Business schools are playing a significant role in advancing the current and future prospects of the Irish economy by educating the next generation ofentrepreneurs and business leaders, reports Karl Jones
Various disciplines at third-level have gone into serious decline over recent years - for example, science and computing - but business education, not surprisingly, has held its position.
While some believe that entrepreneurial skills can never be taught, business schools have become the drivers of the modern Irish economy.
For decades UCD has produced most of the major business figures in the State. Flick through the list of top 500 companies and UCD crops up repeatedly. Lochlann Quinn, the former chairman of AIB and the founder of Glen Dimplex, is a graduate of UCD.
But the college has not rested on its comfortable southside laurels.
The setting up in the early 1990s of the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business and now the Quinn School of Business has given UCD a lead over the other colleges in the Republic.
For years the main staple of business education at UCD has been the BComm degree. It continues to be the centre piece of the commerce faculty. But in recent years the university decided that it wanted those taking the BComm to be taught in the most modern and technologically advanced setting.
This meant moving away from the more crowded environment of the arts/commerce building and into something a bit more reflective of the knowledge economy Ireland had become. The result is the Quinn School of Business, the largest and most technologically advanced business college in the third-level sector.
Mr Quinn explains the thinking behind setting up the school. "Tomorrow's business leaders will undoubtedly possess the knowledge, leadership ability and vision of their forerunners."
He continues: "Equally important, however, will be their command of the skills required to thrive in the fast-paced e-economy.
"The dynamic and forward-thinking business education being pioneered by the Faculty of Commerce at UCD is a significant leap in preparing students for this reality.
"It is an enormous boost to the future economy of Ireland and, perhaps, to economies all over the world."
"Small is beautiful" would seem to be the ethos of the new school. For example, most classes will consist of approximately 50 students. The small group teaching environment should enhance the learning experience of the students.
This is to be welcomed because for too long universities - often because of funding problems - have had to pile students into lecture theatres and the quality of teaching has suffered.
The Quinn School of Business hopes that by keeping class numbers low and by using laptops and other IT equipment, the whole learning experience can be elevated.
It will be interesting in coming years to see if other colleges replicate this form of learning. It certainly is an ambitious project, but the level of CAO applications for the courses done at the school would suggest it could also become a very popular project.
The other factor likely to pull in students is the travel opportunities available if you study at the school. For example, BComm students are able to spend a semester at one of UCD's partner universities.
These are located in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, England, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands. Travel takes place during your second year of study and all courses are taught through English.
Those doing the BComm (International) programme, can spend third year at a European University following a full academic business programme in their chosen language.
Those taking the BBLS programme can spend the third year of their studies in France, Germany, Austria or Spain.
After leaving the Quinn School of Business, a large number of students will undertake a one-year masters programme - typically a master of business studies (MBS) - which allows them to specialise in a business are they are particularly interested in.
The Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business is an obvious next stop for many of UCD's graduates.
The main attractions of the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business are: it encourages entrepreneurship by providing advice and support for start-up businesses; graduates interested in setting up their own business can avail of the opportunities offered by the UCD Campus Innovation Centre; and UCD postgraduate business students interested in starting up their own business can benefit from the funding and facilities offered by the Smurfit School's Incubation Centre.
UCD is running two information nights in January for students interested in studying at the Quinn School of Business. Students interested in the bachelor of commerce and bachelor of commerce (international) should attend on Monday, January 13th at 7 p.m.
For those interested in actuarial and financial studies and the bachelor of science (economics and finance), you should attend on Wednesday, January 15th at 7 p.m.
