Creative Futures Academy (CFA), a partnership between the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), University College Dublin (UCD), and the Institute of Art, Design + Technology (IADT), hosted its first Industry Breakfast Morning on 3 November at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
The event, Shaping Ireland’s Creative Future, brought together government, higher education, and creative industry leaders to explore how Ireland can strengthen its creative economy, meet future skills needs, and sustain growth. It also marked the launch of CFA’s new strategy 2026 – 2030, outlining its vision for creative skills development, research, and innovation.
CFA launched its new Strategy 2026 – 2030, as part of the Shaping Ireland’s Creative Future event on 3rd November, marking a significant milestone in its mission to support creative skills development, innovation, and collaboration across Ireland’s Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI).
CFA delivers on the Government’s priorities for future skills through an extended suite of micro-credentials, supporting lifelong learning and ensuring accessibility for professionals across the creative and cultural industries and beyond.
Since its establishment in 2020, supported by €10 million in Human Capital Initiative (HCI) funding (2020–2025), CFA has achieved transformative impact across higher education and enterprise collaboration. CFA has also garnered significant international recognition, particularly across the EU, for its leadership in implementing micro-credentials – strengthening Ireland’s reputation within a dynamically evolving higher education landscape.
Designed for the fast-evolving creative sector, CFA’s programmes span digital technologies (including AI, AR and VR), screen, media and broadcasting, creative writing, music and performing arts, and visual and applied arts and design. As creativity becomes increasingly valued across all industries, CFA equips learners with practical, industry-relevant skills that drive innovation and growth in diverse sectors.
Read the full CFA Strategy 2026 – 2030 at link below.
As part of the Shaping Ireland’s Creative Future event, CFA was also excited to launch our CFA alumni video spotlights – featuring learners from across IADT, UCD and NCAD. Watch the videos below to find out more about how CFA is offering flexible, industry-informed learning pathways designed to meet Ireland’s future skills and innovation needs.