News

Last November we launched the UCD strategy to 2030, Breaking Boundaries, to mobilise the great ambition and potential within our university community to respond to the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing world.

This strategy sets out the ambitious path University College Dublin will follow over the next five years.

Under the strategy, UCD will break the boundaries of existing knowledge through our cutting-edge research, scholarship and innovation, and will advance with ambition our positive impact on Ireland, on the world and on the lives of our students.

Since our foundation in 1854 in Newman House, University College Dublin has seen extraordinary growth in scale and societal impact.

From having a central role in the foundation of the Irish State in 1922 to the building and launching of Ireland’s first space satellite EIRSAT-1 in 2023, UCD has always been at the heart of Irish society, science, economy, and culture.

Today, UCD is Ireland’s largest and most influential university, ranked 118 in the world in the latest QS World University Rankings.

As we progress under our new strategy, you will see UCD continue to deliver ground-breaking research. We are particularly focused on areas that will directly impact the defining issues of our time, including the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, the interconnectedness of One Health, and the power of societal transformations.

We will establish an AI institute that brings together our capabilities in digital technologies research, education, ethics and policy to expand on the myriad strengths our community has in this critical area.

We will also further enhance our leadership in knowledge generation, learning, and action across the vital sustainability agenda, striving to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

UCD is a university with Irish roots and global reach, and nowhere is this more visible than through our alumni.”

Our role as a champion and steward of Irish culture and heritage will become even more visible. To support this, we are expanding and broadening access to the political papers, literary archives, and the National Folklore Collection held in the James Joyce Library.

And by supporting an ever more diverse range of students to truly realise their potential through an enriching and empowering education, we will continue our proud tradition of producing Ireland’s most highly sought-after graduates.

First-time visitors to the campus, returning alumni, and our staff and students continually make reference to how the Belfield campus has been transformed over recent years, becoming a beautiful, world-class, environmentally friendly campus and a treasure for our community.

Under our new strategy, the University will continue to develop our outstanding physical campuses, setting new standards and enhancing the experience for every member of our community. To this end, two of our key campus developments, a new Centre for Learning and Science Phase III, are very well advanced, supporting our ambitions for research, education and the student experience.

Work has also begun on the next expansion of our outstanding sports facilities in Belfield. This major development includes a new three-storey multipurpose sports hall beside the existing Sports Centre that will also serve as an examination centre, allowing us to hold our end-of-term exams on campus again for the first time in many years.

Many of you will – with a mix of emotions – remember the James Joyce Library in Belfield. Some of you, I’m sure, will even have had your favourite seats there as students. This once plain, functional environment is being completely remodelled, reshaped and refitted to create an inspirational 21st-century space.

Phase one of this redevelopment delivered a total transformation of the third floor, and phase two will continue this work, supporting student learning and also safeguarding and showcasing our remarkable cultural collections.

Balanced with these large-scale infrastructural developments is the enhanced greener campus footprint we are creating throughout Belfield, with continuous landscaping and tree planting. Today, our Belfield campus is home to over 50,000 trees and some 8 kilometres of scenic woodland walks, contributing to UCD earning its ranking as No. 1 in Ireland and 49th in the world for Sustainability, according to QS.

We also continue to enhance our campuses beyond Belfield, including major developments on the magnificent Lyons Farm.

UCD is a university with Irish roots and global reach, and nowhere is this more visible than through our alumni. Under our new strategy, we hope that our alumni will feel an enhanced connection to UCD.

Meeting alumni across the world has been one of the enormous pleasures of my time as President. There is nothing more energising than meeting graduates who speak with excitement about the positive impact UCD has had on their lives.

Last year alone, over 2,000 alumni generously volunteered as career mentors, alumni buddies, alumni chapter representatives at locations around the world, at the UCD Festival, and at other events on our campuses.

We could not achieve our ambitions for UCD without the support of our alumni, and I thank all of you who contribute to our university. It is this vibrant engagement that truly embodies the strength and values of our global community.

I invite you to reach out and engage with some of your fellow 334,000 alumni across 184 countries, some of whose inspiring stories you will find in the pages of this magazine.

I also encourage you to come and visit our main campus at Belfield to witness, first-hand, the remarkable transformation at all levels, empowering a university with a truly global ambition.

