UCD Indian Society

Shubham Banerjee MSc International Business 2018-2019

With an undergraduate degree in Finance and International Business, I was looking at furthering my understanding of the global markets. The course (M.Sc. International Business) offered by UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School was structured in a way which allowed a healthy amalgamation of traditional lectures and applied learning. Multiple applied projects and the option of undertaking a Consultancy Project (opportunity to work with a real company on a project) in the final semester gave me the ideal opportunity to apply my learnings in the real world. This helped me hone some critical soft skills which in my opinion has made me not only ‘Educated’ but also ‘Employable.’ To say the least, the last year at Smurfit saw me grow as a student, gain cultural experiences, learn new things and forge friendships for life.

VIKAS PRASANNA MSc Digital Innovation 2017-2018

Why did you choose UCD? And why Ireland?

It’s a funny story, to be honest, I initially planned to pursue a master’s degree in the US, but had a hard time arranging my finances. So, when I looked at other options that would cost me less but did not compromise on the quality and standards of education, UCD happened to be right up that list. In 2016, the Irish market was just starting to see that spur of growth in the IT sector. With the news of Brexit looming hot and cold back then, my personal research suggested that the IT market was ready to take off as the country would be the only English speaking nation in the EU that shared the same time zone as the UK as well as providing a great FDI environment. My personal highlight of this programme was the wide array of perceptions that I was able to witness during the study year that consistently amazed me – and this happened only because there were students from at least 10 different countries sitting in the same room.

Career advice for future students?

A lot of you will walk into the college thinking it’s going to be the same life in a jazzy world, but the reality is that you’ll walk out of the same place as completely new people with a better understanding of life when you graduate. The bubble we live in will surely expand on many fronts. My sincere advice is don’t isolate yourself. The pressure to perform will be high – be open-minded and embrace all the difficulties that come in your way. You will get wha t you want, only if you fight for it until the end. Make some really good friends and keep them close to you as you would keep your family. At the end of the day, your friends’ circle will be the most influential part of this journey!

MESSAGES FROM UCD PROFESSORS

Professor Ravindranathan Thampi,

Vice Principal of Internationalisation (VPI), UCD College of Engineering and Architecture

The UCD College of Engineering and Architecture provides a multinational environment for students. Indians are proud of their ‘unity in diversity’ and likewise we see diversity as a source of UCD’s innate strength. Our students as well as the teaching staff are from diverse cultures and we strive to keep a good balance of nationalities in our college to improve the competencies of our cohorts in a truly international learning atmosphere. The rapid progress we see in India today throws also new challenges along with it. UCD College of Engineering & Architecture will certainly make their discerning students acquire the skills required to meet the new challenges.

Professor Brian Fynes, Associate Dean (International), UCD College of Business

UCD College of Business is Ireland’s leading business school and attracts the best students from around the world onto our programmes. We attract great calibre students from India and they bring so much to the classroom and the student experience. We have very active alumni networks and chapters throughout the world, including in India. Our graduates from India have been doing really well in placing with great companies in Ireland,

India and other locations. In aiming to attract great students, the UCD team visit India three times a year where we meet many of our incoming students in person.

Dr Richard Collins, Vice Principal for Internationalisation (VPI), College of Social Sciences and Law

The College of Social Sciences and Law at University College Dublin (UCD) has enjoyed a long-standing connection to India, particularly with the fourth President of India, VV Giri (1894-1980) having studied law at UCD between the years 1913 and 1916. This historical connection has since been instrumental in the launch of a seminar series, scholarship programme and has fostered academic collaborations between UCD and

Indian academics. More broadly the College has been a welcome home for Indian students in recent years, welcoming students across programmes in law, economics, information and communication studies, politics and international relations and a fascinating range of other social sciences programmes. Indian students bring important and unique insights to these programmes and have made - and continue to make - a terrific contribution to academic life on campus.

