Dublin City University

Dublin City University
Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath
Latin: Universitas Urbis Dubliniae
Established	1975 (University status from 1989)
Chancellor	Dr. Martin McAleese
President	Professor Brian MacCraith
Academic staff	440 (2006) [1]
Students	11,126
Location	Dublin, Ireland 53°23′06″N 6°15′24″W / 53.384954°N 6.256542°W / 53.384954; -6.256542Coordinates: 53°23′06″N 6°15′24″W / 53.384954°N 6.256542°W / 53.384954; -6.256542
Campus	Urban, 38 hectares (95 acres)
Former names	National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin
Colours
Affiliations	AMBA ESB Reutlingen EUA IUA UI
Website	http://www.dcu.ie/

Dublin City University (abbreviated as DCU) (Irish: Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath) is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland. Created as the National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin in 1975, it enrolled its first students in 1980 and was elevated to university status (along with the University of Limerick) in 1989 by statute.

The university currently has around 6,000 undergraduate students, over 600 research postgraduates, 1,800 taught postgraduate students and over 35,000 alumni. In addition the university has around 1,100 distance education (Oscail^[2]) students.

There were 440 academic staff in 2006. Notable members of the academic staff include former Taoiseach John Bruton and "thinking" Guru Edward De Bono. Bruton accepted a position as Adjunct Faculty Member in the School of Law and Government in early 2004 and De Bono accepted an adjunct Professorship in the university in mid 2005.

The founding president of the institution was Dr Danny O'Hare, who retired in 1999 after 22 years' service. After a period of administration by an acting president (Professor Albert Pratt), Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski, was appointed and continued as president for a full term, which ended in July 2010. He was succeeded by current president, Professor Brian MacCraith.

History

Former logo

See also: Albert College (Dublin)

Lime Avenue (Ballymun Road Entrance)

Collins Avenue Entrance

The institution was created in 1975, on an ad-hoc basis, and on June 18 that year Dr Danny O'Hare was made acting director of the institution, and a day later the first governing body met. It was intended at this stage that the institution become the unified structure under which the colleges of what later became Dublin Institute of Technology would unite, but by 1978 it became apparent that this would not be the case and instead an independent institution developed with a distinct identity and mission.^[3]

In 1979, the institution was located on an 344,000 m² (85 acre) site 5 km (3.1 mi) from the city centre, just north of Dublin City Council's Albert College Park; the Albert College Building is the only significant remaining building from before this period. The Henry Grattan building was the first new building completed in 1981, along with the adjoining restaurant, and many buildings have been added since, to form a modern university campus.

The total area of the main campus is approximately 202,000 m² (50 acres) and is bordered by Collins Avenue, Albert College Park, Ballymun Road, Hillside Farm and St. Aidan's School. There are another 142,000 m² (35 acres) at St. Clare's Sports Grounds on the west side of Ballymun Road. This part of the campus also includes the Sports Pavilion. A further 40,000 m² (9.9 acres) (including Elmhurst House) situated along Griffith Avenue have been acquired. Entrances to the main campus are from Ballymun Road, to the west, and Collins Avenue, to the north.^[4][5]

The early focus of the institution was, in particular, on science and technology, although it has also had, and has, a large business school. It has recently developed a presence also in the performing arts and in the humanities. DCU is also famous for its programme of work placement or INTRA^[6] (INtegrated TRAining), which was the first such programme in Ireland.

As of 2008 there are over 35,000 graduates of Dublin City University.

There was a plan in 2002 to base the headquarters of the Irish Academy for the Performing Arts^[7] in DCU, but this was later scrapped.

Electronic Engineering and Computer Applications

Electronic Engineering and Computer Applications were among the first degree courses offered by the college, in 1980 (Communications was another). The Computer Applications course in DCU is more in demand than any other computer degree in Ireland, it has three times more first preferences through the Central Applications Office system than the next most sought after computer course in Ireland, Computer Science in Trinity College, Dublin. With 300 places per year, it also has the largest student intake of any computer science degree in Ireland (compared to 64 places per year in the computer science degree in TCD or 50 places per year in the computer science degree in UCD).

Note: Dublin City University uses the term "computer applications" in a way some consider to be rather broad. Computer Applications is normally a subset of computer science, but the subjects covered in the Computer Applications course DCU effectively make it a computer science course with a more practical, workplace-ready, slant, including an INTRA placement. DCU can afford to include the practical side of computer science because its courses are semesterized effectively allowing the college to fit more subject modules into a smaller time period.

About

The Central Mall in DCU stretching from the Henry Grattan building to the O'Reilly Library in the background.

The Helix Theatre

Environmentally friendly "pod" shaped lecture theatres layered with titanium panels at the former Eeolas Institute's DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship, sole component of the Eeolas Institute, and reopened in 2009 on a standalone basis at CityWest Business Park

DCU has extensive teaching and research facilities, including television and sound studios, computer laboratories and networking facilities, language and interpreting laboratories, a video-conferencing suite, and print and graphical laboratories. These are in addition to modern research and teaching laboratories in the areas of physics, chemistry, biology and engineering.

The university has a particularly strong research record, is sometimes described as a research-led university, and has regularly been recorded as bringing in more research income per members of faculty - or indeed as a percentage of total income - than any other university in Ireland^{[citation needed]}. Its research team working on sensors at the National Centre for Sensor Research is considered one of the best in the world^{[citation needed]}.