Chun na réaltaí.

BUAICEANNA / HIGHLIGHTS 2024-2025

PPRÍOMHOIFIGEACH AN CHOLÁISTE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

An tOllamh / Professor Niamh Moore-Cherry

UCD College of Social Sciences and Law continues to excel as a university leader in education, research and engagement. This was demonstrated in the 2025 published rankings, where the College was ranked in the 125-150 category in the Times Higher Education Subject Rankings and had four top 100 subjects listed in the QS rankings.

We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni community, who are integral to changing and influencing our society for good. In December 2024, UCD School of Law alumna, Ms Justice Síofra O’Leary, the first female President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), was awarded the UCD Ulysses Medal. Awarding the medal, the highest honour that UCD can bestow, UCD President, Professor Orla Feely said: “This award recognises Judge Síofra O’Leary’s remarkable contribution to human rights law over the course of an illustrious career as a legal scholar, judge, and judicial statesperson,” and commented on what a powerful role model she is for UCD students.

In January, we celebrated 90 years of Social Policy, Social Work and Sociology at UCD with a panel event featuring alumni from the programme. This celebration highlighted a proud history of interdisciplinary collaboration, research excellence, and impactful education, rooted in the establishment of the Diploma in Social Science in 1934. Alumni panellists included Frances Fitzgerald, Gender Advisory Committee to G7, former MEP and Tánaiste; Richie Stafford, Assistant Principal, Drugs Policy, Refugee & Inclusion Health Unit, Department of Health; and Rory O’Carroll, Senior Social Worker, National Forensic Mental Health Service, HSE.

In early April, UCD Sutherland School of Law welcomed Michael McGrath, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, to deliver a lecture. The Commissioner described the student audience as “the next generation of solicitors, barristers, prosecutors, government officials, and judges – both for Ireland and for Europe”.

The annual John M. Kelly lecture was held in April in a packed auditorium at UCD Sutherland School of Law. The audience was welcomed by Professor Laurent Pech, Dean of Law, followed by distinguished alumnus Mr Justice Donal O’Donnell, Chief Justice of Ireland, who introduced Professor Kim Lane Scheppele of Princeton University. Professor Scheppele captivated the audience with a far-reaching and insightful lecture on ‘Democracy in Danger: The Global Challenge of Autocratic Legalism’.

In April, the College’s Politics and International Relations student society celebrated its ten-year anniversary by presenting the Jean Kennedy Smith award to former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, in recognition of her work on human rights, global justice and diplomacy. At the event, Robinson gave insights into the importance of civil society in upholding and supporting human rights and encouraged the students to use their voices for good just as their predecessors have done.

The College’s exceptional research performance was demonstrated in the most recent European Research Council Consolidator (ERC) awards. Four of six awards made nationally were made to colleagues from three schools within the College: Associate Professor Ruth Boeker, UCD School of Philosophy; Associate Professor Lai Ma, UCD School of Information and Communication Studies, and Professor Cathryn Costello and Professor Maebh Harding, both from UCD Sutherland School of Law. In addition, a new €3 million Horizon Europe EU research project led by UCD Centre for Digital Policy, exploring the benefits and risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) from a societal perspective in order to enhance AI capabilities and EU regulatory frameworks, commenced in February. The FORSEE (Forging Successful AI Applications for European Economy and Society) is led by Dr Elizabeth Farries, Director of UCD Centre for Digital Policy. The consortium includes eight partners from universities, research institutions and think tanks across six European countries.

■ www.ucd.ie/socscilaw/

BUAICEANNA / HIGHLIGHTS 2024-2025

PRÍOMHOIFIGEACH AN CHOLÁISTECOLLEGE PRINCIPAL

An tOllamh / Professor Jeremy Simpson

It has been another incredible year of activities and achievements across the College of Science. Our students continue to excel both inside and outside the classroom. From a Royal Irish Academy Award to competing at the Olympics, their accomplishments are a testament to their talent and the dedication of faculty and staff.

Research across the College continues to be impactful, from ground-breaking work developing weather and climate services using AI and data science, to innovative and sustainable solutions to decarbonisation.

