UCD Smurfit School invests €5 million in executive development centre
Posted September 05, 2017
A new €5 million bespoke executive development centre has opened at the (opens in a new window)UCD Smurfit School of Business following a five-year investment programme.
Pictured above: Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, Dean, UCD College of Business; Niall FitzGerald, Chairman, UCD Smurfit School Advisory Board, Helen Brophy, Director, UCD Smurfit Executive Development; Dr Michael WJ Smurfit, founding benefactor, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School
The centre is based on international best practice and learnings from Top 50 global business schools including Harvard, Oxford Saïd and IESE. It further ensures the vision of Dr Michael Smurfit for Ireland and its capital to have an internationally respected graduate business school and executive development offering.
“Today marks the latest evolution in the development of a world-class centre of excellence in the provision of post graduate business education and Executive Development in Ireland,” said Dr Michael WJ Smurfit, founding benefactor, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, University College Dublin.
“It is encouraging to see the ongoing progress the School has and continues to make across all aspects of its business education offering. It has been achieved over many years due to the dedication of a stellar leadership team who have striven for excellence at every stage.”
The new executive development centre offers over 50 customised and open enrolment courses. These courses complement the broader graduate business education offering at the UCD Smurfit School which includes its MBA, MSc Finance and Masters in Management programmes - all ranked in the Financial Times annual rankings and with “triple crown” accreditation from UK (AMBA), Europe (EQUIS) and the United States (AACSB).
“The progress made by UCD Smurfit School has been founded on the vision of one man over a quarter of a century ago,” said Niall FitzGerald, Chairman, UCD Smurfit School Advisory Board.
“A trailblazer in business, both nationally and internationally, Michael Smurfit not only built a world-leading enterprise but, in the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, has fostered a culture of business educational excellence which has helped create Ireland’s current and is now shaping a future generation of business leaders,” he said.
Helen Brophy, Director, UCD Smurfit Executive Development added: “Having a world-class Executive Development centre of excellence is a key part of Ireland’s offering to the MNC and indigenous sectors and a key asset for FDI agencies in seeking inward investment, particularly in a post-Brexit context.”
“With growing complexity, increased uncertainty against a backdrop of greater volatility, demands on Irish business leaders are greater than ever – they need the leadership skills to plan, adapt, react and counteract challenges as they strive to compete in a globalised market.”
By: Staff writers, UCD University Relations
