UCD Business at 100 - University College Dublin

they had afundamentally important role to fulfil
in the direction of their nation. Now, 100 years later,
UCD School of Business graduates remain critical
to the growth and success of Ireland’s society.
One commerce graduate in particular was to
have aprofound effect on business education in
UCD and, in turn, on the nation.
Michael MacCormac completed his Bachelor
of Commerce (BComm) degree in 1947. He recalls
“wonderful” lectures on political economy
and the national economics of Ireland, which
were well-prepared and delivered, and full of interest.
These lectures inspired him to create new
opportunities for the business school.
In the 1950s, Ireland had avery small business
community, most of which was family-owned.
Willie Norton, then minister for industry and
commerce, nominated MacCormac to tour business
schools in the US along with a group of
American academics.
It was here that, for the first time, MacCormac
saw the potential for the higher education sector
and businesses towork together. He recognised
that, through collaboration, academia and business
could play avital role in the development of
the Irish economy. Indeed, MacCormac was so
inspired that, as he sailed back across the Atlantic
Ocean on the Queen Elizabeth, he was already
designing aMasters of Business Administration
course for UCD (see page 13 for interview
with Michael McCormac).
In 1964 –nearly 10 years later –Sean Lemass
was taoiseach and UCD was launching the parttime
MBA Programme. It was amilestone, not
just for Ireland, but also for Europe: the first
postgraduate degree to be aimed at professionals
working in business.
It offered students aunique chance to hone
and perfect skills, sharpen minds and recognise
new opportunities for innovation. Indeed, its
introduction was an early sign of the great potential
of Ireland’s workforce. There were nearly
200 applicants for the first course in 1964, of
1970 1991
Future Minister for
Finance and European
Commissioner,
Charlie McCreevy,
(pictured right),
graduates
Clockwise from far left:
commerce students first
filed through the doors of
the brand new Earlsfort
Terrace building in 1908;
the faculty moved to brand
new, modern buildings in
Belfield in 1970; along with
business and education
opportunities for students,
the faculty provided asocial
outlet for students –ata
Law and Commerce Society
dance in 1961; and a
Commerce Society debate
scoring sheet from 1960
which the best 20 were chosen.
“The MBA shows how UCD business education
has been aremarkable success,” says alumnus
Maurice Foley, agraduate of the Masters of
Business Administration in 1969.
At that time, the Faculty of Commerce was
still based in Earlsfort Terrace, and Ireland remained
arather conservative society.
“When Iwas on the MBA course, Idon’t recall
women being in the class or in the faculty, although
Iapologise if Ihave forgotten someone,”
says Foley. “Now, more than half the participants
are women and they tend to, on average,
do better than the men, while there are many
women in the faculty as well.”
Continued on page 8
The Graduate School of Business
becomes the Michael Smurfit
Graduate Business School and moves
to Carysfort, Blackrock.
Afull-time MBA programme
is introduced at Carysfort
“In 1964
UCD was
launching the
part-time MBA –
amilestone, not
only for Ireland,
but for Europe: the
first postgraduate
degree aimed at
professionals
working in
business
2000 2002 2005 2009
UCD Business School is
the first in Ireland to
receive triple accreditation
from bodies in the US,
Europe and the UK. It
retains this status
The UCD Quinn
School of Business,
astate-of-the-art
building on the
Belfield campus,
opens its doors
Faculty of Commerce becomes UCD
School of Business. It is incorporated
into new College of Business and Law.
QSoc (the Quinn Society), anew
undergraduate society for
Commerce students, is founded
UCD School of
Business,now with
more than 3,000
students each
year, celebrates its
centenary
THE IRISH TIMES UCD Business at 100 |April 24, 2009 | 7