In January, EIRSAT-1 won the 2024 UCD Research Impact Case Study Competition for securing UCD’s place in Ireland’s space history. Detailing the historic achievement of building, launching and operating Ireland’s first satellite, this year’s winning case study ‘Ireland’s first satellite: transforming the national space landscape with the launch of EIRSAT-1’ was led by Professor Lorraine Hanlon, Director of UCD Centre for Space Research, and Professor of Astronomy at UCD School of Physics.

Three environmental research projects from UCD received a total of nearly €2 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency.

In February, three environmental research projects from UCD received a total of nearly €2 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This new EPA funding will help to build the vital research talent and knowledge needed in Ireland to respond to these challenges and achieve a healthier environment.

In March, Professor Sarah Gleeson was named as the new iCRAG Director. She will oversee the Ireland Centre for Research and Applied Geosciences efforts across ten different institutions and 150 researchers to create innovative and sustainable solutions to decarbonisation, protecting groundwater and marine resources, and safeguarding against natural hazards such as floods and landslides.

AI expert, UCD Professor Andrew Parnell, will lead a new multi-million-euro programme to develop weather and climate services using AI and data science, funded by Met Éireann. Aiming to develop AI-enhanced models to allow the National Meteorological Service to build on its forecasting capabilities, the Met Éireann Weather and Climate Research Professorship will help to make Ireland more weather and climate prepared.

A new biodiversity project could see native oyster reefs and seagrass beds restored to Dublin Bay. UCD has partnered with Codling Wind Park, Ireland’s largest planned offshore wind project, to explore the potential of using nature-based solutions to protect and enhance biodiversity at selected sites in the area and along the Irish coast.

Research Ireland has awarded almost €7 million to 11 ‘high-risk, high-reward’ UCD research projects. Drought resilience of bog plants, alternative battery technologies for electric vehicles, and treatments for epilepsy are among the projects to be investigated. This latest round of grants will support a diverse range of research positions and represents a strong commitment to developing future talent in key areas.

One of the leading voices in physics education, the American Physical Society (APS) has elected Dr Shane Bergin as a Fellow. Considered one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field of physics, an APS Fellowship is only awarded to those who have made exceptional contributions to physics research, physics education, or leadership in or service to APS.

UCD student Jack Sherry was awarded the prestigious Royal Irish Academy Hamilton Prize – the top accolade for undergraduate mathematical students in Ireland. Sherry, who is in his final year of Applied & Computational Mathematics, was among nine students recognised by the Royal Irish Academy for their mathematical excellence.

The university community was deeply saddened by the loss of one of our most remarkable, respected and influential alumni, UCD Professor Emerita of Phytochemistry Dervilla Donnelly MRIA (1930-2024), who served as the first woman President of the Royal Dublin Society (1989-1992).

Our alumni continue to be an integral part of our ongoing journey, and alumni support and engagement play a vital role in our mission. Whether through mentorship, philanthropy, or simply staying connected, alumni remain an essential part of our community.

■ www.ucd.ie/science/

BUAICEANNA / HIGHLIGHTS 2024-2025

PRÍOMHOIFIGEACH AN CHOLÁISTE OUTGOING COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

An tOllamh / Professor Cecily Kelleher

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PRÍOMHOIFIGEACH AN CHOLÁISTE INCOMING COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

An tOllamh / Professor Michael Keane

UCD is unique among third-level universities in Ireland in having its own teaching and research farm to provide students and academics with access to large animal and crop enterprises, for the delivery of teaching and research programmes. UCD Lyons Farm forms an integral part of the teaching and research infrastructure of the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, and specifically of the School of Agriculture and Food Science, and the School of Veterinary Medicine. In February, a €1 million state-of-the-art dairy calf-rearing centre was opened on the farm. The new centre will apply cutting-edge research to benefit and improve the health and rearing of dairy calves. It will provide agriculture and veterinary students with hands-on experience in the best practice of calf-rearing, while also greatly expanding the national research capacity of dairy heifer research, with a focus on early life nutrition, better integration of dairy and beef, and environmental impact.

The new centre will apply cutting-edge research to benefit the rearing of dairy calves.

