National Digital Badges
STAND offers two nationally recognised digital badges for staff and students in higher education. Recognise your commitment to global citizenship and share it with the world.
STAND offers two nationally recognised digital badges for staff and students in higher education. Whether you work in an Irish university or college, or lead a student society, there is a pathway for you. Each badge is verifiable, shareable on LinkedIn and other platforms, and signals a meaningful commitment to Global Citizenship Education (GCE).
Badge 1
Embedding GCE into Higher Education — HEA National Forum Open Course
Who it's for: HEI staff, including lecturers, academics, programme leaders, student engagement staff, and professional services staff who contribute to curriculum design, student engagement, or institutional development.
About the course: This open course, developed in partnership with Maynooth University, University College Cork, and Mary Immaculate College, and funded by the HEA National Forum, provides an introduction to how Global Citizenship Education principles and practices can be integrated across higher education teaching, research, student engagement, and broader institutional policy and practice.
The course is particularly relevant for educators interested in embedding global justice, sustainability, inclusion, and ethical awareness into their teaching and assessment practices.
On completing the course, participants earn a nationally recognised digital badge issued through the HEA National Forum's OpenCourses.ie platform.
Key details:
- Free to participate
- Online and available across the island of Ireland
- Developed with academics at Maynooth University, UCC, and Mary Immaculate College, and STAND
- Issued by the HEA National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning
Badge 2
STAND Global Solidarity 101 — BICS Digital Badge
Who it's for: Student societies and student unions affiliated with BICS (Board of Irish College Societies).
About the badge: STAND has partnered with BICS, alongside An Taisce, Spun Out, and Student Volunteer Ireland — supported by the Higher Education Authority — to develop a suite of digital badges for student societies across Ireland. The STAND Global Solidarity 101 badge recognises student societies that engage with global justice, solidarity, and active citizenship.
The badge was officially launched at the BICS National Societies Awards in April 2026, where the UCC Global Justice Society became the first recipient of the STAND Global Solidarity Award for their World Peace Festival.
Earning this badge is a great way for your society to demonstrate its commitment to making a positive difference both locally and globally.
Key details:
- Available to all student societies registered with BICS
- Developed with support from the Higher Education Authority
- Part of the wider BICS Digital Badge Programme
Digital badges are a verifiable, portable way to demonstrate skills and learning. Once earned, you can share your badge on LinkedIn, add it to your CV or portfolio, and use it as evidence of professional development. They signal not just what you know, but what you stand for.
Questions? Email [email protected]