Facilities

There is an InterFaith Centre^[8] located on the campus, a crèche,^[9] a medical centre,^[10] a Counselling Service,^[11] and a Disability Service.^[12]

Other social facilities include The Venue (Student Arts Theatre, aka omega[Ω], capacity:1000), a Ticketmaster outlet, a "Digital Café",^[13] club and society meeting and seminar rooms, two Starbucks, one at the main restaurant (the first in Ireland) and one in the Sports Building, three pool rooms and a "Glass Room" for band practice.

There is also a campus company, Dublin City University Language Services,^[14] and a VHI Swiftcare Clinic.^[15]

Retail facilities include six restaurants and two bars, a Spar^[16] shop, pharmacy,^[17] Barber, Student's Union Shop, Allied Irish Bank^[18] branch, Xerox reprographic centre,^[19] Hodges Figgis^[20] bookshop, a second-hand bookshop and a beauty salon^[21] in the sports centre.

Culture and arts

The Centre for Talented Youth and The Helix a purpose built "performance space", which includes Ireland's largest concert hall, the Mahony Hall, are both part of the university.

DCU also has a campus radio station called DCUfm.^[22]

An Arts Committee^[23] was established in 1983 and has since acquired more than 300 works of art, including paintings, tapestries and sculptures, for the university. The Collection includes works by artists such as Louis le Brocquy, Cecil King, Patrick Scott, Michael Warren, Stephen Lawlor, Brian Bourke, Victor Sloan, Barrie Cooke and William Crozier, to name but a few.

Entrepreneurship

Dublin City University has a large number of graduate entrepreneurs and these form part of the DCU Alumni Entrepreneur Network which is run by the Alumni Office. Invent, the commercialisation gateway of DCU, is home to the Entrepreneurs' Organisation. It also hosts the Irish arm of the US-based National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), which helps young people from less well-off backgrounds to build skills and unlock creativity. The University launched the eEolas Institute, and its sole project, the Ryan Academy of Entrepreneurship, in Citywest Business Park, but this was reported as having closed in early 2008. Subsequently the Ryan Academy has been re-opened in the same location, under a new Director.^[24]

The new Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship exists to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. The iconic building in Citywest is designed as a dynamic hub for entrepreneurs and Giovanni Rasputin researchers to develop ideas, learn new skills and network. The Ryan Academy is working with researchers and entrepreneurs to help them achieve their potential. The Academy believes that the Social Economy will play a key role in Ireland’s economic recovery and we are committed to providing leadership and support to this key sector. The Academy delivers short courses on a wide range of topics from Social Enterprise Development to Foresight and Future Trends. As well as for-profit entrepreneurship the Academy also works in the area of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise.

Registration and application

Most undergraduates enter DCU via the Central Applications Office process. DCU allows students to "de-register" and switch courses, this causes an artificially high non-completion rate (among the highest for the university sector), as the movement of these students (mainly first year undergraduates) into other courses within the university is not taken into account by university league tables^{[citation needed]}.

The university recently completed an agreement with the Postgraduate Applications Centre in Galway.

Corporate identity

The university's current corporate identity^[25] dates from 2001 when Ferdinand von Prondzynski, the then new President, decided to rebrand as he considered the previous "three castles" logo out of date and not representative of the university's vision as a modern and "networked" research university.^[26]

Rankings

The university was named Irish University of the Year 2004-2005 by the Sunday Times, UK. It was also ranked No 2^[27] in the league table of Irish universities in the same newspaper that year, and 4th in the two subsequent league tables.^[28]

The university is one of three establishments of higher education in the Republic of Ireland which are ranked amongst the top 300 universities worldwide by the Times Higher Education Supplement.^{[29][30][31][32]}

The university was named "Irish University of the Year" by the Sunday Times newspaper once again for the 2010-2011 academic year.^[33]

Organisation

Chancellors

• Dr. Tom Hardiman (? - 2001)
• Hon Ms Justice Mella Carroll (2001 - 2006)
• David Byrne (2006 - 2011)
• Senator Martin McAleese (2011 - )

Academic

The academic organisation of the university is arranged into faculties and schools. DCU has recently undergone some reorganisation on the faculty level, with the School of Education Studies being incorporated into the School of Humanities and Social Science, and the School of Computing being incorporated into the engineering faculty. There are currently four faculties.^[34]

DCU houses on-campus the country's first purpose-built university nursing school.^[35] The University established was the first University in Ireland to establish a European Master of Business Informatics course.

DCU offers a number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes delivered through its distance education centre - Oscail,.^[36] It is also the location for all professional Actuarial exams^[37] in the Republic of Ireland. It also has a Prometric Test Centre^[38] and is the test centre for Ireland's Graduate Management Admission Test.

