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University City Graduates
Cork is a young and dynamic university city region with a student population of over 35,000.
Each year, more than 10,000 highly qualified young people graduate from its main third-level institutions – University College Cork (UCC) and Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).
There has been sustained and significant investment in third-level education here in Cork since the early Nineties. And it’s a policy that has paid dividends. Both UCC and CIT have been especially successful in launching their cutting-edge research programmes and, as a result, enjoy exceptionally strong relationships with industry. Cork has a reputation as a Centre of Excellence in a number of fields, including Technology, Microelectronics, Pharmaceuticals and Food Science.
- UCC is one of Ireland’s major research bodies and its close links with Cork’s major industrial sectors has led to a considerable number of industry-led research programmes being based on campus. It was awarded the coveted title of “Irish University of the Year” in 2004 and again in 2006 – the only university to have won this title twice. It produces the country’s brightest graduates, with 70% of students achieving a first-class degree or a 2:1 in their finals.
- CIT is one of Ireland’s most important institutes awarding degrees up to PhD level in Science, Engineering, Business, Computing, Art and Music. In addition, the National Maritime College of Ireland is a constituent college of CIT. R&D is an integral part of CIT’s activities and an important aspect of the institute’s interaction with industry. Special emphasis is placed on applied research – a policy that has attracted support for its research programmes from all over Ireland and Europe.
- The Tyndall National Institute – founded in 2004 – is an excellent example of how industry and academia can work together successfully. A joint initiative by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and UCC, it brings together complementary activities in the fields of photonics, electronics and networking research which were previously spread across the National Microelectronics Research Centre (NMRC), UCC and CIT.
- In 2005, Skerry’s College Cork merged with Griffith College Dublin to form the new Griffith College on St Patrick’s Hill in Cork city centre. It specializes in Accountancy, Business, Law, Media and Design, and has students from all over Ireland as well as a number of overseas students.
For more information on relocating to or investing in Cork, email info@corkmarketingpartnership.ie or telephone +353 (0) 21 4317895.