University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin
From Free net encyclopedia
Template:IrishUniInfoBox University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin - more commonly University College Dublin (UCD) - is Ireland's largest university, with over 20,000 students. It is located in Dublin, capital of Ireland.
The university is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland. The terms of the Universities Act, 1997 were used to rename the university after resolution by the Senate of the National University of Ireland.
Contents |
History
The university can trace its history to 1854 as the Catholic University of Ireland, the modern university received its charter in 1908.
Origins
Image:UCD1911.PNG The origins of University College Dublin date back to the Catholic University of Ireland which was founded in the mid-nineteenth century by Paul Cullen and John Henry Newman. In 1883 University College Dublin was founded by transferring the faculties of the Catholic University, except medicine, to the new college. Among the professors during this phase of UCD’s history was the poet Gerard Manley Hopkins and amongst its most famous pupils was the writer James Joyce. In 1908, University College Dublin was granted its own charter and was incorporated as a constituent college of the National University of Ireland; at this time the Catholic University Medical School was finally transferred and became the Faculty of Medicine of the college. Under the Universities Act, 1997, University College Dublin was established as a constituent university within the National University of Ireland framework.
Confusingly University College, Dublin was not part of the University of Dublin whose only college is Trinity College, Dublin. It was proposed during the late 1960s that the two colleges would merge under a newly reconstituted "University of Dublin", but due to protests from both student bodies this did not happen. Additionally in the early 1970s there was a proposal for university reorganisation to see the university college created as a university in its own right.
Move to Belfield
In the 1950s, University College, Dublin began a move from its Earlsfort Terrace campus, the previous headquarters of the Royal University of Ireland, to a new 350 acre (1.4 km²) park campus at Belfield in a suburb on the south side of Dublin, this was part of a plan which started in the mid 1930s which was to encourage the creation of a modern campus university style and took several decades to implement. By 2003, most of the university had moved out to Belfield. One of its previous locations, the Royal College of Science in Merrion Street is now the location of the renovated Irish Government Buildings, where the office of the Taoiseach (prime minister) is located. University College, Dublin also had a site in Glasnevin for much of the last century, the Albert Agricultural College, which is now part of Dublin City University.
UCD Dublin
Image:UCD - NUI, Dublin.png The new logo of the university which incorporates the words UCD Dublin, has been the subject of some controversy since its introduction in August 2005 at a cost of €30,000. The main bone of contention seems to be the name, thus creating the confusing, University College Dublin, Dublin and also creating the false impression of a name change. It appears the inclusion slipped passed all levels during the decision process and has been compared to other such acronym-related mishaps as ATM machine or PIN number, often referred to as RAS syndrome.
Academic
Colleges and Schools
During 2005 UCD underwent substantial restructuring. The university now consists of five colleges, their associated schools (35 in total) and eleven research institutes and centres. Each college also has their own Graduate School, for postgraduates.
The new colleges and schools are:
- School of Archaeology
- School of Art History & Cultural Policy
- School of Classics
- School of English & Drama
- School of History & Archives
- School of Irish, Celtic Studies, Irish Folklore & Linguistics
- School of Languages, Literatures & Film
- School of Music
- School of Business
- School of Law
- School of Architecture, Landscape & Civil Engineering
- School of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering
- School of Computer Science & Informatics
- School of Electrical, Electronic & Mechanical Engineering
- School of Geological Sciences
- School of Mathematical Sciences
- School of Physics
- School of Applied Social Science
- School of Economics
- School of Education & Lifelong Learning
- School of Geography, Planning & Environmental Policy
- School of Information & Library Studies
- School of Philosophy
- School of Politics & International Relations
- School of Psychology
- School of Social Justice
- School of Sociology
- School of Agriculture, Food Science & Veterinary Medicine
- School of Biology & Environmental Science
- School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science
- School of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
- School of Medicine & Medical Science
- School of Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems
- School of Physiotherapy & Performance Science
- School of Public Health & Population Science
UCD Horizons
At the beginning of the 2005/2006 academic year, UCD introduced the Horizons [1] programme, which completely semesterised and modularised all undergraduate courses for incoming first years. Previously, new students chose from a specific set of subjects in their individual programme courses. Under the Horizons programme, new undergraduate students have greater choice in what exactly they study in their programme. Under the new programme students choose ten modules from their specific subject area and two other modules, which can be choosen from any other course programme across the entire university system. For example, a student studying first year business as their primary degree programme can also choose one module (or two) from the first year law programme (subject to space available and timetable constraints, etc.). While the university authorities believe that Horizons and modularisation are the way forward for UCD, many students have raised their voices in criticism of the new system. In particular, continuing undergraduate students have called for more time and consultation into the feasibility of complete modularisation (of all years) which is scheduled to take place by 2006 or 2007.