There are also a number of independent colleges associated with the university, each of which has its own academic structures. The university started its first link with an external college in 1993, with an agreement with St Patrick's in nearby Drumcondra. Since then it has developed such activities, now validating courses and conferring diplomas and degrees at several colleges, three in north Dublin, three south of the Liffey. There are currently six linked institutions:^[39]

• All Hallows College
• Mater Dei Institute of Education
• St Patrick's College of Education
• Royal Irish Academy of Music
• The Gaiety School of Acting
• Turning Point

Controversy

There has also been some controversy and litigation at the university over time.^[40][41][42] Controversy began over the wording and adoption of new university statutes on suspension and dismissal of staff by the Governing Authority, on the recommendation of the president, as required by the Universities Act 1997.^[43] In 2002, the Labour Court recommended that this statute be rewritten ^[44] and this has been followed by long-running negotiations between the university and the trade union representing staff, SIPTU; In 2008 a vote organised by SIPTU led to a majority of staff who voted declaring no confidence in the management of the university in its conduct of these negotiations.^[45][46]

In 2002, a Rights Commissioner recommended re-instatement of a tenured lecturer following the university's decision to treat his employment as having been terminated on grounds that he had 'repudiated' his contract.^[47] Following a substantial delay, an appeal from the Rights Commissioner's recommendation by the university commenced at the Employment Appeals Tribunal in July 2009 and continued in December 2009 and January 2010.^[48] During the hearing in 2009 there was significant emphasis on statements made by the lecturer in his blog throughout 2009, which were deemed by von Prondzynski and others to be highly defamatory.

There was further controversy surrounding accusations of gender discrimination against a female member of academic staff who won her case and appeal at Equality Appeals Tribunal.^[49][50]

There was also costly litigation following the purported termination by the university of the appointment of an associate professor in 2006, in which the High Court ruled against DCU on the grounds of failure to follow procedures, tenure and natural justice.^[51] This case was appealed by the university and led to a 2009 Supreme Court hearing, in which judgment was reserved until 9 December 2009, with DCU again losing.^[52]

The president attracted criticism from some staff over his deferral of elections to the university Executive when it involved the candidacy of the purported dismissed academic, with von Prondzynski commenting that he could not see how the professor could become a member of the Executive advising him while at the same time stressing his openness to a range of views.^[53]

Members of the Green Party raised questions about management tactics in a labour dispute at the university when the party were in opposition, asking whether the university was in breach of the Universities Act, 1997.^{[54][55][56][57][58]}

Governance

In accordance with legislation, the University is directed by a policy-making Governing Body,^[59] whose functions are outlined in the National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin, Act, 1980,^[60] amended in the Dublin City University Act, 1989^[61] which raised the institution's status to that of a university and provided for related matters. There are several other important acts concerning the college include the Universities Act, 1997,^[62] which allows for the creation of University Statutes.^[63]

The Governing Body's members are chosen by a wide range of groups and authorities, and include members elected by staff (in various classes) and students (ex-officio based on elections of Students Union officers). Graduates, who used to elect two members, now elect one member, and for some years there has been at least one other graduate member, put forward by the Educational Trust, at any time.

The university is headed, titularly, by the Chancellor. The current Chancellor of Dublin City University is Ireland's former EU Commissioner and Attorney General, David Byrne. He was preceded by the Hon Ms Justice Mella Carroll who in turn was preceded by Dr. Tom Hardiman.^[64]

Academic Governance

Academic Council and its Standing Committee oversee the teaching and research work of the university, and there are Faculty and other administrative structures below that. Most academic structures do have student representation.

Executive Management

The President, currently Professor Brian MacCraith, is the "chief officer" of the university, with a role sometimes compared to that of a chief executive officer.

Other elements of management include an Executive (Committee), the Deans (of Faculties, of Research and of Learning Innovation), Heads of School and Chairs of Programme Boards.

Copyright Act

The Copyright Act, 1963,^[65] as amended by the act of 1989, states that every university in the Republic of Ireland is entitled to one copy of every publication published within the state, and on this basis the Library of DCU can claim such copies.

DCU Educational Trust

The University is supported by a charitable Trust, named the "DCU Educational Trust".^[66] The Trust, whose main work is in fund-raising, and which has a small staff, hosts the Alumni Association.

Student activities

See also: DCU Students' Union

Clubs and societies

There are a broad variety of clubs and societies, representing a wide range of interests such as culture, computer games and sport - as well as academic - interests, and numbering more than 100 in total.^[67][68][69]

Governing Committees

Societies and Clubs receive financial support from a proportion of capitation fees, and are governed solely by student committees. The Society Life Committee (SLC) and The Club Life Committee (CLC) governs and drives policy and funding for societies and clubs at DCU. Student facilities for societies are mostly based in the Student Centre - The Hub.

Arts

Drama

DCU's Drama Society has a long history of performance on the DCU campus, hosting many productions for the public every year, including its annual flagship event, the DCU Musical. In 2009, DCU's musical, RENT , was nominated for the Best Overall Show award, and the Best Director award with the Association of Irish Musical Societies.^[70] DCU Drama reprised RENT at The Olympia, one of Dublin's oldest and most respected performance venues, in what was a first for an Irish University Society ^[71] from the 15th - 20 June 2009. DCU Drama also sends plays to be adjudicated for the Irish Student Drama Association awards.^[72] DCU Drama won the Best National College Society award at the Board of Irish College Societies awards in 2002, 2003 and 2008, as well as being nominated for Best Society Event nationwide for "The Full Monty" in 2007 and "RENT" in 2009.^[73]

Music

As one of DCU's biggest and most active societies, Music Society organises lessons, workshops, concerts, open mic nights, trips to concerts, weekends away, an intervarsity Battle of the Bands and a myriad of other events every year. The Battle of the Bands is its main event, with participants coming from colleges nationwide. The 2010 Battle of the Bands is taking place on March 29 in DCU.^[74] Music Society won the award for Best Society in DCU in 2007.^[75]

Media

Radio

DCUfm - Logo of DCU's student run radio station

DCUfm is a student-run radio station. The station airs regular programmes from 8:30am until 11:00pm each weekday, streaming from their website, dcufm.com. Its programmes cover arts, news, sport, the Irish language and music, and the station is currently staffed by over 100 active volunteers.

