2005 Y FEBRUAR UniversityCelebrating the past, creating theCollege future Dublin www.ucd.ie/ucdtoday UCD president UCD increases Maria O’Halloran Seán Duke talks to Dr Hugh Brady on research funding meets Professor Liam Dr Emmeline Hill of UCD’s Strategic Plan by 50% in 2004. Kennedy, the new the Department of in interview with Professor Desmond director of the Clinton Animal Science Shane Kenny Fitzgerald, Institute vice-president for research talks to Paul Keenan 3 6 8 14 The learner-centred approach intrinsic to a Students can choose to take 10 ECTS modular system facilitates students’ different credits per year from any subject area aptitudes, interests, backgrounds and across the University (subject to timetabling UCD Horizons objectives. It accommodates varying levels pre-requisites and the availability of places). of progression and recognises different levels Students can pick modules within their of attainment. This in turn will open new subject area, deepening their knowledge, Modularisation pathways and opportunities for non- or from outside their programme, broadening traditional students, promoting wider access their learning experience. to and participation in higher education. The University ran a full communication The use of the internationally-recognised programme for 6th year second-level arrives at UCD students during January to provide them European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) will promote international mobility of with as much information as possible before Modularisation, when fully and completely First year students arriving on campus students. Periods spent studying abroad the CAO deadline. This campaign has implemented, offers important educational next September will enrol in fully can now be fully recognised as part of a publicised this very significant innovation and opportunities to the University and its modular, credit accumulation UCD programme, and students visiting UCD has raised the public profile of UCD as a students. The modular building blocks can be programmes. Branded UCD Horizons, will return with a clear credit value attached dynamic higher education institution. combined in new and interesting ways to this new approach offers students to their work. assemble innovative and exciting See http://www.ucd.ie/modularisation.htm greater flexibility and choice in how for more information for staff, and programmes, whether driven by strategic The UCD Horizons system will also increase http://www.ucd.ie/horizons for publicity for and what they study. focus, student demand or societal needs. student choice in an unprecedented manner. prospective students. Broaden your knowledge of Horizons www.ucd.ie/horizons what’s inside 3 Present Tense, Future Perfect? Shane Kenny meets with UCD President Dr Hugh Brady UCD Today... to discuss UCD’s Strategic Plan The past year has been one of remarkable activity One issue that repeatedly cropped up during the strategic plan 6 Knowledge is Power for UCD. Quite apart from the process of developing discussions was the identity of the university. As a newcomer to Professor Desmond Fitzgerald a new strategic plan, the university has stepped up its the staff (although twice a graduate), I have been interested reports a 50% increase in research in the importance staff and students place on having a visual funding. Paul Keenan reports research efforts and achieved a 50% increase in research funding, embraced a radical modularisation identity. Market research shows that although stakeholders have positive attitudes towards UCD, they do not tend to have a Soft Power Politics model that will transform the teaching and learning 8 tangible sense of the university. Part of the reason for this is Professor Liam Kennedy in experience for new students and launched the that we have not articulated adequately how we see ourselves. interview with Maria O'Halloran celebration of our 150th anniversary In the absence of an organisational identity, people describe the university in vague or even nebulous terms. 9 UCD 150 Celebrations With so much happening on campus, there was an obvious need to produce a publication, which would provide information on Developing a “brand” for the UCD 150 was a first step towards issues that affect staff, students and other UCD stakeholders. 14 Getting first past the post a visual articulation. The image we developed is vibrant and UCD Today aims to cover these issues as well as providing a Seán Duke talks to Dr Emmeline Hill confident. To make it easy to use, design guidelines and logo of the Department of Animal Science forum to highlight the work of academics throughout the downloads are accessible on the website: university. This edition includes articles on planning, international http://www.ucd.ie/150/styleguide.htm. 15 Rural Idyll, politics and the genetics of thoroughbred horses. They are just Urban Nightmare? a sample of the incredible range of research activity being carried The next branding exercise was the development of the UCD Professor Peter Clinch out at UCD. Horizons campaign