In September 2024, American oncologist Dr Dennis Slamon was awarded the UCD Ulysses Medal, the highest honour the University can bestow. UCD School of Medicine nominated Dr Slamon and hosted the celebration event. Dr Slamon is credited with saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of women worldwide by transforming the treatment of breast cancer. In presenting Dr Slamon with the Ulysses Medal, UCD recognised that his pursuit of novel therapies for over 30 years has shaped the field of precision medicine and paved the way for other targeted therapies in oncology.

At a special ribbon-cutting ceremony in February, a brand new state-of-the-art Clinical Skills Simulation Suite was opened by UCD President, Professor Orla Feely, in the UCD Health Science Centre. Having received funding from UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems was delighted to open the Simulation Suite, which allows for quality simulation activities, elevating the students’ learning through realistic patient scenarios and real-time problem-solving.

Globally impactful research at the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science continued apace with researchers receiving significant funding from several agencies, including Research Ireland, Irish Aid, ERASMUS+, Sport Ireland, the Environmental Protection Agency and InterTradeIreland. A number of researchers were honoured with major awards, including Professor Eamonn Delahunt and recently retired Professor Colin Boreham being recognised as among the top 1% and 2% respectively of scientists globally. Professor Patricia Fitzpatrick and team won the Best Research Project Paper in the Irish Healthcare Awards 2024 for their research into the effect of HPV vaccination on cervical cancer, which provided the first evidence of the benefit of the HPV vaccine in Ireland.

Ad Astra Fellow in the School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Nicola Fletcher, was awarded an ERC Synergy Grant of over €6 million to develop novel technology that could revolutionise clinical diagnostics. Receiving the award, Dr Fletcher commented on the significance of the funding to the One Health concept: “I am confident that this project will deliver new ways to diagnose and treat a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. I’m passionate about One Health – the idea that animal, human and environmental health are all linked, and we must consider all of them when trying to improve the health of any one. This project fits perfectly within One Health and will benefit all species.”

■ www.ucd.ie/chas/

BUAICEANNA / HIGHLIGHTS 2024-2025

PRÍOMHOIFIGEACH AN CHOLÁISTE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

An tOllamh / Professor Aoife Ahern

It has been a successful and exciting year for the College of Engineering and Architecture. We continue to take pride in showcasing the diverse and inspiring paths our alumni follow. In our Engineering building, 12 new alumni portraits have been hung – each a testament to the variety of careers pursued by our graduates and a source of inspiration for our current students.

I was deeply honoured to receive the Engineers Ireland President’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Engineering Profession. This award is a reflection of the dedication of our faculty and the significant impact of UCD engineering graduates on Ireland’s development.

In March, the UCD School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, in partnership with the Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland, hosted the 35th Irish Environmental Researchers’ Colloquium (ENVIRON 2025) on campus. This is Ireland’s largest gathering of environmental researchers, and this year’s event featured over 57 posters and 88 oral presentations. It remains an important platform for researchers at all career stages to share findings with academia, industry, government, and the public.

These awards highlight our position as a world-class research institution.

Research excellence continues to define the College. We are proud of our continued success in the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) awards. Associate Professor Junli Xu from the School of Biosystems and Food Engineering received an ERC Starting Grant for her project, which looks at machine learning combined with spectral imaging for inferring the toxicity of micro- and nanoplastics.

In the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, there were two ERC awards: Associate Professor David MacManus received an ERC Starting Grant for his project, which identifies how to bridge the gender gap in traumatic brain injury biomechanics.

Associate Professor Aisling Ní Annaidh was awarded an ERC Consolidator Grant for a project which proposes a patient-specific approach to tissue expansion in breast reduction.

These competitive awards highlight our position as a world-class research institution, and more importantly, demonstrate the real-world impact of our work.

Another exciting development was the launch in March of a new double degree in Sustainability Engineering Leadership, launched by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, UCD President, Professor Orla Feely, and Provost of Northeastern University in Boston, Professor David Madigan. This innovative programme – the first of its kind – is a collaboration between UCD’s School of Biosystems and Food Engineering and Northeastern University’s College of Engineering. The programme welcomes its first cohort in September 2025 and students will spend their first year in Boston and second year in Dublin. Graduates will be equipped with the technical, analytical, and leadership skills to drive sustainability across global industries.