The DCUfm website won 'website of the year' at the annual Board of Irish College Societies Awards in 2010 (BICS)^[76] and the National Student Media Awards in 2011. DCUfm is a part of the Media Production Society at DCU, which won 'best society' at the 2011 and DCU Society Awards 'most improved society' at the BICS also in 2010.^[77] Six DCUfm staff were nominated for prizes at the 2010 National Student Media Awards for their work at the station,^[78] and the station won two awards on the night ^[79] Five DCUfm staff were nominated the following year with the station taking four of the five available awards on the night.

In addition to their website the station has an active Twitter account,^[80] Facebook page,^[81] and Flickr stream.^[82]

Television

DCUtv is operated by DCU's Media Production Society.^[83] DCU is the first university in Ireland to produce a feature length film.^[84] The film, named Six Semesters, was funded by the university and made entirely by its students.

Publications

There are several publications distributed throughout university:

• Campus (defunct)- Official DCUSU Magazine.
• The College View – Student Newspaper^[85]
• Flashback - An end of sesmter review magazine for DCU, St. Patrick's and Mater Dei
• The Look - A fashion supplement included with The College View^[86]
• WAF Magazine - mysterious un-official publication that satirises the Students' Union and clubs/societies.^{[citation needed]}
• An Tarbh (defunct) – DCU student union weekly news and views magazine.
• The Bullsheet (defunct) - DCU journalism students news and satirical newspaper
• DCU Book Society anthology - A yearly collection of short stories and poems by DCU students
• Flux

There is also a magazine for staff and alumni:

• DCU TIMES - University magazine^[87]

Facilities

Accommodation

In Ireland, on-campus accommodation in the newer universities is a relatively new innovation. Since the mid 1990s, all Irish universities have built up a stock of modern campus accommodation, although on-campus living is still the minority choice for students. Most accommodation is of apartment rather than halls of residence type and is managed by a University company, DCU Campus Residences.^[88]

The university has built several modern apartment and residences. Larkfield Apartments have 128 units, each with two study bedrooms and a shared living, kitchen and dining area within each unit. The Postgraduate Residences have 37 apartments, each with two, three or four en-suite bedrooms. The Hampstead Apartments consist of 61 units, each with three or five en-suite bedrooms and a shared living, kitchen and dining area. The College Park Apartments consist of 93 units, each with four or five en-suite bedrooms and a shared living, kitchen and dining area.^[89][90]

Sport

University Sports Complex

Sports facilities on the campus include a sports complex^[91] and fitness centre which incorporates: an aerobics studio, spinning studio, quiet studio, four sports halls, two squash courts, a glass-backed handball/racquetball court, a gallery that accommodates table tennis and a body conditioning arena, a floodlit astroturf hockey pitch and seven grass pitches for a variety of sports, eight enclosed five-a-side third generation rubbercrumb AstroTurf soccer pitches, a rock climbing hall, a four-lane 75 metre indoor sprint track and a fully equipped gym outfitted with cardiovascular machines, free weights and resistance machines. Specialist sports trainers are always on hand in the Sports Complex to advise on fitness regimes. In 2005, the sports complex offered 37 classes^[92] per week, covering everything from aerobics to weight training. The sports complex also includes a twenty-five metre, five-lane, deck level swimming pool with tepidarium, footbaths, spa pool, steam room, wellness spa, ice fountain, laconium, multi-jet pulse showers, scented multi-jet super shower and sauna. It opened in January 2005 and has Ireland's largest elite sports performance gym.

The main sports hall can be divided into three full size volleyball, badminton or basketball courts. The facilities at St. Clare's Sports Ground include the Sports Pavilion, two GAA pitches, two soccer pitches, one rugby pitch and one floodlit astroturf pitch for hockey or soccer.^[93]

There are ten tennis courts at the National Tennis Training Centre in Albert College Park (four indoor acrylic courts, three outdoor hardcourts and three outdoor clay courts)^[94] and a further five tennis courts are situated at Glasnevin Lawn Tennis Club adjacent to St. Clare's Sports Grounds. There is also a GAA pitch, a grass athletic track and four or six soccer pitches (depending on configuration) in the Albert College Park.

The DCU Sports Academy^[95] was launched in November 2006. Membership of the Sports Academy will entitle those selected to special scholarships and supports worth up to €10,000 each including on-campus accommodation, financial support towards college books and tuition fees, personal tuition, access to key national and International competitions, physiotherapy and massage, sports nutrition advice and high performance education talks and workshops.

The complex won the "Sports centre of the Year Award" in 2009.^[96]

Library

DCU has always had a dedicated library and as a deposit library, it is entitled legally to a copy of every book published in the Republic of Ireland.^[97]

The O'Reilly Foundation made a substantial contribution towards the new library building, The John and Aileen O`Reilly Library^{[citation needed]}. The building was designed by the Scott, Tallon, Walker^[98] architecture firm.

Library users can avail of photocopying, printing and scanning facilities, access newspapers and journals,^[99] read microfilms, watch videos and DVDs and access the internet. Dedicated laptop network points and wireless network access are available on three floors of the library.

