NICE Programme

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The NICE Programme: Virtual Exchange

The Network for Intercultural Competence to facilitate Entrepreneurship (NICE) Programme is a 12-week virtual exchange programme designed to prepare students for the reality of working in increasingly global and virtual workplaces. 

Students develop intercultural and entrepreneurial skills by completing interactive online modules, working in multicultural virtual teams, participating in facilitated group meetings, and developing innovative business ideas connected to relevant global challenges.

The programme aims to provide an international experience for students who may have not yet been able to go abroad, have specialised learning requirements, or don't have the time to go away for long periods of time. 

The Programme commenced in 2017, co-ordinated by the University of Edinburgh and co-funded by Erasmus+, as a partnership between eight different research-focused universities across the UK and Europe, including UCD.

There is no fee for participating in the NICE Programme. Find out more by visiting the NICE website.

What will I do?

The NICE Programme will begin with an onboarding period that will take place over three weeks, from the week of 4 March 2024 until the week of 18 March 2024. During this period, students will get access to the online platform and should be able to commit up to three hours throughout the week to meet their teams, decide on a regular meeting time for the duration of the Programme and have their first facilitated meeting. Students are also expected to attend an official kick-off event during the second week of the onboarding period (date to be announced). 

The NICE Programme, consisting of four phases happening over 12 weeks, will take place between Monday, 25 March - Sunday, 16 June 2024. During this period, students will take part in online modules where they will gain knowledge necessary to complete the Programme, submit exercises necessary to advance to the next phase, participate in facilitated group meetings, and work on their business idea with their team members. The final event will take place the week after the students finish their modules and groups submit their business ideas. 

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Summer School

The 2024 NICE Summer School will be held in person at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland from Sunday, 30 June to Sunday, 7 July 2024. There will be a limited number of places for the Summer School, so please note that not all students who are offered a place on the NICE programme will be offered a place at the Summer School. Places will be allocated on a competitive basis. The Summer School is not compulsory and students do not have to attend it in order to complete the NICE Programme. 

Funding

Students who are selected to attend the NICE Summer School will receive Erasmus+ funding to help cover the cost of travel, accommodation, food, transportation and travel insurance. Further information regarding funding opportunities will be provided at a later date.

Applicants must be available to travel for the full duration of the Summer School and ensure that the Summer School does not interfere with the commitments of their primary course at UCD including any assignments set as part of their programme.

How can I apply?

Applications for the 2024 NICE Programme are now open. The deadline for applications is Monday, 5 February at 23:59 GMT. If you have any queries please email nice@ucd.ie.
While applications are open to students at any level, students must ensure that the Programme will not interfere with the commitments of their main programme of study at UCD. 

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