Reputation
UCD is highly regarded internationally with many of its graduates going on to post-graduate studies at other top international universities, particularly in the United States and Britain. Among its most accomplished alumni are the writers James Joyce, Flann O'Brien, John McGahern, Frank McGuinness, former Goldman Sachs chairman Peter Sutherland (who was also chairman of BP and was previously head of the WTO, European Union Commissioner and the Attorney-General of Ireland), Unilever chairman Niall Fitzgerald, former Heinz chairman Tony O'Reilly, the fourth President of India V V Giri, and three of the last six taoisigh (Irish prime ministers): John Bruton, Dr. Garret Fitzgerald and Charles Haughey. The current taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, attended UCD as a student but did not graduate.
Research and Innovation
The University is a leading research centre within Ireland, many of its schools are the largest and most productive of their type in the country. There are currently over five thousand postgraduate students engaged in postgraduate study and research within UCDs five graduate schools, more than in any other university in Ireland. Amongst the research institutes of the university are:
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases
- Centre for Synthesis and Chemical Biology
- Clinton Institute for American Studies
- Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research
- Geary Institute (Research for the Social Sciences)
- Global Irish Institute
- Humanities Institute of Ireland
- Micheal O'Cleirigh Institute (Irish History & Civilisation)
- National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training
- National Institute of Sport and Health
- Urban Institute of Ireland
The most prominent university-related company is the IE Domain Registry; many of the university's academics continue to sit on the board of directors. The university originally gained control of the .ie domain in the late 1980s.
There are a number of related companies, many concentrated as the NovaUCD initiative, to commercialise research results and opportunities; many of these reflect the university's expertise in the life sciences. These companies include Cytrea, a chemistry group that specialises in cyclodextrin formulations for pharmaceuticals. Analytical Drug and Data (ADD) has over 25 years experience in brain research. Celtic Catalysts is involved in chiral chemistry research. Enzolve is an enzyme and protein commercialisation group; Ildana Biotech is a joint group with Dublin City University. Berand concentrates on the development of new chemicals for disease treatment.
Student Life
The Students Union
The Students' Union UCDSU in the college has been an active part of campaigns run by the National Union, USI, and has played a highly significant role in the life of the college since its foundation in 1974.
The Union has also taken significant stances on issues of human rights that have hit the headlines in Ireland and around the world, particularly in becoming the first institution in the world to implement a boycott of Coca-Cola products on the basis of alleged human and trade union rights in Colombia.
All full and part time undergraduate and postgraduate students of UCD are members of the Students' Union.
Its main Governing Body is the Union Council which meets every 2 weeks during term. Council membership consists of the Five Sabbatical officers the executive officers and class representatives elected by union members in their respective constituencies. The five sabbatical officers are involved in the day to day running of the union. Their term commences in the month of July after the election and lasts for 12 months. Sabbatical Elections take place in February of each year. Sabbatical officers are usually students who have completed their degree course or have taken a year out.
Societies
Clubs
Student Publications
Notable Academics
- Professor Declan Kiberd
- Professor Terence Dolan
- Dr Frank McGuinness
See also
- Education in the Republic of Ireland
- List of universities in the Republic of Ireland
- List of University College Dublin people
External links
fr:University College of Dublin no:University College Dublin