UCD Innovation Academy

UCD Innovation Academy is a unit of University College Dublin, and was established through the Innovation Alliance between University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin. Since then it has expanded from its initial focus on working with PhDs. Today the Academy works with undergraduates, postgraduates, and educators, and with organisations and partners beyond academia.

UCD Innovation Academy takes a highly action-oriented approach to teaching and learning. Teaching is grounded in academic rigour but the focus is on the practical application of this in a real-world context. They work with over 1,000 learners each year from UCD Undergraduates to PhD students and professionals from Industry across all sectors.

UCD Innovation Academy’s project-based, experiential modules and classes bring together students from all 42 schools at UCD to build skills by tackling real-world challenges in partnership with leading graduate employers across all sectors including PwC, Arnotts|Brown Thomas, Deloitte, Mastercard, and Diona.

For more information on undergraduate modules go to: innovators.ie/ucdundergraduate-electives The Innovation Academy also offers UCD PhD and Masters students a range of modules designed to enhance creative confidence and facilitate entrepreneurial thinking. For more information go to: innovators.ie/phd-modules

“The way the course is structured allows you to learn the Design Thinking methodology by working on real life business problems. I found this incredibly effective and rewarding, and it made it easier to apply to my own ideas afterwards. The encouragement and empathy of the UCD Innovation Academy team was invaluable too. I came away feeling recharged and capable”

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Gobnait , The Grassroots Guild

“During my time in UCD, I completed multiple modules in the UCD Innovation Academy as electives. Not only were these classes very enjoyable but also provided experience in the creative thinking process, business plan development and concept research in a practical way. Many of the skills and insights learned during those modules I have continuously reverted back to since launching Care Box Collection”

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Klara, Care Box Collection

“The course at the UCD Innovation Academy was exactly what I needed for the stage that I was at. I was full of ideas and energy but was lacking support and guidance. This was completely new terrain for me coming from a social justice and community development background into the world of social enterprise. The tutors and colleagues on the course were supportive, many of them had vast experience of being innovative leaders, creating new products and testing prototypes. I immediately felt like I found my tribe. There was endless idea generation, creative problem solving, approaches to user centric testing and discovery. Having a safe space to dive into my project and have the input and feedback from creative leaders on the course was invaluable. I tweaked and developed angles on my pitching and found huge confidence in what myself and the women were aiming for”

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Aoife,

The Great Care Cop

“Joining the entrepreneurship skills course at the UCD Innovation Academy with Mr. Fergal Brophy enriched my business skills by giving me a better understanding of how to monitor and develop my business, as well as introducing me to some helpful tools and software. This all helped me grow my idea and give me the push I need to keep working on it”

- Hisham, Thrift

Did you know…

“If you have any sort of business plan or idea, and you're at a point where you don't know what to do, where to go, who to ask. Do the innovation creativity and entrepreneurship course at the UCD Innovation Academy, I was at a roadblock creativity wise, and I came across this course randomly on google one day and it completely opened my eyes and refuelled my passion for my business. I recommend this to everyone in all walks of life, especially budding entrepreneurs.”

- David, ReaDI Watch Ltd.

Irish start-up funding had its third consecutive year of staying above a billion, with total funding last year standing at €1.3bn.

techireland.org