As always, we were delighted to celebrate the achievements of our students. In November, the Engineering Graduates Association (EGA) welcomed 30 recent graduates back to campus to honour their academic excellence through gold medals and awards.

We also recognised an exceptional alumnus with the 2024 EGA Distinguished Graduate Award. Paddy Hayes, CEO of ESB Group, was honoured for his outstanding contributions to the energy sector and leadership in advancing sustainability and innovation.

The School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy concluded the trimester with the annual showcase of students’ work during the Landscape Architecture end-of-year exhibition and the Architecture Summer Show ‘Outside In’, which this year also included a panel discussion.

Congratulations to Assistant Professor Will Dimond and Marcus Donaghy, who won the prestigious RIAI Gold Medal for their award-winning design that transformed the Model School in Inchicore into a sustainable, community-focused space. The RIAI praised the project for its creativity and social impact.

As we look ahead, I remain proud of the College’s continued progress and inspired by the global impact of our alumni and faculty. Thank you for being part of this vibrant community.

■ www.ucd.ie/eacollege/

BUAICEANNA / HIGHLIGHTS 2024-2025

PRÍOMHOIFIGEACH AN CHOLÁISTE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

An tOllamh / Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin

UCD College of Arts & Humanities alumni, partners and friends gathered at the Irish Arts Center in New York to spend an evening with Booker Prize-winning author and Professor of Fiction, Anne Enright. Professor Regina Uí Chollatáin, College Principal, was delighted to welcome and meet the UCD community in New York and to bring the best of Irish arts to a global stage. Professor Margaret Kelleher, Chair of Anglo-Irish Literature & Drama, led the discussion with Enright, with readings from her most celebrated works, The Gathering, The Green Road and The Wren, The Wren.

Also taking to the stage this year was recent graduate Robert Power with his energetic journey into the mind of an artist, A Version of Life. Power’s one-man play, inspired during his Erasmus year abroad by the concept of Icelandic Nirvana, was created, produced and premiered within the newly opened Trapdoor Theatre. A Version of Life travelled to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival in August.

On behalf of the Coimisiún na Meán-commissioned Irish Language Review, the College hosted a highly successful forum on Irish language media at UCD, opened by Professor Orla Feely. Key media stakeholders contributed to this forám covering a wide range of topics in podcasting, online and digital platforms, and print and broadcast media. Engaging conversations were also held around the power of language with the Wales-Ireland Annual lecture, “St Patrick & St David’s Dialogue” in partnership with the Welsh Government, which celebrates the linguistic and cultural links between the two countries.

The Forum brought together leaders from across the spectrum of Irish language media.

The UCD Clinton Institute hosted Emmy Award-winning alumnus, Donie O’Sullivan, Senior Correspondent at CNN for a discussion with Professor Scott Lucas on “Navigating Journalism in the Misinformation Era”. Co-curated by Professor Emily Mark-Fitzgerald, School of Art History & Cultural Policy, and alumna Dr Katy Milligan, a new exhibition “Casimir Markievicz: A Polish Artist in Bohemian Dublin (1903-1913)” which explores the artistic legacy of Markievicz, opened in Dublin Castle. Classics, poetry, linguistics and music collided this year with the premiere of a new piece of work, Signifier, Signified, by poet and artist Zsuzsanna Ardó which was inspired by leading Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure and arranged in a choral composition by the Morning Singers under conductor Dr Orla Flanagan. This was complemented by an exhibition of Ardó’s work, inspired by Hellenic sculpture, at the UCD Classical Museum.

To celebrate folklorist Professor Henry Glassie’s honorary doctorate, a cultural evening was hosted by Professor Kate Robson-Brown, Vice President for Research, Innovation & Impact at Trapdoor. The programme featured a Q&A session with Professor Glassie and filmmaker Pat Collins, offering insights into the making of his acclaimed film Fieldwork. The evening also showcased a vibrant array of performances, including that of percussionist Éamonn Cagney, recipient of the Joseph Hassett Creativity Bursary for Musical Composition; the Traditional Music Practices group, led by Dr Peter Moran, School of Music and fiddler Paddy Glackin, with captivating dance and recitations by the Fingal Mummers.