Dr Aoife Whelan, Vice Principal of Internationalisation (VPI), UCD College of Arts and Humanities

UCD College of Arts and Humanities offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in a wide variety of subject areas including Art History, Classics, Creative Writing, English, History, Irish Studies, Languages and Music, along with interdisciplinary programmes combining methodologies and content from a range of perspectives. The College has a strong cohort of international students who add to the diversity of its programmes. Our intake of students from India has been steadily increasing, reflecting the broad appeal of our programmes to students across the globe. As well as subject specialisms our graduates develop career-ready, transferrable skills such as critical thinking, oral and written communication skills and digital competence which are often a key factor in securing employment. Faculty-led research focussing on India has also increased, further strengthening close ties with UCD’s partner universities in India. I look forward to welcoming a new cohort of students who will join the ranks of our global Arts and Humanities graduates.

Professor Jeremy Simpson, Vice Principal of Internationalisation (VPI), UCD College of Science

Despite now having visited India on more than 25 separate occasions over the last 5 years in my role as VP International for the UCD College of Science, I never cease to be amazed by the passion and energy that Indian students show for education and gaining of knowledge to enhance their career prospects. What I then witness back in the classroom or laboratory in UCD is very similar, namely the enthusiasm that our Indian students have for their discipline. Over the years I have taught and worked with dozens of such students, and consistently they are the ones who motivate the rest of the class and raise the standards.

In the global workplace in which we exist the competition for the next step on the career ladder can be fierce, but yet what I have seen time and time again is that the Indian graduates from our programmes in UCD Science are competitive and are able to secure those much sought positions, both in academia and industry. I sincerely believe that this is a golden time for Science and therefore Science graduates, and I see Indians at the heart of this. The pace of scientific discovery has never been greater, and as traditional discipline boundaries become blurred, there is the increasing need for individuals who can rise to the challenge of learning beyond their one expertise. The Indians students who I now see engaging with the exciting range of programmes available in UCD Science are perfectly placed for this challenge, and so have a bright future ahead of them.

UCD INDIAN SOCIETY

About a decade back, seeing Indian university students in Ireland was a rare sight. Today, it is extremely common to see Indian students milling about the streets of Dublin in their huddles. With the number of Indian students arriving on Irish shores increasing year after year, there is a very strong reason for Indian cultural student societies to be established so students feel at home in a foreign land.

UCD Indian Society (UCD IndSoc) was established in 2014 to represent and celebrate the Indian culture at UCD.

Every academic year kicks off with a Welcome Reception for the new students. This allows people to meet others who are new like them, as well as seniors. This allows the students to make friends with people who come from the same cultural background as them, easing any kinds of insecurities and culture shocks that first-timers are bound to experience.

Holi Diwali

Soon after, as October rolls around, Diwali, one of our most well-received events, is celebrated right on the UCD campus. Weather permitting, the students burst fire crackers out in the open, before heading back indoors for a nice Indian feast.

Apart from aiming to give you a home-like environment during all festivals, UCD IndSoc also hosts various events to de-stress during the more hectic months closer to the exam season. We organise movie nights, cricket matches, Bollywood Nights and other amazing programmes for all to chill out and yet stay motivated for the semester end.

Semester 2 at UCD starts with a bang, but for IndSoc it’s all about celebrating the beautiful festival of colours, Holi. Holi is celebrated with some amazing food, music and colours at an open field on UCD campus.

UCD IndSoc aims to make all our events better than before and feedback from our members helps us do exactly that. We look forward to welcoming you to an amazing year at UCD and to learn, grow and experience with you.

Navratri

Bollywood Night

UCD SOUTH ASIA GLOBAL CENTER

Regus Business Center, 12th Floor, Building 8C DLF Cyber Hub, Gurgaon – 122001, Haryana.

+91-0124-4696626/6655 india@ucd.ie www.ucd.ie/global UCDGlobal UCDGlobal @UCDGlobal UCDGlobal