It is a pleasure to welcome you to this latest edition of UCD Connections. As alumni of this great university, I know you will be proud to see UCD ranked among the world’s top 100 universities in the 2027 QS Rankings. This follows sustained upward movement in our rankings over recent years across every aspect of our mission.
We are in the world’s Top 50 for sustainability and our reputation in international academia and among employers continues to grow. These outstanding achievements reflect the excellence and ambition that define UCD, and are a reflection of our outstanding graduates who make an impact across the world.
Pioneering research with societal impact continues to be one of the University’s greatest strengths. Our researchers and innovators are breaking the boundaries of existing knowledge and engaging creatively across disciplines to address challenges in areas such as climate, health, sustainability and AI.
Under our strategy, Breaking Boundaries, we are establishing a UCD AI Institute that will bring together researchers and educators from every part of the University to advance teaching, innovation and responsible leadership in one of the defining technologies of our age. It was a pleasure to welcome Nobel laureate Prof. Geoffrey Hinton, the ‘Godfather of AI’, back to UCD in June to give a lecture on the threats and opportunities associated with AI.
Our campus continues to evolve to support our diverse, dynamic and growing campus community. The official opening of our newest building, the O’Connor Centre for Learning, in March marked the start of a new era of teaching and learning that is already enriching the student experience. The landmark building, designed around flexible, collaborative and technology-enhanced learning, was made possible through the generosity of the late Eddie O’Connor, UCD alumnus, entrepreneur and leader in sustainability, together with investment from UCD Foundation’s philanthropic community, the State and the University.
Colleagues and students in the College of Science are moving into the completed North and West buildings of the O’Brien Centre for Science this academic year, marking the end of a major, long-term capital project and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in science education, research and discovery.
Meanwhile, across Belfield, work continues on our sports and student facilities, new student residences and enhancements to many of our existing academic spaces, including the James Joyce Library, creating a campus that is truly outstanding. If you haven’t been in Belfield for a while, come and visit. You will be amazed by the changes!
The past year offered important opportunities to celebrate our rich history while looking confidently to the future. We marked 100 years of agricultural education at UCD, recognising the profound contribution our graduates, researchers and partners have made to agriculture, food systems and environmental sustainability. We celebrated 20 years of the UCD Clinical Research Centre, whose groundbreaking work continues to improve patient care while advancing clinical research and innovation. And we also marked the 170th anniversary of the UCD Literary & Historical Society, founded by St John Henry Newman, whose vision of a university education that develops the whole person continues to inspire our mission today.
In the coming months, as Ireland continues its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we reflect on UCD’s contribution to Ireland in Europe. UCD’s graduates have always played significant leadership roles in Europe—seven of Ireland’s fourteen Commissioners are alumni, as is the Commission’s first female Secretary General, Catherine Day. UCD looks forward to continuing this tradition of contribution, by playing a leading role hosting a number of key Presidency events in AI, innovation and democracy in Belfield.
Throughout the year we celebrated our newest graduates at conferring ceremonies, recognised exceptional student achievement through the UCD Student Awards, and welcomed alumni back to campus for reunion celebrations. I had the pleasure of meeting many graduates at events around the world, who continue to speak with such affection for their time at UCD and the friendships and opportunities they found here. I am proud of the global reach and impact of the UCD community, and the enduring relationship between the University and our alumni.
Your continued engagement with UCD, as mentors, volunteers, advocates, supporters and ambassadors, enriches the University immeasurably. Whether you graduated recently or many decades ago, you remain an essential part of UCD’s story. Through your work, your leadership and your commitment to your communities, you are shaping the future in ways that reflect the values of this University.
As you read about the achievements, successes and impact of your fellow alumni in the pages that follow, I hope you will recognise the qualities that have always defined UCD: ambition, creativity, and a commitment to making a positive difference in the world. At a time of profound global change, these values have never been more important.
Ad Astra.
Go n-éirí go geal libh,
Professor Orla Feely
President of UCD