Lara Marlowe, former Irish Times correspondent and award-winning author, delivered the Annual College Lecture titled “Ukraine’s Quest to Join the West” in partnership with the School of Languages, Cultures & Linguistics.

■ www.ucd.ie/artshumanities/

BUAICEANNA / HIGHLIGHTS 2024-2025

PRÍOMHOIFIGEACH AN CHOLÁISTE COLLEGE PRINCIPAL

An tOllamh / Professor Anthony Brabazon

As Business Schools navigate a rapidly evolving landscape, they are presented with a powerful opportunity to lead by example. Now more than ever, institutions must embody the very principles they instil in their students – adaptability, resilience and innovation.

In March, we launched the inaugural UCD College of Business Impact Makers Summit, welcoming 250 alumni back to campus. The conference featured faculty, senior business leaders and alumni providing an afternoon of insightful sessions. Another notable event featured UCD Smurfit Executive Development and Boyden Ireland welcoming rugby legend Ronan O’Gara to share leadership insights.

This year, UCD Smurfit School’s Aspire Scholarship Programme celebrates its 16th year supporting talented and ambitious individuals with the financial means to pursue their degree. Thus far 163 graduates have benefited from the programme and a further cohort join us this September.

The Smurfit School opened a purpose built gym facility on campus which is proving hugely popular. A group of finance MSc students excelled in the CFA Ireland Research Challenge as UCD were crowned champions for the fourth year in a row.

UCD College of Business celebrated the opening of the Global Lounge at our Singapore Campus.

UCD Quinn School students travelled to Onsi Sawiris School of Business at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, for the inaugural Doing Business in the Middle East global immersion week. The pioneering initiative offered 15 students an unparalleled opportunity to delve into the dynamic business and rich cultural landscape of the region. Students Oisín Mallon and Oisín Walsh also stepped onto a global stage, representing Ireland at the Red Bull Basement competition global final in Tokyo with their idea StepAhead – an AI-supported platform that connects young people to mentors.

UCD College of Business celebrated the opening of the UCD Global Lounge at our Singapore Campus. The inspiring, collaborative space provides a dynamic home for an exchange of ideas between students and faculty, facilitating opportunities to explore and innovate. Professor Susi Geiger was selected to represent Ireland as the new European Research Council (ERC) Ambassador. The ERC aims to promote investment in frontier research and its benefits to the economy and society.

Professor Joe Peppard was recognised in The Case Centre’s Bestselling List of 2024 in the Strategy and General Management category with his case study, ‘Driving Digital Transformation at Faurecia’. Professor Donna Marshall was awarded the prestigious Financial Times Responsible Business Education Award for the EU-funded research project, FReSCH (Fashion’s Responsible Supply Chain Hub), which recognises academic research that drives real-world change.

Professor Gerardine Doyle led an innovative collaboration between UCD Smurfit School, Children’s Health Ireland at Temple Street, NUI Maynooth, Harvard Business School and Boston Children’s Hospital, exploring the cost of outpatient cystic fibrosis care for children across Ireland and the United States.

For the ninth consecutive year, the Financial Times named UCD Smurfit School among the top 30 Business Schools in Europe, at 21st in this ‘ranking of rankings’. The School also offers Ireland’s only full-time MBA that features in the Financial Times global rankings. In addition, the School’s Executive MBA was top-ranked in Ireland in the QS Rankings, placing 87th globally and 30th in Europe. Across our MSc portfolio, five programmes were ranked among the world’s top 50 in the QS Business Masters Rankings including MSc in Supply Chain Management (14th), MSc in Marketing programme (31st), MSc in Management (CEMS) (46th), MSc in Business Analytics (44th), and MSc in Finance (48th).

UCD Smurfit Executive Development secured the top spot in Ireland in the 2025 FT Executive Education Rankings with a global top 50 ranking for the eighth year in a row for Open Enrolment Programmes (47th). In Custom Executive Education, the school ranked 56th globally and secured an impressive ranking of 3rd globally in the Growth category.

■ www.ucd.ie/collegesandschools/business/

This is an exciting time of year for students preparing to start their UCD journey. They have worked hard to earn the points for their chosen degree course and they are ready to embark on a new pathway that promises limitless possibilities. A university education opens the door to lifelong friendships, a vibrant and supportive community, and the opportunity to develop the necessary skills and knowledge for future career success.

