA MakerSpace provides a playground for innovation, testing, and prototyping to bring your ideas to life.
As if that wasn’t enough, we’re a part of UCD, ranked among the top 1% of higher education institutions in the world. We’re Ireland’s global university and ranked Ireland’s best for graduate employability. And we currently have Professor Sir Mark Welland, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge acting as our External Examiner.
Here at the Innovation Academy we have everything you need for a learning experience you’ll never forget.
By the end of the postgraduate Professional Certificate or Diploma in Creativity & Innovation for Education course, students will:
- Explore creativity, innovation, and approaches to lead change in education.
- Discover new approaches in education from around the world.
- Build a peer network of friends, contacts and collaborators.
- Learned from a faculty of educators who have ‘walked the walk’.
- Gain a UCD Professional Certificate (15 ECTS) or Diploma (25 ECTS).
- Be ready to improve the learning outcomes for your students.
- Be ready to accelerate your career
For bursary deadlines & T&Cs please see further below. Applications will be reviewed, and places offered on a rolling basis until the course is full.
If you have any further questions regarding the application process please email innovation.academy@ucd.ie
90% Bursary Deadline: 29 April 2025
50% Bursary Deadline: 13 May 2025
Final Deadline to Apply: 27 May 2025
Bursaries T&Cs
- Please note that any bursary can only be applied towards the Professional Certificate fee (€1,500).
- Bursaries are reserved for applicants without access to institutional or other funding.
- A limit of x2 bursaries per institution can be allocated.
- Applicants must indicate in their motivation letter if they wish to apply for a bursary.
How to Apply:
1. You will need to apply for a place on this course on the UCD system:APPLY HERE
2. Create a new UCD account OR log in using your old UCD student number if you are a former student. If you do not remember your previous student number, get in touch with Student Desk as having two numbers can cause issues moving forward. Alternatively search F223 on the UCD Graduate Course Search.
If you are a member of the UCD Academic and Teaching Staff, you must log out of your staff account first.
3. Click “Apply”
6. Complete and submit the application and upload the required documents (listed below). Please ensure all personal details and general questions are completed before trying to submit.
For UCD Academic and Teaching Staff:
- Nomination from Head of School: This should be on headed paper or from an official email, including the nominee’s name, role, and email address.
OR
- Letter of Motivation addressing:
- Why do you want to pursue this course at this time?
- What can you contribute to the course?
- What do you hope to achieve from the course?
For External Applicants:
- CV outlining your experience as an educator.
- Letter of Motivation addressing:
- Why do you want to pursue this course at this time?
- What can you contribute to the course?
- What do you hope to achieve from the course?
- If applying for a 90% or 50% bursary, please state this in your letter. (Note: Limited bursaries are available for applicants without institutional or other funding sources.)
- Academic Transcript to demonstrate your Level 8 qualification.
- UCD graduates: please upload a Word document or PDF with your name and UCD student number.
Alternatively, you may apply on the basis of RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). Applicants without a Level 8 degree will be considered case by case if they meet one of the following criteria:
- Level 7 Degree Holders: Please upload your Level 7 academic transcript and demonstrate at least 2 years of work experience on your CV. Professional references may be requested.
- No Level 7/8 Degree: Minimum of 5 years work experience is required along with two recent professional/employment references. References should be on official headed paper or sent from an official email and include the referee’s name, role, and email address.
- Ensure your CV clearly demonstrates:
- Experience in leadership and self-direction.
- Any experience in management or entrepreneurship.
- Responsibilities demonstrating accountability, resource management, or client engagement (if applicable).
- Ensure your CV clearly demonstrates:
4. English Language Qualification: If English is not your first language, please provide an English language qualification. Click here for English Language Requirements for UCD.
UCD Innovation Academy’s programmes operate a Pass/Fail grading system rather than a traditional grading system.
We do this for a number of reasons:
Focus on mastery rather than competition: Pass/fail systems encourage students to master the content rather than compete with peers for ranking positions or worry about minor grade differences.
Promotes exploration and risk-taking: Students often feel more comfortable taking trying new approaches, an essential component of innovation, when they are not worried about specific grades.
Reduced stress and anxiety: When students don’t have to worry about achieving specific grade thresholds, they can focus more on learning the material thoroughly rather than strategizing to maximize points or grades.
The programme operates a robust continuous assessment process. You’ll be continually assessed throughout the course, as well as delivering various individual and team assignments, presentations, and reports.
Full participation and engagement throughout the programme is essential.
IA40320:
- 40% Attendance
- 30% Reflection report
- 30% Continuous assessment task, activities and exercises
IA40440:
- 20% Action-learning project
- 30% Attendance
- 30% Personal reflections and realisations essay
- 20% Action-Learning Project Presentation
IA40450:
- 30% Reflection Report
- 70% Project report and presentation
IA40480: (Optional Diploma Module)
- 30% Reflection Report
- 70% Project report and presentation
All courses at the Innovation Academy are developed and facilitated by our exceptional team of educators.
The team boasts a wealth of experience from a wide variety of backgrounds. They are international entrepreneurs, doctors (both medical and academic), robotics experts, storytellers, conservationists, campaigners, and creatives.
What they all have in common is their love of the innovative, learning-by-doing approach to learning and their devotion to delivering a world-class student experience.
You’ll also hear from key influencers in education from around the world, who share their thoughts on innovation in education.
Read more about the people behind this course.
This course will put you at the forefront of the teaching profession. You’ll be perfectly placed to step up into more senior roles and become a pioneer for best practice within your institution.
And by developing your own creative and entrepreneurial mindset, you’ll be ready to nurture these mindsets in your students, leading to a stronger economy and society.
The postgraduate course will give you the chance to engage with leaders and influencers across education in Ireland and around the world.
You’ll also cultivate a network of friends, peers, contacts, and collaborators, who you can call on for ongoing support.
