National College of Ireland

Not to be confused with National University of Ireland.

National College of Ireland
Established	February 1951
Chairman	Denis O'Brien
President	Dr. Phillip Matthews
Admin. staff	130 fulltime 220 parttime
Students	5,000
Location	IFSC, Dublin, Ireland Coordinates: 53°20′56″N 6°14′36″W / 53.348896°N 6.24322°W / 53.348896; -6.24322
Campus	Urban 0.8 acres (0.32 ha)
Former names	National College of Industrial Relations The Catholic Workers College
Colours
Affiliations	HETAC NCEA (1976-2001)
Website	www.ncirl.ie

National College of Ireland (NCI) offers full and part-time courses from foundation to degree and postgraduate level. All courses are fully accredited and delivered from the IFSC campus and across a network of regional centres. The college's specialist areas include business, computing, human resource management, accountancy and finance. In 2011, the college celebrated its 60th anniversary.

History

IFSC Campus

In 1951 the National College of Ireland started out as The Catholic Workers College in Sandford Lodge, Ranelagh.^[1] Founded by Fr. Edward Coyne S.J., others involved in the college in its inital years included Professor Tom Finlay S.J., and Rev. Edmund Kent S.J. among others.

Lectures were led by a handful of dedicated Jesuits two nights a week, with 103 registered students in the first year. Within 10 years, student numbers had dramatically increased. Links with trade unions deepened, as did formal collaborations with employer and management groups.

By 1966, nearly 1,300 students from trade union and business management backgrounds were learning together at the re-branded National College of Industrial Relations (NCIR).

In 1976 the college achieved recognition by the states National Council for Educational Awards(NCEA) the forerunner of HETAC, for a number of its programmes.^[2]

The college again re-branded as the National College of Ireland (NCI) in 1998 with an expanded National Campus Network and an array of outreach programmes across the country.

As the College continued to grow rapidly, the land and buildings at Sandford Road were transferred by the Jesuits to the NCI Board of Management which transformed the future of the College forever.

The college's Higher Certificate, Degree, Higher Diploma and Masters courses are validated by the Irish governments Higher Education and Training Awards Council(HETAC), a number of other short term courses are validated by ICM.

NCI relocated to a 0.8 hectare site on Mayor Street in the Dublin Docklands. A €25,000,000 fundraising campaign resulted in the development of a modern campus including 53 residential apartments accommodating 286 students and a new Business and Research Building.

In addition to its course offerings, NCI is highly regarded for its well organised public and business events. In 2009 and 2010 the college ran a series of free debates called the Insight Debate Series, organised in partnership with The Irish Times and the radio station Newstalk 106-108 FM. The college's award-winning Legends in your Lunchtime series saw public figures such as Ben Dunne, Willie Walsh and Giovanni Trapattoni interviewed live by a Newstalk presenter.^[3]

In February 2010 former irish rugby captain Dr. Phillip Matthews joined as president of the college, succeeding Dr. Paul Mooney.^[4]

Courses

Full and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in business, human resource management, accountancy, finance and computing are offered through the College’s School of Business and School of Computing. A number of professional development programmes are also offered.

NCI offers a range of part-time courses at different centers around the country though its National Campus Network.

The College runs a Higher Certificate course in conjunction with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions ^[5] maintaining its historic link to the trade union movement.

Presidents of NCI

Main article: President of National College of Ireland

References

• ncirl.ie, 27 February 2010

1. ^ From Catholic Workers' College to National College of Ireland 1951-1998 by Thomas Morrissey, S.J., Vol. 87, No. 347, Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, Irish Province of the Society of Jesus, 1998.
2. ^ Citation for Reverend John Brady SJ on the occasion of the conferring of an Honorary Fellowship by the National College of Ireland , 20 November 2009.
3. ^ Legends in your Lunchtime Newstalk 106-108FM.
4. ^ College names former rugby star as president Irish Times, Tue 02 Feb 2010.
5. ^ Congress / SIPTU Certificate in Business Studies (Trade Union Studies) ICTU website

External links

• National College of Ireland Website
• National College of Ireland Alumni Website