Irish Consultancy Experience
- Spend 4 weeks in Dublin learning about the business and culture of Ireland while gaining hands-on experience via a group consulting project with an Irish enterprise or charity
- Customize your experience by choosing from a business or service-learning focus for the consulting project
- Earn 6 credits through University College Dublin’s (UCD’s) Lochlann Quinn School of Business
- Open to all majors and academic disciplines
The Irish Consultancy Experience is a new program offered by University College Dublin (UCD) launching in summer 2021. This 4-week program combines academic, professional, and social and cultural components to offer students a challenging, stimulating, and rewarding program.
Students will develop an understanding of modern day Ireland from an economic and cultural perspective, and work on live projects with an Irish charity or enterprise. Within the consultancy project, students can choose to focus on a service learning or industry experience, allowing participants to personalize their program.
In undertaking this program students will enjoy the Quinn School of Business approach to transformational learning, immersing in an opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives within diverse settings. Students will contribute to the Irish community, expand their academic knowledge, enrich their social and cultural experience and develop transferable skills. By engaging with the experiences this program offers, students will expand their outlook, approach, network and horizons.
This is available to undergraduate students of all academic disciplines. The program will be delivered in line with government and public health guidelines. UCD plans to offer this program in-person with possible hybrid elements that may be required by government and public health guidelines. It will also be possible for students to complete the program remotely from the US, through a variety of synchronous and asynchronous components with a tailored virtual cultural program.
Dublin, the capital of Ireland, is a warm and welcoming place. It is the center of Irish industry so internship opportunities are available in wide range of fields. The city prides itself on its beautifully preserved buildings and rich culture. Nearly one-third of the Irish population lives in Dublin, and half of the country’s people aged 26 and younger live there. Thanks to its young population, Dublin is incredibly lively with a great selection of clubs, pubs, and things to do. It offers fabulous museums and galleries, quaint streets and byways, and good shopping.
Participants will take two courses;
1. Ireland’s International Business Environment will provide students with contextual information on the Irish business environment, on Ireland as a successful location for international business, and success stories of Irish Small-Medium Enterprises (SME). This course will also draw heavily on cultural components to allow students develop a rounded understanding of business in modern Ireland.
View the course syllabus here - Course Outline Irelands International Business Environment 2021.
This course is pre-approved to transfer back to KU as IBUS 500 (3 credits) for KU business students who have completed FIN 310, MGMT 310, MKTG 310, and SCM 310 or as GIST 350 (3 credits) for non-business majors or business students who do not meet the IBUS 500 prerequisites.
2. The Consultancy Project will provide students with the opportunity to contribute to and engage with local businesses while learning new business skills, both inside and outside the classroom. The course will be taught through a series of workshops, classes and guest speaker presentations. Students will complete a live consultancy project with an Irish organization, either a charitable organization or an Irish enterprise. The projects will be scheduled for review, assessment and discussion at key milestones throughout the course and are fully guided and supported by the faculty.
View the course syllabus here - Course Outline Irish Consultancy Project 2021.
This course is pre-approved to transfer back to KU as IBUS 500 (3 credits) for KU business students who have completed FIN 310, MGMT 310, MKTG 310, and SCM 310 or as GIST 350 (3 credits) for non-business majors or business students who do not meet the IBUS 500 prerequisites.
Program Delivery
The program will be delivered in line with government and public health guidelines. UCD anticipates delivering the program in person, with possible hybrid elements that may be required by government and public health guidelines. It will also be possible for students to complete this program remotely from the U.S., through a variety of synchronous and asynchronous components with a tailored virtual cultural program.
Assessment
Students will be required to prepare in advance for the academic component. Readings and syllabi will be shared with the students approx. 3 weeks prior to arrival. Students will be assessed on an ongoing basis. Team and group work is also essential in the assessment criteria. The specific details of the assessment structure for each module will be shared during the first class.
Credit Transfer
UCD recommends that 3 US credits each are awarded for the core module and for the chosen elective module for a total of 6 credits.
UCD anticipates all students participating in-person in Dublin however they will keep in touch regarding COVID-19 travel restrictions in the coming months.
Students will stay in the UCD on-campus residences during the program. UCD residences offer private, individual bedrooms with shared bathrooms (shared between 2) and living spaces (shared between 4). UCD residences are mixed-sex residences. Requests to share with specific individuals cannot be facilitated.
Students will be invited to reserve their on-campus accommodation via an online booking system in April. Accommodation is charged on a per night basis, and costs are not included in the tuition fees. Students can expect accommodation costs in the region of €1,500+ depending on how many nights they will stay. The costs per night will be confirmed in April in advance of the booking system opening.
Further information about UCD on campus residences can be found here.
SAGE is dedicated to creating international engagement opportunities that meet the needs of all our students and providing resources to support you through the process of studying abroad. Study abroad is achievable for students of all identities including our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities, and students with religious/non-religious viewpoints. Before selecting a program, consider how your identities may impact your experience abroad in unique ways and talk with your Program Coordinator about any program-specific concerns. Students with documented disabilities should discuss any accommodation needs with their Program Coordinator early in the planning process.
Considerations for Ireland
Without the colonial history of other European countries, Ireland has very few non-Irish communities. Regardless of its homogeneity, as an emigrant nation itself, Ireland is known as a place generally welcoming of immigrants and visitors.
There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Ireland and same-sex civil unions are recognized. Despite the country’s relatively conservative mores, the gay community in Ireland has established itself and feels no need to live in hiding any more.
Ireland offers services for people who are mobility, sight, or hearing impaired. Certain areas of Dublin boast modern infrastructure with buildings and transportation systems accessible to people with physical limitations. Older city sections and more rural towns are less accessible due to centuries-old architecture. This includes cobblestone streets, narrow staircase entryways, and small indoor spaces.
Source: U.S. Department of State country information pages and Diversity Abroad.
Additional Resources
Check our Identity Abroad page and resources listed below for information specific to you and other students who may be on your program.
The program is open to all undergraduate students from any major or academic discipline. It is most suited to students in their 2nd or 3rd year of undergraduate study.
Requirements:
- GPA of 3.0 – transcript must be provided with application
- Full English language requirements
- Full time registered undergraduate student
- Approval from home university
In addition:
- Completion of online application at ucd.ie/apply
- Valid passport
