In the south-west of Ireland, a university is driving the growth of a region that has become increasingly attractive for international study and foreign direct investment

Cork is Ireland’s second-largest city, located in the southwest of Ireland in what is considered one of the most beautiful regions of the country. This is a spectacular part of Ireland with dramatic coastlines, a rich food tradition, and a deep heritage that is favored by visitors for its natural beauty and accessibility. With the second-largest natural harbor in the world and an international airport, the city and region of Cork have experienced significant growth in recent years. More than 200 leading global companies are located in this region and Ireland’s leading university in the areas of industry engagement and sustainability is helping shape the minds and talents of tomorrow. 

Powering growth 

Established in 1845, University College Cork (UCC) nestles beside the city center in one of the most beautiful tree-lined campuses in Ireland. Perhaps its most famous alumnus is George Boole, whose Boolean algebra laid the foundations of the connected age, and who became UCC’s first professor of mathematics. Today UCC stands in the center of an impressive innovative research community that reaches from its iconic quadrangle to spark academic debate and drive economic growth. The research ecosystem in Cork inspires new understanding across the humanities and engages in frontier research in the areas of energy, climate change, photonics, and food and gut health. 

According to the Web of Science Group, Ireland has 32 pioneering scientists, 12 of whom are based at UCC. This is Ireland’s leading university for industry collaboration, and it works hard to ensure its connected curriculum inspires independent thinking. 

Diversity, equality, and inclusion are core values at UCC, and the student body of 21,000 includes 3,000 students from over 100 countries, adding to a culturally vibrant city. Students from across the world are drawn to UCC’s distinctive connected education, with a strong skills and employability focus delivered through co-curricular and extra-curricular learning experiences. 

Cutting-edge research feeds directly into the integrated curriculum at UCC which continually seeks new ways to enhance the learning experience through agility in the design and delivery of new programs of research and study. UCC graduates consistently have the highest employability rate in Ireland, while its innovation and entrepreneurship program has created over 35 spin out companies supporting over 600 jobs in the last ten years. 

A connected university 

“Over a decade ago we charted a course to be a leading global university that engages and develops our students, works with our community, and partners with industry to create a sustainable future,” commented Professor John O’Halloran, Interim President of UCC. UCC reframed its curriculum to focus on the skills, knowledge, and abilities of graduates, beyond disciplinary content knowledge. Over the past decade, a student-led, research-informed, and practice-focused sustainability model drove a new approach to UCC operations, and this work is now paying dividends. “The strong links between research, learning, and teaching have been key to UCC’s success and this approach will underpin our nurturing of the next generation of independent thinkers and our contribution to the regional innovation ecosystem,” commented Professor O’Halloran. 

Ireland’s global sustainability leader 

UCC was the world’s first Green Flag university and is consistently ranked as Ireland’s leader in the area of sustainability through its research, education, and practices. The university was recently ranked eighth in the world by the Times Higher Education Impact rankings which assessed 1,000 universities across the world on how they are working to drive the creation of a sustainable future and embedding the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UCC was also the first university outside the USA and Canada to be awarded Sustainability Tracking Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Gold from the Association for the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). Later this year, UCC will be the only Irish university with observer status at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. “Together with our students and staff, we seek to inspire and lead change towards a sustainable future,” commented Professor O’Halloran. 

A bright future 

As UCC has grown, so too has the city of Cork and the region. Seven of the world’s top ten pharma companies are located in the region, and recently Apple celebrated 40 years at their Cork campus. The city has a long history as a bridge to America and Europe. “UCC has been part of this community for 175 years, and we continue to be a force for positive change. Our alumni community radiates out across the world, and while we are a locally-rooted university, we are proud of our global impact,” commented Professor O’Halloran.