UCD Sued by Maynooth
UCD has been brought to court by Maynooth University over the alleged poaching of Professor Kath Browne. Maynooh claim that UCD approached Prof. Browne and suggested that she apply for a position within UCD. The Kildare university claims that UCD recruited Prof. Browne under their Central Pool Academic Appointments Programme.
Maynooth are not seeking to prevent Prof. Browne from taking up her position in UCD, but they are looking to the courts to make a decision on what they claim are unlawful poaching practices. They claim that the manner in which Prof. Browne was hired, by being asked to send her CV to the head of school, was not an open or honest way of going about hiring someone. They also maintain that the position was not advertised. They also claim that it breaches a 2006 agreement entered into by the two universities, in which they agreed not to approach members of staff from the other university to offer them employment.
The Department of Education have expressed their wish for this case not to go before the courts.
€20m Quinn extension opens
The UCD Moore Centre opened its doors early September, increasing the floor space in the Quinn School of Business by almost 50%. The €20 million expansion features a 320 seat lecture theatre and co-working zones, aimed to “to mimic those in start-ups and innovation hubs.”
Many of the new lecture theatres and classrooms bear the names of large businesses and firms, such as PwC, KPMG, and EY. The extension is named after entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr. George G. Moore, a UCD alumnus. His wife, Angela Moore, the founding donor, opened the new extension on September 1st.
Speaking at the opening of the Moore Centre, UCD President Andrew Deeks said “Our hope is that George’s story and the UCD Moore Centre for Business will inspire and encourage our students to believe in themselves and their ideas – a fitting tribute to one of the most successful business people of his generation.”
UCD mourns former chaplain Fr Tony Coote
The passing of former UCD chaplain and Volunteers Overseas founder Fr. Tony Coote on 28th August last was marked by UCD, who highlighted the late priests achievements on and off campus. Fr. Coote also founded the student led mental health movement, Please Talk, following his dismay at the number of young people taking their own lives. The programme, which began in UCD, is now in operation in 27 colleges and universities around the country.
Five months after his diagnosis of motor neurone disease in February 2018, Fr. Coote took part in a 550 kilometre walk from Co. Donegal to Co. Cork to raise awareness of the disease, undeterred by his reliance on a wheelchair. In doing so, he raised €700,000 for motor neurone research. His best selling book, ‘Live While You Can’ was released in May of this year, and was widely acclaimed for its honest portrayal of the disease, along with Coote’s memories of his life before and after his ordination.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate by UCD in December last year. He passed away in Dublin, aged 55.