HEA Announces Funded Open Courses and Integration of My Digital Backpack

06/01/2026

StudentVolunteer.ie and the Board of Irish College Societies (BICS) are delighted to announce an exciting dimension of their partnership in the newly funded "Meitheal Skills Pack: Recognising Skills Gained through Extracurricular Community Engagement,"  one of seven national initiatives supported under the Higher Education Authority’s 2025 Open Courses Design and Delivery call.

The funding forms part of the HEA’s strategic expansion of professional development opportunities across higher education, including the integration of the My Digital Backpack platform, which strengthens national efforts to support learner development both within and beyond the classroom.

StudentVolunteer.ie welcomes this investment as a significant step forward in national recognition of student civic engagement, digital skills development, and inclusive access to learning pathways. 

“This award strengthens the national infrastructure for recognising the digital, interpersonal, and leadership skills students gain through volunteering,” said Dr Lorraine Tansey, Programme Manager for StudentVolunteer.ie.
“Together with BICS, we look forward to empowering even more students to articulate the value of their contribution with communities across Ireland.”

With development beginning in January 2026, the project will contribute to wider sector goals in universal design, open education, and global citizenship, aligning with the HEA’s highlighted national priorities for teaching and learning.

StudentVolunteer.ie and BICS extend sincere thanks to the HEA for this support and look forward to contributing to a more connected, inclusive, and skills‑responsive higher education landscape.

Meitheal Skills Pack: Recognising Skills Gained through Extracurricular Community Engagement

• acknowledges the unique competencies students gain through volunteering, society leadership, and community-focused extracurricular activities.
• A partnership across academia with University of Galway representing the Board of Irish College Societies and 
• University of Limerick representing StudentVolunteer.ie
  

Read more on the HEA Website News.