In a rewind to the at the Education Awards 2026, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has been named winner of the Best Education Outreach Award – Community & Public Engagement, recognised earlier this year for Creating a Dementia Inclusive Generation, an innovative programme that combines blended learning, peer education, and community engagement to build empathy, awareness, and advocacy for dementia among young people across Ireland.

Launched in 2021, the programme has reached over 12,000 students, earned national recognition, and achieved NCCA accreditation, a mark of educational excellence that reinforces the rigour and relevance of its approach to dementia education in Irish schools.

By embedding dementia education through e-learning and peer-led delivery, the initiative has created a scalable, sustainable model for reaching young people at a formative stage in their understanding of health, ageing, and social responsibility. This demonstrates what education innovation in the community and public engagement space can achieve when it is grounded in compassion and clear pedagogical purpose.

Rather than delivering information passively, the programme equips young people to become advocates and champions for dementia inclusion within their own communities, extending its impact well beyond the classroom and into the social fabric of the schools and communities it reaches. Strong partnerships and a commitment to teaching excellence give the programme both credibility and momentum, while its compassionate mission gives it a clarity of purpose that judges found both compelling and distinctive.

Judges were clear in their assessment. "The programme's strong national relevance, clear impact, and compassionate mission make it a standout example of community outreach. With impressive growth and reach, it empowers young people to understand the challenges of aging well, while addressing health, education, and social issues through strong partnerships and pedagogical innovation," the panel stated.

The Education Awards 2026 gala took place on 16 April at the Johnstown Estate, Enfield, Co. Meath. The awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement across Ireland's higher education and further education sector, honouring institutions, organisations, and individuals driving student success, educational leadership, and positive change across the Irish education landscape.

The Best Education Outreach Award – Community & Public Engagement recognises Irish-based third level institutions, technical training colleges, and organisations that have developed and implemented outstanding education outreach programmes, assessed across the scale and nature of initiatives, the methods and innovations used to deliver them, the results achieved, and the plans in place to develop and expand the programme going forward.

For the complete 2026 winners list, category insights, and institution profiles, visit the official Education Awards website and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and insights.