Podcasting for Engagement: Enhancing Learning and Research in Irish Higher Education

Podcasting serves a diverse range of purposes within the third-level education sector, spanning pedagogical and research dimensions. Scholars such as Conroy and Kidd (2022), Kenna (2023) and Gunderson and Cumming (2022) outline its potential to foster connections between learners and educators, while also facilitating the creation of knowledge aligned with universal design for learning (UDL) and sustainable development principles. Additionally, podcasting serves as a marketing and promotional tool for university courses.

Beyond undergraduate education, podcasting emerges as a valuable tool for research dissemination and communication, as described by Mobasheri and Costello (2022) and Naff (2020).

At the newly formed South East Technological University (SETU) in Ireland, staff across several disciplines have successfully implemented podcasting initiatives, such as The Nerve (an English and Arts podcast), The Machine (a Computer Science education podcast), and 9plus (a research communication podcast). However, structural barriers within the university's management practices, semester systems, and assessment criteria often challenge or hinder innovation and integration efforts. As highlighted by McArthur (2021), addressing the power dynamics inherent in academic institutions is crucial for fostering inclusivity and adapting to evolving conceptions of accessibility in higher education. This paper examines a practice-based case study in podcasting as both an inclusive tool of connection and a generally unsupported individual activity within Irish third-level structures for education and research. Consideration of these barriers may assist in forming policies around institutional scholarly outputs and assist in recognising the effort involved.