DCU library is part of the IReL (Irish Research E-Library) consortium, allowing staff and students full access to over 100 academic databases.^[100]

In November 2008, DCU Library launched DORAS, an open access institutional repository, to promote the university's research by providing free online access to DCU's research publications and theses.^[101]

Other

There are three licensed premises on the campus, also selling a wide selection of food; the "old bar", the "nu bar" (aka beta [β]), The Helix and Spar (off-license). However, in early 2007 Spar stopped selling any alcoholic products indefinitely, and it remains to be seen whether or not they will renew their licence in the future. Prior to this there were four licenced premises, but this itself followed a long period with only one licenced location, and up until 1992, there were no such premises on campus at all.

There are several restaurants^[102] and cafes; the Main Restaurant and the first Starbucks (in Ireland) are located in the Pavilion building. Zero-1 is located in the basement of the O`Reilly Library. The Invent Centre, The Helix, Nursing School and Business School each have their own restaurants. The 1838 Club^[103] is a restaurant for academic staff and postgraduate research students, it is located in the Albert College Building. There is a second Starbucks located in the Sports Complex, the third in Ireland after Microsoft Ireland. There is also a digital cafe and Xbox gaming arena above the main restaurant, The Mezzanine. In 2009 the Mezzanine is in the process of relocation to the seminar room in DCU's student centre 'The Hub'^[104]

DCU has recently acquired additional lands adjacent to its main campus, which will be developed to add on to the University's sports facilities.^{[105][106][107]}

DCU plans to build a 10,000 seat indoor stadium and running track at its Sports Grounds.^{[108][109][110]}

DCU has launched an affinity credit card scheme to raise funds for the University, as well as the Annual Fund, which includes facilities for regular donors, and the Leadership Circle which gives recognition to regular donors who commit minimum annual amounts.

It is planned that the university will have ‘stop’ on the ‘Metro North’ line which is to be completed by 2016.

Research

• List of Dublin City University faculties, schools, research centres and laboratories
• DCU Business & Innovation^[111]
• Learning Innovation Unit^[112]
• Office of the Vice-President for research^[113]
• Research and Engineering Centre^[114]

A list of most current campus companies can be retrieved from the Invent Innovation and Enterprise Centre^[115] website.

Strategy

In 2001 DCU adopted what was described as a highly innovative strategic plan, 'Leading Change'. For a university strategy, it was a very short document, but it set out a number of major developments and innovations. Chief amongst these was the adoption of academic strategic 'Themes', which were to govern the development of the university. Each Theme was to have a 'Theme Leader'. The academic Themes are interdisciplinary, and focus on areas in which DCU has growing leadership. This strategic framework was extended in the 2005 strategic plan, 'Leadership through Foresight', in which DCU also committed itself to eight key clusters of actions to develop its leading role in its chosen priority areas. Following an announcement by the HEA in August 2007, DCU will receive over €23m in research funding under Phase 2 of PRTLI Cycle 4.^[116]

Following an announcement by the Science Foundation Ireland in November 2007, DCU will receive over €16.8m in research funding for localisation research for a €30.4m "Next Generation Localisation" project headed by Prof. Josef Van Genabith (with international and domestic industry partners contributing the remaining €13.6m).^[117][118]

Over the years DCU has expanded its land bank in the area, purchasing the St. Clare's grounds, on the western side of Ballymun Road, where sports facilities were developed, but also farmland to the south down to Griffith Ave.

Collaboration and academic associations

Under its strategic plan, 'Leadership through Foresight' (2005), DCU is committed to collaboration with national and international organisations and universities on technology and research projects. It has a strong record of strategic collaboration, and most of its major research projects are built on partnerships with other universities and colleges, and also with major international companies.

The AIC Adaptive Information Cluster^[119] with University College Dublin is one such initiative been based on computer and sensor technology to develop advanced applications in several areas. DCU and UCD also collaborate on a health research board funded programme of nursing decision making in Ireland,^[120] the first research programme in nursing in Ireland.The two universities also collaborate on the Odysseus undergraduate Computer Science Internship Programme^[121] and on the Clarity Centre for Sensor Web Technologies.^[122]

The Centre for Innovation and Structural Change^[123] with National University of Ireland, Galway and University College Dublin is an initiative to better utilise and develop international level research.

Lero, the Irish Software Engineering Research Centre^[124] with the University of Limerick, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin is a partnership to bring together and focus software engineering in Ireland.

The University also collaborates with National University of Ireland, Galway and the pharmaceutical multinational Bristol-Myers Squibb on biopharmaceutical research. The National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology at DCU and Wyeth Pharmaceutical have recently announced a research collaboration in the production of biopharmaceuticals.

DCU also collaborates with the National Institute for Bioprocessing, Research and Training (NIBRT) its main partners are UCD, TCD and Sligo IT. The university has a strategic alliance with Cornell University's^[125] Nanobiotechnology Centre (NBTC^[126]).

The National Centre for Sensor Research^[127] collaborates with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland^[128] on Biomedical Diagnostics research. The NCSR also collaborates with University College Cork, National University of Ireland, Galway, University of Wollongong, Australia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta and the Irish Marine Institute.^{[129][130][131]} DCU is also collaborating with TCD and UCD to run the National Digital Research Centre.

