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Strategic Planning

This section of the website sets out the process and templates to assist schools and units in setting out their key strategic goals.  This work should be completed in conjunction with and as an integral part of the budgetary and enrolment elements of the planning process.

This documentation should be completed in as brief a form as possible.  It is strongly recommended that the completed plans should be no more than two pages in length.  Only key items should be outlined and then only in bullet point format.

It is critical that this process is clearly based on the priorities set out in the UCD Strategy to 2030 ‘Rising to the Future’ with appropriate contextualisation for the circumstances and opportunities relevant to each school or unit.

UCD is determined to ensure that the school planning process is fully integrated with the budgeting and enrolment planning processes.  A schedule of key dates linking budgetary planning, enrolment planning and strategic planning is included in the planning documentation.  Additionally, the strategic element of each school/unit plan should incorporate a summary of the budget and enrolment plan as appropriate.  The template provides assistance as to how this should be formatted.

Please clearly note that it is critical to the success of this process and to the achievement of the UCD Strategic Plan that Schools and Units set out clearly the areas in which they intend to invest (people, facilities, programmes etc.) in addition to setting out how they plan to raise revenue.  In particular, it should be clearly set out how accumulated reserves (where applicable) will be used to achieve key college and school objectives.

It is intended that each school/unit will complete the documentation.  It will then be discussed at College level or with your relevant Vice-President and amendments/updates agreed as appropriate.  Subsequent to this, it is planned that each College Principal/Vice-President will present a summary of his/her schools/unit to the President and UMT.

The inputs to the process will be published on this website and made available to all relevant college principals, heads of schools and units throughout UCD and will be as follows:

  • UCD Strategy to 2030 
  • The plans developed by schools and units during the Planning Process last year in 2024;
  • This website information setting out overall process;
  • Templates for strategic planning, available for downloading from the Documents section of this website;
  • Information for each school and college, available via InfoHub.

The output of the process will be as follows:

  • Strategic Plans covering the 5 years to 2030 for Colleges, Schools and Administrative Units.

The planning process will comprise the following three key elements:

  • Colleges/Schools/Units strategic plans:  Each college/school/unit will develop a 5-year strategic plan in line with the UCD institutional strategy ‘Breaking Boundaries’ and informed by institutional priorities.  These plans will be updated on a year-to-year basis, with detailed plans for the next year and a more high-level view for the subsequent 4 years. It is also fully recognised that the implementation of both the institutional and college/school/unit strategic plans will require strategically focussed expenditure.  Colleges/schools/units will be asked to set out the priority investment areas necessary for the achievement of their strategic goals.  To facilitate this process, colleges, schools, and units will be required to submit short business cases (one-to-two pages) for strategically focussed investments.  A template will be circulated for this purpose
  • Financial Planning: The key objective is to set a budget and 5-year financial plan for all schools, colleges and units which is both consistent with UCD’s strategic goals and is also financially prudent.  In addition to this, it is critical that the budgets/financial plans dovetail with our enrolment plans and is consistent with strategic plans.  
  • Enrolment Plans: The key objective is to develop enrolment plans consistent with school strategic plans, financial plans and KPI targets for future years.  It is essential that financial and enrolment planning (including non-EU) figures are as consistent as possible.

See the Milestones section for an overview and Google Calendar of all planning dates.

FAQs - Strategic Planning

The planning horizon for strategic plans will be the 5 years to 2030

Plans should be as concise as possible.  If possible, use bullet points rather than long paragraphs.  We want to make the process as easy and user friendly as possible.

All of our strategies and plans should reflect the priorities identified in overview.  Schools and units should develop their plans for the 5 years  to 2030. While this may not represent fundamental changes from plans developed last year, it is appropriate to re-consider all aspects of the plans in the light of our themes, objectives and enablers and how these impact on your school or unit.

Yes, very much so!!  The areas where you plan to invest over the coming years are an essential element of the plan.

Your first point of contact should be your College Principal or Vice-President.  Your local Finance Manager will provide also provide help and support throughout the process.

Additionally, Sarah O'Flaherty or Tony Carey would be delighted to meet with you at any point in the process to discuss any issues you may have.  Please email (opens in a new window)planning@ucd.ie with any queries or to arrange a discussion with Sarah or Tony.

UPlan

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 7777