The past year showcased the strength and ambition of UCD College of Business. Through outstanding teaching, impactful research and growing global recognition, the College continued to deliver world-class thinking and develop leaders equipped to tackle the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.
The first-ever business school Research Impact Conference was hosted with the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and the Academy of Management. The conference welcomed over 170 international business school leaders to UCD in a shared effort to rethink research culture in the business school community.
UCD College of Business was awarded EQUIS re-accreditation for a further five years by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD), reaffirming its position as one of the world’s most respected institutions for business education.
The second annual UCD College of Business Impact Makers Summit welcomed almost 200 alumni. International insight, academic excellence and business impact came together in a series of standout discussions on the future of connectivity, artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation and resilient business growth.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the innovative MSc in Aviation Finance programme, a European first designed to develop the next generation of aviation lessor management talent to ensure that Ireland remains a leader in the sector. To commemorate the milestone, the School welcomed influential aviation finance leaders for a thought-provoking discussion on the past, present and future of the aviation sector.
UCD Smurfit School students continued to excel, and for the fifth year in a row, took the top spot at the CFA Ireland Research Challenge Champions, going on to represent Ireland at the EMEA regional semi-finals.
At our Singapore campus, the Singapore Eco Fund, supported by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, launched a training project to produce seeding paper with 10 partner institutions, including Google, Oanda and our partner Kaplan.
UCD Quinn School partnered with EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability team to bring the groundbreaking Four Futures experience to campus, marking the first time this respected initiative was delivered within a third-level institution. The sessions were led by UCD Quinn School alumna Chloe Carton Ryan, now a Senior Manager in EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services, alongside fellow UCD alum Ben Johnson. UCD Quinn School also celebrated its annual Awards Night, where this year’s celebration was particularly special, and introduced two new honours in memory of Brian J. Hillery, recognising student excellence in both learning and professional development.
Professor Bill Roche, Chair of Industrial Relations and Human Resources, was honoured for his internationally recognised research in industrial relations and public policy with his admission as a Member to the Royal Irish Academy. Described as “an expert’s expert”, his work has strongly influenced the understanding of Irish and comparative industrial relations.
The Irish Academy of Management (IAM) honoured Professor Susi Geiger with the 2025 Distinguished International Scholar Award, marking the first time an Irish academic has received this honour. As a leading international expert on pharmaceutical and digital markets, Professor Geiger also delivered the prestigious Laurence Crowley Lecture.
Professor Roland Erne was awarded the Jean Monnet Chair in the field of European Integration, Employment Relations and Just Transition. The award recognises his outstanding academic profile and the long-lasting impact of his work.
For the tenth consecutive year, the Financial Times ranked UCD Smurfit School in 23rd place among the top 30 European Business Schools. The Smurfit MBA remains the only Irish MBA to feature in the FT MBA rankings (73rd place), with the Executive MBA at 86th, MSc in Management (CEMS) at 33rd, and MSc in Finance at 64th.
For the second year, UCD Smurfit Executive Development achieved a top 10 ranking, across schools with the UK and Ireland listed as their primary location, for its Open Enrolment and Custom Programmes in the 2026 Financial Times Executive Education Rankings. In the Open Enrolment ranking, the School continued in the number one position in Ireland for the 10th year running.
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