DCU also signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2006 with Athlone Institute of Technology, under which the university will provide support for the establishment of a jointly-owned research centre in the Irish Midlands town.

Plasma and Vacuum Technology^[132] with Queen's University Belfast is a cross-border programme to deliver online courses in plasma and vacuum technology without attending university based lectures. Another cross-border initiative DCU is working with is the Centre for Cross Border Studies^[133] which researches and develops cooperation across the Irish border in education, training, health, business, public administration, communications, agriculture and the environment.

The Programme for Research on Grid-enabled Computational Physics of Natural Phenomena^[134] is a wide partnership with DIAS, National University of Ireland, Galway, University College Dublin, HEAnet, Met Éireann, Armagh Observatory and Grid Ireland. Development of research under the PRTLI Cycle 1 funded Institute for Advanced Materials Science, additional funding is now being sought to further research in the area of nanomaterials and nanotechnology with Trinity College, Dublin.

The university also collaborates with the Centre for Telecommunications Value-Chain-Driven Research (CTVR^[135]) and with Bell Labs Research Ireland (BLRI^[136]). The National Centre for Sensor Research also collaborates with the National Botanic Gardens on the Eco-Sensor Network^[137] project. DCU is also a participant in the Irish Centre for High-End Computing.^[138]

DCU leads Ireland in fusion power research, with a team of 33 DCU scientists^[139] taking part in a €10 billion global collaboration to make a breakthrough creating safe nuclear energy by fusion.

The experimental ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) power station will be built at Cadarache in the South of France and is the result of an international collaboration^[140] involving the European Union (represented by EURATOM), Japan, the People's Republic of China, India, the Republic of Korea, the Russia and the United States. Dublin City University is the lead partner in this Irish research through Irish Fusion Association under the National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology^[141] with 10 more University College Cork scientists taking part in the project as well under the auspices of Association Euratom DCU,^[142] which was established in 1996. The Association’s annual budget is about €2.5 million with 30 per cent of this funded directly by the European Commission. Further funding is provided by DCU and Science Foundation Ireland.

The university also has agreements with organisations and universities outside of Ireland. For instance, the University at Buffalo is a strategic partnership to develop research in the east United States.Focal.ie^[143] is an ongoing project with the University of Wales, Lampeter to develop an Irish language terminology database online. The Catholic University of Lublin has a partnership with the university to deliver and accredit a Master of Business Administration in Poland. The university collaborates with universities in eleven European countries for the AIM media project. DCU has recently announced a strategic alliance with Arizona State University. The two universities will develop links in a number of areas, including joint research projects, joint entrepreneurial initiatives, institutional learning projects and benchmarking of internal operations, as well as inter-institutional faculty, student and staff transfers between the universities.^[144][145]

The School of Computer Applications collaborates on research with large multinational corporations and institutions like Google,^[146]Microsoft,^[147] the US Military,^[148] IBM, Samsung and Xerox.^[149]

Research centres in DCU also collaborate with each other on multidisciplinary projects. For example, the Materials Processing Research Centre collaborates with the Vascular Health Research Centre on research aimed at producing synthetic bone and soft tissue such as arteries.^[150]

The university also hosts many public events such as monthly lectures in the areas of physics and astronomy in collaboration with Astronomy Ireland,^[151] held in "The Venue" complex in The Hub^[152] (DCU Student Centre), Irish Inventor Association^[153] seminars held at the Invent Centre,^[154] the Gay Rugby World Cup^[155] and even an exhibition of rare 2500 year old Shakyamuni Buddha relics^[156] at the University Interfaith Centre.^[157]

Hospitals linked with DCU for teaching and research purposes include:,^{[35][158][159][160]}

• Beaumont Hospital
• Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin
• James Connolly Memorial Hospital
• St. Vincent's Psychiatric Hospital, Fairview
• St. James's Hospital
• Temple Street Children's University Hospital
• St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane
• St. Joseph's Hospital, Clonsilla

Student body

The composition of the student body represents every county on the island of Ireland and over seventy countries worldwide, spread across all six continents. The University has educated students from Australia to Brazil and Japan to Iceland. International students currently make up just over 15% of the full-time student body. The university is strongly committed to international education and internationalising its campus. Apart from the large number of exchanges the university also welcomes international students as part of its Study Abroad Programme and offers programmes jointly with institutions based outside Ireland and is rapidly expanding a wide range of international activities.^[161][162]

See also

• List of Dublin City University people
• List of universities in the Republic of Ireland
• Education in the Republic of Ireland