For many students, accepting their offer of a place in UCD would not be possible without the support of a ‘UCD Champions’ Cothrom na Féinne (“fair deal”) scholarship. For those struggling to meet the ever-increasing costs of day-to-day living, a scholarship alleviates the burden of financial worry and empowers them to keep striving towards their goals.

Knowing that we can rely on the incredible generosity of UCD Champions, the alumni and philanthropic donors who fund Cothrom na Féinne scholarships, means the world to us. Your support is transforming outcomes for brilliant students like Trinity (below) by giving them the helping hand they need to fulfil their extraordinary potential.

Trinity Dockery / UCD Cothrom na Féinne Scholar

“Beginning my time in UCD, I was focused on trying to feel accepted as a HEAR [Higher Education Access Route] student. With the help of the team in Access & Lifelong Learning, I started to feel that I had earned my place in Veterinary Medicine. However, the daily financial struggles I faced exacerbated a lot of doubts in my mind. I had sacrificed so much to get into the degree, but it still didn’t feel like I’d won. The scholarship gave me a huge sense of relief. It enriched my student life, allowed me to complete my work placements, and freed me up to be more engaged in volunteer work, societies and sports. My past and background are only part of my story – the scholarship helped me to start living the rest of it.”

My past and background are only part of my story – the scholarship helped me to start living the rest of it.”

Increasing support in challenging times

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is causing significant financial stress and suffering for many students and their families. In response to this crisis, UCD Access & Lifelong Learning made the decision last year to increase the minimum value of Cothrom na Féinne scholarships from €1,500 to €2,500. To meet the growing demand for student hardship support, we rely more than ever on the generosity and commitment of our community of UCD alumni and friends.

We are deeply grateful that you are there for our students when they need you most. Your support encourages and inspires them to do their best and move forward with confidence.

■ Visit ucdfoundation.ie/supporting-students to join our UCD Champions and support students in need.

As the country’s largest and most influential university, UCD makes a huge contribution to Ireland’s economy, culture and society. We are committed to breaking the boundaries of existing knowledge to shape a sustainable and secure future, and this relies on investing in campus facilities that support the wellbeing of our diverse academic community and promote dynamic engagement and collaboration across the university. The Belfield campus is ever evolving to meet the needs of a progressive, global university, and there are a number of significant capital projects currently underway at various stages.

The funding landscape for higher education in Ireland remains challenging, and UCD and other universities rely on philanthropic donations to help fund essential investments in infrastructure, research, and student welfare and attainment. We are grateful for the ongoing commitment and generosity of our community of alumni, philanthropic supporters and corporate partners who share our vision for UCD as a model of excellence and inclusion in education, and a place that transforms the lives of our students and the wider world.

Healthy bodies, healthy minds

UCD’s sports amenities are at the heart of a vibrant student life on campus. We are rightly proud of our elite athletes, who compete at the highest levels internationally, and we recognise the importance of having world-class facilities to support the training and development needs of these talented sportspeople. We also know that sports clubs and societies enhance the lives of a much broader cohort of students and other members of the university community who may never aspire to win medals or trophies but nonetheless derive enormous benefit – physically, mentally and socially – from getting involved in sports on campus.

As part of a wider upgrading of UCD’s sports facilities, which has included the resurfacing of playing pitches and the completion of a state-of-the-art athletics track, preliminary work has commenced on a new Sports and Amenities Precinct at the Clonskeagh end of the campus. The precinct will include a new basketball court and five new indoor tennis courts. These will be instrumental in the creation of a centre of excellence for tennis at UCD, which it is envisioned will have a transformative impact in developing and nurturing the talents of young tennis players throughout Ireland. Crucially, it will also give players an attractive choice to stay in Ireland for university while continuing to play at an elite level in national and international competitions.

These dynamic new facilities will also serve as an examination centre during the busy exam period. This will be a gamechanger for students, relieving them of the added stress of having to travel to the RDS to sit exams that cannot currently be accommodated on campus. The precinct will also include a performance building with music practice rooms and a dedicated space for dance and musical rehearsals.

