New education plan launched on Leeside
One of Cork’s universities has published its 5 year strategic plan this week with a big focus on research.
Called Securing Our Future, the plan was announced on Tuesday and includes details on how UCC wants to be the university of choice for postgraduate education with the development of exciting new postgraduate programmes, widening student access to higher education and creating the first dedicated sustainability and climate action office in Ireland’s higher education sector.
UCC said it is internationally ranked as a global leader in the field of sustainability, and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Colombia University, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, addressed UCC staff and students at the launch of the strategic plan in UCC’s Aula Maxima.
Prof. Sachs, via video address, said: “Ireland continues to inspire; Ireland continues to play a great role in the world. Let me thank a wonderful friend, Ambassador David Donoghue who was one of the key leaders in the world, then as Ireland's ambassador to the United Nations, who brought us the sustainable development goals and who led the negotiations that achieved this great global agreement. Now University College Cork is going to help lead the way to fulfilling these aspirations for a sustainable planet that is truly for all.”
A key component of UCC’s strategic plan is UCC Futures, a programme of research prioritisation coupled with an academic recruitment across ten indicative areas of strategic importance.
UCC said it has been actively recruiting leading researchers globally and UCC’s strategic plan continues this focus, while outlining a strong emphasis on attracting and supporting early career researchers.
UCC research is also now focused on the global grand challenges as identified by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
This year UCC went plastic free, eliminating all single-use plastic in its operations throughout on-campus dining, shops, and vending machines. A dedicated Office of Sustainability and Climate Action is now created in UCC, tasked to deliver on sector leading environmental targets while also ensuring learning, teaching, research, and operations lead and inspire the transition to a more sustainable future.
Prof. John O’Halloran said: “People and the planet are at the heart of our strategic plan. Together the UCC community has created a roadmap that will secure our future so that we can continue to inspire and shape future generations while also providing the expertise and insight to meet the challenges our society faces.”