UCD will have a new Registrar & Deputy President from 15th August 2011. Professor Mark Rogers, currently Dean of Science, takes up the role further to appointment by the university Governing Authority in May. Prof. Rogers – a geneticist by training – joined UCD in 1991. In looking forward to his new role, Mark highlighted the need to drive the implementation of the Education Strategy: “UCD must continue to improve the high quality academic experience available to all students, which, coupled with providing unique opportunities for personal development and growth, defines the UCD student. Ensuring that the work of staff within the University in delivering this student experience is recognized and within the tough financial climate, adequately resourced, is important to the future of the university”.

The major Focus on First Year 2011 project rolled out in 2010-11 has been examining the most effective educational approaches to ease the transition for beginning students from second level to university. The thirteen Programme Deans along with the VPTLs have been meeting regularly to share their expertise and to review the academic structures, engagement strategies and orientation plans underpinning all Programme Plans for First Year 2011 across the university. This major project has been supported by the development of a number of new specialist 1st year modules offering students a head-start on how to learn for success in university and to develop a deep sense of their field of study. There has also been a drive to collect and examine further data to inform educational planning and policy and to improve our understanding of the student experience.   Following analysis of UCD first year assessment practices, a number of new web teaching resources were published. The Focus on First Year podcast, delivering practical guidance for staff on a range of topics was also launched and will continue next semester with the final episode in December.  This focus on the first year will continue in 2011-12. New initiatives will be monitored and evaluated and I am delighted that the three newly appointed Fellows in Teaching & Academic Development will play an important role in this, particularly in the areas of engagement and transition from second level education. The new student module feedback system and module enhancement report have been implemented.  It is hoped that this new one-stop-shop for module information will support a holistic approach to the review of module design and delivery.
The commendation of the recent Institutional Quality Review Team who highlighted the "visionary approach to teaching and learning" in UCD was one of a number of causes for celebration along with the new Award for Supporting Student Learning for non-teaching staff and the College Teaching Awards.

UCD Access & Lifelong Learning Launch of UCD Strategy to 2014: Mainstreaming Equality of Access & Lifelong Learning – Opening Worlds
On Thursday the 9th of June 2011 the UCD Registrar and Deputy President, Dr Philip Nolan, in conjunction with the UCD Access & Lifelong Learning team hosted a celebration of Access and Lifelong Learning in UCD.  The celebration marked the publication of UCD Strategy to 2014: Mainstreaming Equality of Access and Lifelong Learning – Opening Worlds, the 10th Anniversary of the UCD’s Access to Science & Engineering course, as well as the presentation of Adult Education awards.  Launching Opening Worlds, Dr Philip Nolan said that “UCD, since its foundation, had a commitment to offering education to those who are traditionally excluded, a historic and institutional commitment reaffirmed in its most recent Strategic Plan Forming Global Minds”. 

Mainstreaming Equality of Access and Lifelong Learning – Opening Worlds, marks a new beginning to the university’s journey towards inclusion.   Ms Anna Kelly, Director UCD Access & Lifelong Learning said that “Opening Worlds provides the university roadmap for increasing diversity and widening participation and aspires to develop an inclusive education environment; the twin pillars of which are institutional readiness and community engagement”. The Celebration of Access & Lifelong Learning in UCD was attended by access partners throughout the education and community sectors.

Following on from a successful Student Registration exercise at the start of the academic year, preparations are already in train for the 2011 session. While this activity still requires a huge cross-university effort, lessons learned each year through a comprehensive review are leading to ongoing improvements and efficiencies.

Both the Semester 1 and 2 examination sessions were successfully delivered. The Semester 1 exams were, of course, interrupted by heavy snow which led to a number of exams being deferred to January. A number of exam procedure changes were introduced to maintain the integrity of the examining system, eg in relation to mobile phones and ID cards.

Academic Governance: Secretariat support provided to Academic Council and its committees enabled the development of a number of key academic policies, including Student Fitness to Practise, Leave of Absence, Regulatory amendments, and a collaborative network which offers a range of supports to colleagues developing new programme proposals.  

The new graduate applications arrangements (use of Admissions Tutors, all graduate taught programmes online etc) were successfully embedded during this year.

Important new reports focusing on UCD performance in undergraduate recruitment illustrated how we were performing against others in the Irish sector and indicated where efforts needed to be focused in the short and medium term.

Key Project Developments

• Exam Paper Management IT System (EPMS)
• Extern Examiner IT system and associated new extern procedures
• Banner upgrade in association with UCD IT Services
• Academic analytics (student tracking information for programmes)
• Student Data reports (recruitment, applications and registration)
• Enhancements to online applications system

New Student Mail service in partnership with Google

UCD IT Services is pleased to announce in line with our IT Plan for 2011 we have successfully migrated to a new email system powered by Google for UCD students. This new Connect Mail service provides the University’s students with increased email capacity of 7GB, and integrated email and Google calendar, which can be synced to smart phones and other devices offering mobile access to information. Another key benefit is the reduction of administration and system enhancement costs for UCD.
 “FAQ” web pages were created containing information on the move, and the available apps and are accessible at www.ucd.ie/studentmail. Feedback from the move has been positive.

IT Services have introduced Blackboard Mobile™ Learn

Blackboard Mobile Learn extends the existing UCD Blackboard Learn™ environment by making Blackboard content available via mobile devices in an engaging and intuitive way.  The service provides staff and students with access to their Blackboard courses and content on a variety of popular mobile platforms, including iPod touch®, iPad®, Android™, BlackBerry®, and Palm® smartphones.   Students and instructors can access documents in multiple formats, post announcements (instructors only), create threaded discussion posts, upload media as attachments to discussion boards and blogs and much more all on their mobile devices.

Work-Related Learning Initiatives
Two successful initiatives were marked on 16 May 2011 when the UCD Career Development Centre and Deloitte hosted a reception for 58 UCD students who completed one of the following:

• Certificate of Participation in Career Management Skills- a non-credit bearing series of interactive workshops on skills such as emotional intelligence, leadership, teamwork, effective networking and application & interview techniques.  Delivered by Career Development Advisers and staff from Deloitte, all UCD Colleges were represented by the 36 students who completed.
• Certificate of Participation in Corporate Finance- a 5-day non-credit bearing Study Visit of business games and case studies in the City of London.  Visiting JP Morgan, Deloitte, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, MERCER, ICAP, Allen & Overy and Barlow, Lyde Gilbert, students gained insight into a range of corporate finance and related careers.

Recognition for Embedded Career Development Programme
In the first year of delivery, UCD Career Development Centre has taken second place in the national Employability Awards Competition organised by the Association of Higher Education Careers Services.  Placing the Stage 1 module; Computer Science in Practice above submissions from institutions such as TCD, DCU, UCC and DIT, judges were impressed by the solid partnership between academics and Careers Advisers and by a high degree of employer engagement and innovation.

Global Perspectives
During the summer 2011, the Career Development Centre will host interns interested in career guidance and related areas:
Mr Zak Sheerazi, United States of America
Ms Sara Bordoni, Italy
Ms Tina Steinberger, Germany
Ms Alicja Marciniak, Poland