Dr. Dónal Mulligan

Former affiliation: School of Communications
Former affiliation: Faculty of Humanities & Social Science

Dr Dónal Mulligan is the Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and a lecturer and researcher in Media and Communications at Dublin City University.

His specific areas of teaching and research relate to Technology and Society - and in particular the effects and applications of emerging media technology. He has received numerous accolades for his educational practice and contributions to T&L policy, including the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023). His recent focus has been on AI, especially generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and he has been involved in research and policy development around the opportunities, concerns, and impacts of GenAI in third level education.

Along with colleagues at DCU and FuJo (The Institute for Future Media Democracy and Society in Ireland), he is involved with media literacy initiatives and concerned to develop the public's awareness of AI fundamentals and emerging impacts on many areas of civic life. He is the co-host of the podcast series Enough About AI and has contributed to government committees, public seminars, media, EU projects, and training on these themes.

Research Interests

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in Higher Education
Critical AI Literacy
Media Literacy
Technology in Education
Media Technology & Society
Interdisciplinary Research
Online activism
Political Discourse Online
Digital Research Methods
Digital Research Ethics

Teaching Interests

Current Teaching Areas & Themes

Generative AI in Higher Education Teaching & Learning
Critical AI Literacy
Interactive & Responsive Media Production
Digital Mediated Communication
Programming and Design for engaging Interactivity
Pedagogy & Teaching Practice for Practical & Production Modules
Group-based Assessment Strategies & Good Practice
Interdisciplinary Approaches in Digital T&L
Research Ethics Policy & Procedure Development

DCU Undergraduate modules devised, taught, and coordinated

Critical GenAI Literacy (SOC1023; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Advanced Creative Coding (CM287; ICT1021; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Interaction Design (CM269, MCO1007; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Media Theory & History (CM1310, CM167, MCO1023; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Responsive Media (CM142, ICT1031; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Instructional Design (ICT1039; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Media Technology (CM110; Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Web Theory and Design (CM298; Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Critical Skills for Research and Production (CM159; Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Advanced Video Production (CM2410; Coordinated, Assessed)
Animation (CM244; Lectured, Assessed)
Dynamic Web (CM267; Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Dissertation Development (CM3005; Lectured, Assessed)
E-Learning (CM376; Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Major Projects - Group Production Thesis (CM3770; Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Programming for the Web (CM378; Lectured, Assessed)
Project Development (CM3790; Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Researching for Media (JR1003; Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)

DCU Postgraduate modules devised, taught, and coordinated

Data Communication (CM5033, STA1002; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Project Plan & Management (CM595; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Interdisciplinary Digital Research Methods (CM6003; Developed, Coordinated, Lectured, Assessed)
Media Innovation and Enterprise (CM5650; Lectured, Assessed)
Social Media Methods (CM5003; Lectured)
Animation (CM5640; Lectured)

CV

External Positions

External Examiner, University of Galway
01/07/2026 – Ongoing

Academic Qualifications

PhD, Dublin City University (DCU)
Field of study: Social sciences
01/01/2013 – 18/12/2016
Project: Developing Qualitative and Quantitative Methodologies for the analysis of Political Discourse on Twitter
Award date: 03/11/2016