RCSI Online

Report by Justin Ralph, Chief Technology Officer; Eunan Friel, Managing Director, Healthcare Management; and Sara McDonnell, Executive Director, RCSI Online

Since 2021, RCSI has advanced its mission to reimagine postgraduate healthcare education through the creation of RCSI Online – a centralised hub dedicated to the design and delivery of high-quality digital programmes for learners in Ireland and internationally. This initiative represents a significant investment in educational innovation, pedagogical excellence and the development of sustainable foundations for student success.

RCSI Online integrates professional capabilities in programme design and development, academic operations, marketing, student recruitment and strategic programme planning. Together, these functions ensure that Postgraduate programmes are academically rigorous, rooted in contemporary healthcare practice and delivered through learning experiences that are engaging, accessible and transformative.

Collaboration with RCSI’s Postgraduate Schools is central to this approach. Over the past year, RCSI Online has supported the launch of new programmes such as the MSc in Population Health Leadership and contributed to the success of offerings across all Postgraduate Schools and departments. Alongside degree programmes, the University’s portfolio of industry-led short courses has grown to include areas such as sustainable healthcare and digital health and AI – each developed in response to alumni feedback, sector priorities and RCSI expertise.

The marketing and student recruitment function plays a vital role in enabling these achievements. Through targeted outreach, personalised applicant engagement and collaborative initiatives with external system partners and funding agencies, prospective learners are supported from their first enquiry through to programme commencement. This approach fosters confidence, readiness and a sense of belonging within the RCSI community, laying the groundwork for academic and professional success.

Internationally, the RCSI Online Dubai team continues to enhance the University’s standing as a trusted partner in the GCC region. This year’s highlights include the successful conferring of the second cohort of the Executive Leadership Programme for Emirati C-Level Successors, delivered in collaboration with PureHealth and the Graduate School of Healthcare Management, as well as strengthened graduate mobility through partnership activity supporting degree recognition in the UAE and Bahrain. RCSI Online is more than a mode of delivery; it is a driver of educational transformation. By uniting academic excellence, innovative pedagogy, and a deep commitment to the learner experience, it empowers healthcare professionals to thrive in their studies, advance in their careers, and make meaningful contributions to improving healthcare systems worldwide.