University College Cork (UCC)

UCC's commitment to excellence in both research and teaching is its defining characteristic as a university. Its undergraduate and postgraduate courses and internationally recognised research activities have contributed to the pharma/biotech and software success stories in the region, prompting a UN report to describe Ireland as 'One of the world's most influential technological leaders'.

The university continues to demonstrate its educational and research abilities by attracting a dynamic student population and by winning peer-reviewed national and international research contracts. (www.ucc.ie)

UCC was first among Irish universities to offer the popular electronic Business & Commerce Degree - currently some 600 undergraduate / postgraduate students are enlisted.

A new Pharmacy Degree focusing on scientific and clinical disciplines was launched in 2003. It combines biomolecular research, analytical and biological chemistry research with pharmaceutical research to create a powerful resarch base.

Among the larger departments in UCC is Electrical and Electronic Engineering. An acknowledged course strength is flexibility in specialisation - meeting demand for engineers trained in a range of disciplines.

Process Engineering is another new degree course offered in response to the requirements of local industry. Since 2001 it has attracted great interest from both students and employers.

Research Activity at UCC

UCC is a very highly regarded research institute. Close links with industry have resulted in a considerable number of research programmes on campus. The university enjoys a greater annual income from externally funded research programmes on campus. The university enjoys a greater annual income from externally funded research grants and contracts than any other university in Ireland. In 2002/2003, gross income from these sources exceeded €44 million. The university is confident of maintaining the premier position in this area. (www.sfi.ie)

This list outlines primary areas of research on campus:

Biosciences Institute:

• Gene Expression: Cancer & Cell Signaling
• Integrated Reproductive Biology: Neuroscience

Alimentary Pharmabiotics Centre:

• Exploration of bacterial flora to prevent intestinal disorders.

Analytical & Biological Chemistry Research Facility:

• Design & Development of New Pharmaceutical Agents.

National Microelectronics Research Centre:

• Optoelectronics : Nanoscale Science & Technology : Photonics

Photonics System Research Group:

• Advanced Photonic Systems.

Power Electronics Ireland Technologies Centre:

• Power Electronics: Switched Mode Power Converters: Motor Drives: Digital Controls

The Cork Constraint Computation Centre:

• Constraint Computer Programming

The Boole Centre for Research on Informatics:

• Research at interface of Mathematics and
• Computer Sciences

The Centre for Efficiency Oriented Language:

• Software timing for Real-Time Programming Languages

"The Irish have a healthy appetite for learning and a great respect for education "