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UCC launches transformational Academic Strategy

5 Dec 2018

University College Cork (UCC) has launched an ambitious Academic Strategy that will transform the UCC learning experience and landscape for the future.

The UCC Academic Strategy outlines a new and holistic approach to education that champions the capacity for independent thinking and enquiry, equipping students with the skills required for our rapidly evolving labour market, society and environment.  

Speaking at the launch of the Academic Strategy, UCC’s Deputy President and Registrar Professor John O’Halloran said: “Sixty percent of the jobs that our young people will have don’t even exist yet, according to the World Economic Forum, so our graduates need to be flexible as well as hard-working and skilled. With an eye on supporting the future needs of industry and preparing our graduates to be work ready and world ready, we have introduced the Connected Curriculum which links teaching and research to a core set of values - global citizenship; sustainability; research-based curriculum; creative knowledge and social responsibility - underpinned by the UN sustainability goals.

‘This is UCC’s horizon’ - launches the first Academic Strategy outlining the and a connected curriculum for the future- presents the Academic Strategy in the Ails Max this evening

— Renate Murphy (@renatemurphy)

"With education and talent comes responsibility – so people must be able to change and create a different world. The connected curriculum puts vital skills and values at the heart of our students’ learning experience to equip them to do just that.”

Today launched its academic strategy with sustainability a key component of the . What a great institution to be part of and congrats to our Green Forum chair !

— UCC Green Campus (@GreenCampusUCC)

One of Ireland’s first academic strategies to be published, the new strategy builds on UCC’s strong foundation for delivery and success. Set against the backdrop of a doubling in student numbers over the last decade to over 21,000, a 93% student retention rate, and being ranked in Europe’s top 50 universities for learning and teaching, the strategy outlines a number of priorities and initiatives to ensure UCC remains at the cutting edge and a top-ranked global university.

Hugely proud to be part of - congrats and team... an innovative and inclusive strategy for staff and students.

— Fiona Kearney (@fionakearney)

Professor O’Halloran added: “The strategy outlines our vision for a Connected University with a renewed academic mission that will connect our research excellence to our curriculum, and connect our university, staff and students to a dynamic workplace and skillsets required for the future.”

It was a great honor to have been asked to speak at the launch of the Academic Strategy this evening! It’ll be part of completely changing the landscape of UCC and its graduates for years to come

— Aaron Frahill (@UCCSUEducation)

The new UCC Academic Strategy recognises the innovation in course development at UCC and maintains a strong focus on employability; current employment rates of UCC graduates are 94%. Sustainability, inter and trans-disciplinarity as well as civic and community engagement are core to the Connected Curriculum.  Reforming academic governance and ensuring effective assessment have been identified as key policy areas in the Academic Strategy.

The launch of UCC’s first ever academic strategy. The complexity of education tackled in 6 priorities. Congratulations to UCC for being at the forefront of strategically planning our future!

— Alan Hayes- SU (@UCCSUPresident)

Lifelong and life-wide learning is at the heart of the Connected Curriculum, to support students to achieve their potential academically, personally and professionally.  Curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular experiences will be intentionally connected to equip them with a set of distinctive skills and aptitudes that contribute to a better society, economy and environment. 

Congratulations and everyone involved in putting together the first academic strategy at lovely to be at the launch this evening & especially to hear such positive & inspiring feedback from students already.

— Dr Aoife Granville (@aoifegranville)

UCC President Professor Patrick O’Shea welcomed the Academic Strategy 2018 – 2022 stating: “We want to challenge students to be the best that they can be and to create more value than they consume as scholars, entrepreneurs and citizens. Our Connected University will positively impact society locally, nationally and internationally. Through innovation, dedication and our tradition of independent thinking, we believe this Academic Strategy will successfully lead UCC into the future of education.”

I’m very excited to be at the launch for our new Academic Strategy. UCC is a leader amongst Universities and this is a prime example of that! Congratulations to and his team for all of their hard work on this document. As always, we were delighted to be involved.

— Kelly Coyle (@UCCSUDeputy)

Congratulations to and his team for launching first ever Academic Strategy this evening! Striking in its brevity it encompasses a vision with a difference for UCC students

— LaunchPad UCC (@LaunchPadUCC)

It was fantastic to see Mature Student Fayza Balsaim at the launch of the first academic strategy tonight. Congratulations to and all involved - what an exciting time for students and staff!

— UCC Mature Student Office (@UCC_MSO)

Academic Strategy Launch The Connected University 2018-2022

— Tomás Tyner (@TomasTyner)

For more on this story contact:

Renate Murphy, CAMEO Communications: 086 8145462 or renate@cameo.ie.