in December. The UCD Horizons branding talks to Siobhán Creaton was the result of several rapid stages of market research with UCD has established a Communications, Development and potential and existing students as well as with staff and Alumni Relations (CDAR) board to support the objectives set 17 Student Life at UCD secondary school teachers. The outcome was a clean, clear out in the strategic plan. UCD Today is just one element of the campaign, which concentrated on radio with backup from communications programme. Through members of the CDAR 18 UCD leading the field in outdoor and press advertisements. The campaign encouraged board you have a conduit to promote the research and men and women’s soccer students to go to a dedicated section on the web Lindie Naughton reports achievements of your own area and to provide feedback on this http://www.ucd.ie/horizons/ or to pick up the booklet on UCD soccer success publication. The list of members of the CDAR board is on the on frequently asked questions. website: http://ucd.ie/communications. A Comment Undoubtedly UCD Horizons has achieved high public awareness 19 The celebration of UCD’s 150th anniversary gave us the A Tenth Discourse and by the time the new first years arrive on campus in opportunity to mark the impact of the university in a national September, modularisation will certainly be no surprise. and international context. The UCD Today calendar is full of 20 Calendar of Events at UCD events that publicise the achievements of staff, students and I look forward to receiving your comments and feedback on Network Corner @ UCD graduates, and provide us with the opportunity to present a UCD Today through the CADR board, and to receiving your positive and vibrant image of UCD to the world outside the news for inclusion in future editions of this magazine. campus. We have included a taste of the UCD 150 celebrations in this publication, and more comprehensive details are available Eilis O’Brien on the website: http://www.ucd.ie/150. Director of Communications Contributors: Print: Suzanne Bailey, Tony Carey, eBrook Siobhán Creaton, Séan Duke, Roland French, Dr Gerald Mills, Thanks to: Anne Marie Harvey, Frank Kennedy, Dr Pádraic Conway, Prof Catherine Shane Kenny, Susan Muldoon, Godson, Dr Gerald Mills, Patricia McCarron, Lindie Naughton, Prof Niamh Brennan, Dr Ann Lavan, Maria O’Halloran, Elaine Quinn, James Mc Guire, Jeff Weinberger, James Reilly, Mark Simpson, UCD 150 Committee, Communications, Micéal Whelan, Charlie Soland, Development and Alumni Simon Tierney, Paul Ward Relations Board Produced by: In the compilation of this publication, Eilis O’Brien, Victoria Bruce, every care has been taken to ensure Paul Keenan accuracy. Any errors or omissions should be brought to the attention of Design: the UCD Communications Office. Loman Cusack Design celebration 20052 Present Tense, Future Perfect? faculty dialogue groups, discussions within faculties and an external review group - the Washington Advisory Group. In addition the vice-presidents and I have spent hundreds of hours in direct discussions with staff. SK But you do accept that there is a considerable degree of concern and even anger in some quarters. Is it possible that you may be rushing through the restructuring process? HB I don’t think so. In terms of the timeframe, the need for restructuring was highlighted as early as January and February 2004. I fully appreciate the concerns that major change including structural change brings to SK The Strategic Plan sets out very clearly And yes, UCD is coming to this late in an organisation and brings to the that UCD wishes to be a research the day. Most UK universities and many individuals working within that intensive university in the top 30 of of the leading international universities organisation but ultimately this is about Europe and the top in Ireland. Is that began this type of process 15 to 20 UCD being the best. It’s about UCD realistically attainable for the University? years ago. There is an urgency because providing the best teaching and learning we are starting late but also there is an environment for the students. It’s about HB It is attainable, it is feasible and it is opportunity because we can look at the providing the most innovative and imperative. It will, however, be at least mistakes that others have made. creative research environment and a 10 year job to get there, given the Fundamentally, this is an academically it’s about maximising UCD’s impact intensity of the competition, given our driven rather than an administration- on Irish society. current funding levels and given the driven restructuring. reform that we need to go through to Implementation will by definition allow us to realise our full potential. SK Yet staff and students have require another level of consultation demonstrated against your plans and that began straight after Christmas. SK Why is it an imperative? and the unions says that no serious The difference this time is that the plan HB UCD has throughout its history played consultation has taken place.