References and notes

1. ^ Skoool.ie Facts & Figures, 21/08/2006
2. ^ Oscail
3. ^ From submarines for tourism, to the Legion of Mary for Russians, Irish Independent
4. ^ DCU Campus and Buildings
5. ^ Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011, Volume 3 - Record of Protected Structures Page 15.
6. ^ INTRA (INtegrated TRAining) programme
7. ^ Irish Academy for the Performing Arts
8. ^ InterFaith Centre
9. ^ Crèche
10. ^ medical centre
11. ^ Counselling Service
12. ^ Disability Service
13. ^ Digital Café
14. ^ Dublin City University Language Services (DCU•LS)
15. ^ Swiftcare Clinic
16. ^ Spar
17. ^ Pharmacy
18. ^ Allied Irish Bank
19. ^ Xerox reprographic centre
20. ^ Hodges Figgis
21. ^ beauty salon
22. ^ [1]
23. ^ Arts Committee
24. ^ http://www.dcu.ie/ryanacademy/index.shtml
25. ^ DCU corporate identity
26. ^ DCU Communications Plan, May 2001
27. ^ DCU Ranked No. 2 in Irish Universities League Table
28. ^ Sunday Times Irish University League Table 2007
29. ^ Times Higher Education - QS World University Rankings 2007 - UK and Ireland
30. ^ Irish Times-Several Irish universities advance in world rankings-Based on various categories including peer review, recruiter review, international faculty ratio, international students ratio, student faculty ratio, citations per faculty
31. ^ Top Irish Universities, Sunday Times, 2008
32. ^ Top European Universities, Sunday Times, 2008
33. ^ http://www.dcu.ie/news/2010/sep/s0910f.shtml
34. ^ DCU's faculties and Schools
35. ^ ^{a b} DCU School of Nursing
36. ^ Oscail, the National Distance Education Centre
37. ^ Actuarial Exams
38. ^ Prometric Test Centre
39. ^ DCU's linked colleges
40. ^ http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2009/jul/12/lengthy-college-dismissal-case-may-cost-taxpayer-2/
41. ^ Dunne, Stephen (2009-07-12). "Fury at DCUs excessive staff row legal fees". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article6689569.ece. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
42. ^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/colleges-shell-out-83647m-for-bitter-internal-staff-disputes-1818088.html
43. ^ http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1997/en/act/pub/0024/index.html
44. ^ http://www.labourcourt.ie/labour/labcourtweb.nsf/185190278967d05380256a01005bb35e/80256a770034a2ab80256c87003c73a4?OpenDocument
45. ^ http://www.indymedia.ie/article/90061
46. ^ http://www.thecollegeview.com/0000/12/14/no-confidence-motion-passed-on-college-bosses/
47. ^ http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0569/D.0569.200306190019.htm
48. ^ http://academictenure.blogspot.com/
49. ^ http://www.labourcourt.ie/labour/labcourtweb.nsf/185190278967d05380256a01005bb35e/80256a770034a2ab8025730500415476?OpenDocument
50. ^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/woman-lecturer-triumphs-in-sex-bias-court-fight-1166849.html
51. ^ http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2007/H20.html
52. ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0118/1224262561748.html
53. ^ http://www.independent.ie/education/latest-news/dcu-president-angers-staff-by-halting-election-41303.html
54. ^ http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0569/D.0569.200306190019.html
55. ^ http://historical-debates.oireachtas.ie/D/0559/D.0559.200212180025.html
56. ^ http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie:80/plweb-cgi/fastweb?state_id=1237564121&view=oho-view&docrank=8&numhitsfound=9&query_rule=%28%28$query1%29%3C%3DDATE%3C%3D%28$query2%29%29%20AND%20%28%28$query4%29%29%3ASPEAKER%20AND%20%28%28$query5%29%29%3Aheading%20AND%20%28%28$query6%29%29%3ACATEGORY%20AND%20%28%28$query3%29%29%3Ahouse%20AND%20%28%28$query7%29%29%3Avolume%20AND%20%28%28$query8%29%29%3Acolnumber%20AND%20%28%28$query%29%29&query4=Dempsey&query5=University&docid=429959&docdb=Debates&dbname=Debates&sorting=none&operator=and&TemplateName=predoc.tmpl&setCookie=1
57. ^ http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie:80/plweb-cgi/fastweb?state_id=1237564322&view=oho-view&docrank=5&numhitsfound=9&query_rule=%28%28$query1%29%3C%3DDATE%3C%3D%28$query2%29%29%20AND%20%28%28$query4%29%29%3ASPEAKER%20AND%20%28%28$query5%29%29%3Aheading%20AND%20%28%28$query6%29%29%3ACATEGORY%20AND%20%28%28$query3%29%29%3Ahouse%20AND%20%28%28$query7%29%29%3Avolume%20AND%20%28%28$query8%29%29%3Acolnumber%20AND%20%28%28$query%29%29&query4=Dempsey&query5=University&docid=441008&docdb=Debates&dbname=Debates&sorting=none&operator=and&TemplateName=predoc.tmpl&setCookie=1
58. ^ http://www.oireachtas-debates.gov.ie:80/plweb-cgi/fastweb?state_id=1237564322&view=oho-view&docrank=7&numhitsfound=9&query_rule=%28%28$query1%29%3C%3DDATE%3C%3D%28$query2%29%29%20AND%20%28%28$query4%29%29%3ASPEAKER%20AND%20%28%28$query5%29%29%3Aheading%20AND%20%28%28$query6%29%29%3ACATEGORY%20AND%20%28%28$query3%29%29%3Ahouse%20AND%20%28%28$query7%29%29%3Avolume%20AND%20%28%28$query8%29%29%3Acolnumber%20AND%20%28%28$query%29%29&query4=Dempsey&query5=University&docid=432958&docdb=Debates&dbname=Debates&sorting=none&operator=and&TemplateName=predoc.tmpl&setCookie=1