Students were actively involved in the consultation process for this significant enhancement to their campus, and voted in 2019 to fund the project from the Student Centre Levy to the tune of €87 million. First introduced in 1996, the Student Centre Levy is used to fund non-academic student-focused activities and resources. UCD Foundation is seeking to raise an additional €8 million in philanthropic funding for the development of the Sports and Amenities Precinct.

A culture shift in science

Science education and discovery have always been a cornerstone of UCD, and have been a key focus of our campus development over the past two decades. The opening of UCD O’Brien Centre for Science in 2013 was the culmination of the first two phases of a major investment in UCD College of Science. Now, the third and final phase of this project is nearing completion, and UCD will be home to a modern Science District that sets a new paradigm for science education and research.

With the expansion and renovation of the West and North buildings of the original Science complex, which date back to the 1960s, the College of Science will occupy 66,000 square metres on campus, ranking it among the largest dedicated centres for science in Europe. The additional space will not only provide much-needed capacity to increase the numbers of science students and faculty at UCD, it will support a transdisciplinary approach to teaching, learning and research, and the development of a pipeline of highly competent and agile graduates with the skills and confidence to meet the challenges of the future.

Sustainability, inclusivity and student wellbeing have been to the fore at every stage of the design and construction. Retaining the original concrete structure and repurposing existing materials as much as possible has saved about 2,700 tonnes of carbon, and technologies for the capture and reuse of heat and rainwater have been incorporated in the build. The finished building will have an A3 energy rating, which is impressive for such a large space equipped with intensive laboratory facilities.

Internally, the design is focused on creating welcoming, collaborative spaces and learning commons that will enhance the student experience by fostering connection and reducing the feelings of isolation and loneliness that can sometimes arise in a big place – particularly for PhD students, whose work is often quite solitary in nature. These spaces will bring together students, faculty and researchers from all disciplines and stimulate sharing of ideas and knowledge, embracing a culture shift in the way science is taught.

A dedicated Innovation Garage will support entrepreneurship among early-career researchers. Philanthropically funded grants will be made available to allow them the time and space to explore the viability of their ideas for real-world applications, and they will have access to design support, prototyping tools and intellectual property mentoring.

Students and faculty are moving into the new facilities starting this academic year, heralding a new era for UCD Science. The focus now is on fitting out the lab spaces with adaptability in mind, building in the flexibility to evolve as new technologies emerge over the coming decades. Thank you to all the alumni, corporate partners and supporters whose philanthropic donations are making this possible.

A library for all

The €35 million redevelopment of the iconic James Joyce Library is progressing at pace, with the current phase set to deliver a new Cultural Heritage Centre. This will house the National Folklore Collection and UCD’s Special Collections, and make these valuable resources more accessible to students and the wider public.

The Library is central to student life on campus, and having a warm, welcoming, safe place to study is paramount to the student experience. This is particularly important for the many students who spend full days on campus, bookended by long commutes to and from UCD, and those with less-than-ideal study environments at home.

The refurbished library will include around 3,000 study spaces (an increase of 46%), as well as neurodiversity-friendly sensory spaces. Accessibility and inclusion are at the heart of the design, which celebrates and supports the unique potential of each individual within our diverse student population.

In memory of Declan McCourt

Declan McCourt (15 April 1946 – 18 October 2024) was a visionary entrepreneur who was deeply committed to public service. He worked tirelessly to advance the ambitions of UCD Sutherland School of Law over many years in his role as chair of the Development Council, and he was instrumental in securing philanthropic funding for the Sutherland School building. A UCD alumnus himself, Declan was a great friend to the University and placed enormous value on education and scholarship. He supported philanthropic initiatives that transformed students’ lives through scholarships and bursaries.

To honour his memory it is fitting that the perpetual Declan McCourt Masters Scholarship in Law has been established, thanks to generous donations from UCD alumni and friends of Declan’s, including a founding gift from American businessman and philanthropist Mark Pigott.

Thank you

The generosity of our outstanding community of alumni, volunteers, strategic partners, and friends has an extraordinary and far-reaching impact. Thank you for all that you contribute to UCD’s success.

■ To learn more about how you can support these projects and other initiatives at UCD, contact UCD Foundation by email at info@ucdfoundation.ie or telephone 353 01 716 1406.