Officially recognised UCD Colleges, Schools & Units.
Introduction
Our Website Options Framework has been developed to provide clarity around the services and supports available to website owners. Additionally it simplifies the website application process by consolidating all available options per website category into a single, streamlined form. The four main supports are hosting, use of the ucd.ie domain, UCD branding/own-branding and the provision of the UCD Enterprise Juicer feeds.
We've established the following guidelines to ensure our online presence is cohesive, accessible, and user-friendly. By adhering to these standards, we aim to provide clear and consistent information across all university-affiliated websites, enhancing the experience for all users. By aligning with the ucd.ie Website Options Framework, your website benefits from the strong domain authority of UCD, enhancing its visibility and search engine optimisation (SEO) to reach a wider audience effectively.
We recognise that certain websites may have non-standard requirements that don't align with the Website Options Framework. In such cases, a derogation process is available to accommodate specific needs. This process allows for flexibility and ensures that all web entities can function effectively within the university's digital ecosystem.
Explore Your Website Options
| Category | Standalone Website | Sub-Page off Existing Site | UCD Hosting | UCD.ie Domain | Own Domain | UCD Branding | Own Branding | Enterprise Juicer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCD Colleges, Schools & Units | ✔ | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| University Initiative/Service/Project/Event | ✔ | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Approved Academic Centre/Institute | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Major Funded Research Centre | ✔ | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Consortium with UCD as lead | ✔ | N/A | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Research Project | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Research Group | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
Website Category Definitions
- A significant initiative, service, project, or event recognised at the university level.
- Examples: UCD Strategy / UCD Connect / Finpost
- Officially recognised Academic Institutes and Centres.
- As listed on the UCD Academic Centres Register
- Research centres funded by major grants, including (opens in a new window)SFI Funded Centres.
- Examples: (opens in a new window)https://www.icrag-centre.org , (opens in a new window)https://ceadar.ie/
- Large-scale funded projects where UCD serves as the lead institution, often requiring substantial branding and communications.
- Example: (opens in a new window)https://www.mefproc.eu/
- Research projects should be integrated into an existing website unless a separate website is required by the funding body.
- Projects not led by UCD are not eligible for UCD hosting.
- The recommended site structure for Research projects is as follows:
https://www.ucd.ie/school/research/researchprojects/yourproject/ - To request a subpage, please contact your unit’s website administrator.
- The web team can assist with:
- Integrating project pages into existing websites.
- Providing a project page design.
- Adding subpages if needed.
- Restricting new user access to specific sub-sections.
- Research site seeking a derogation should provide a research grant number when completing the application form.
- Example: RESET
- Research groups that are contained within UCD should be incorporated into an existing website.
- Research groups are eligible for the same subpage support as research projects.
- Example: Quantitative & Computational Social Science
- A service that aggregates social media posts and other content into a unified feed for display on UCD-affiliated eligible websites.
- Example: Juicer Feed
Derogation Requests
The Website Options Framework was arrived at after extensive consultation and review. It is hoped that all requested websites can easily align with a category and avail of the standard support services. We recognise that deviations from the standard may occasionally be necessary, but these should be limited to exceptional circumstances. In such cases, a derogation from the standard can be requested, accompanied by a clear rationale. The review board will consider the request and respond with an appropriate decision.