59. ^ Governing Body
60. ^ National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin, Act, 1980
61. ^ Dublin City University Act, 1989
62. ^ Universities Act, 1997
63. ^ University Statutes
64. ^ DCU Administration and Organisation
65. ^ Copyright Act, 1963
66. ^ DCU Educational Trust
67. ^ DCU Students website
68. ^ Clubs & Societies Registration List
69. ^ DCU Societies List
70. ^ http://www.aims.ie/services_adjudication_past_year.php?section=sullivan&yr=2009&nominees=on
71. ^ http://www.dcuforrent.com/
72. ^ http://www.isdafestival.com/
73. ^ http://www.bics.ie/pages/page/site/2008awards/
74. ^ http://www.dcumusic.com/bands/
75. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2LLFhEx2C0
76. ^ http://www.bics.ie/pages/page/site/2010awards/
77. ^ DCUfm wins website of the year, MPS is most improved society - http://www.dcufm.com/?p=816
78. ^ DCUfm shortlisted for Smedias - http://www.dcufm.com/?p=476
79. ^ http://www.dcufm.com/?p=920
80. ^ DCUfm on Twitter - http://twitter.com/DCUfm
81. ^ DCUfm on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=113474229131&ref=ts
82. ^ DCUfm on Flickr - http://www.flickr.com/photos/48499251@N05/
83. ^ [2] DCUtv on Youtube
84. ^ Six Semesters trailer - http://video.ireland.com/video/iLyROoafMduX.html
85. ^ The College View – Student Newspaper.
86. ^ The Look - College View supplement that is printed in association with Style Soc.
87. ^ DCU TIMES - University staff and alumni magazine.
88. ^ DCU Campus Residences
89. ^ roomsatdcu.com
90. ^ DCU Summer Accommodation
91. ^ sports complex
92. ^ DCU sport classes
93. ^ DCU Sports Grounds
94. ^ National Tennis Training Centre
95. ^ DCU Sports Academy
96. ^ http://www.postgrad.ie/university-of-the-year-2010.html
97. ^ The Copyright Act, 1963 Copyright Act, 1963, as amended by the Dublin City University Act, 1989 Dublin City University Act, 1989, states that library is entitled to one copy of every publication published within the state.
98. ^ Scott, Tallon, Walker
99. ^ Lexis-Nexis DCU
100. ^ IReL Resources
101. ^ DCU Library celebrates two research initiatives
102. ^ DCU's restaurants
103. ^ 1838 Club
104. ^ Mezzanine Café
105. ^ California State University, Sacramento Study Abroad Program - Study in Ireland at Dublin City University
106. ^ Dublin City Development Plan 2005-2011, Volume 3 - Record of Protected Structures Page 15, Ref. 487
107. ^ Expansion of DCU planned, The College View
108. ^ DCU to create indoor version of Croke Park, Irish Times
109. ^ DCU plans 10,000 capacity indoor GAA stadium Irish Examiner
110. ^ DCU plans cutting edge indoor facility, Irish Intependent
111. ^ DCU Business & Innovation
112. ^ Learning Innovation Unit
113. ^ Office of the Vice-President for research
114. ^ Research and Engineering Centre (opened September 2002)
115. ^ Invent Innovation and Enterprise Centre
116. ^ DCU RECEIVES OVER €23m in PRTLI RESEARCH FUNDING -100% 'SUCCESS' RATE
117. ^ DCU to lead €30m localisation project
118. ^ Irish Government provides €87m across a number of "groundbreaking industry-academic projects... for Ireland’s new knowledge-driven economy"
119. ^ AIC Adaptive Information Cluster
120. ^ health research board funded programme of nursing decision making in Ireland
121. ^ Odysseus undergraduate Computer Science Internship Programme
122. ^ Clarity Centre for Sensor Web Technologies
123. ^ Centre for Innovation and Structural Change
124. ^ Lero, the Irish Software Engineering Research Centre
125. ^ Cornell University's Nanobiotechnology Centre
126. ^ NBTC Main Page
127. ^ National Centre for Sensor Research
128. ^ Royal college of Surgeons in Ireland
129. ^ DCU Scientists on the R.V. Celtic Explorer
130. ^ NCSR receives 2.4m award from Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources
131. ^ Irish Marine Institute
132. ^ Plasma and Vacuum Technology
133. ^ Centre for Cross Border Studies
134. ^ Programme for Research on Grid-enabled Computational Physics of Natural Phenomena
135. ^ CTVR
136. ^ BLRI
137. ^ Eco-Sensor Network
138. ^ Irish Centre for High-End Computing
139. ^ Euratom DCU scientists
140. ^ international collaboration on fusion research
141. ^ National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology
142. ^ Euratom DCU
143. ^ Focal.ie
144. ^ DCU strategic alliance with Arizona State University
145. ^ DCU greets Arizona partner in transatlantic Strategic Alliance
146. ^ Google
147. ^ Microsoft
148. ^ US Military
149. ^ DCU Final Year Project Booklet PG.70
150. ^ Research into producing synthetic bone and soft tissue
151. ^ Astronomy Ireland
152. ^ The Hub
153. ^ Irish Inventor Association
154. ^ Invent Centre
155. ^ DCU to host the 2008 gay rugby world cup
156. ^ Exhibition of rare 2500 year old Shakyamuni Buddha relics
157. ^ Interfaith Centre
158. ^ Irish Scientist
159. ^ NICB
160. ^ B.Sc. in Physics with Biomedical Sciences
161. ^ Institutional Exchange Links
162. ^ DCU International Office

External links

• Official website - Dublin City University
• President's Reports
• Institute for International Education of Students Website