National College of Ireland or Coláiste Náisiúnta na hÉireann in Irish is a not-for-profit, state-aided third-level education institution in Dublin. Founded as a Jesuit venture in 1951 along with Trade Unions, it is now an autonomous college, offering full and part-time courses from undergraduate to postgraduate level, in areas related to, among others, psychology, finance, business and computing. All courses are delivered from the IFSC campus in Dublin and across a network of regional centres. NCI's specialist areas include psychology, human resource management, data analytics, management, cloud computing, fintech, accountancy, cybersecurity, education, and finance. NCI is also known for its free public events which include the dot conf digital and web technology conference, the Legends in Your Lunchtime series, the Seven Deadly Skills, In the Psychologists' Chair and Marketing Mavericks.
History
In 1951, the National College of Ireland started out as the Catholic Workers College, Dublin in Sandford Lodge, Ranelagh. Founded by Fr. Edward Coyne S.J., in association with Trade Unionists such as Walter Beirne others involved in the college in its initial years included Professor Thomas A. Finlay S.J., and Rev. Edmund Kent S.J. among others. Lectures were led by a handful of dedicated Jesuits two nights a week, with 103 registered students in the first year. Within 10 years, student numbers had dramatically increased. Links with trade unions deepened, as did formal collaborations with employer and management groups. By 1966, nearly 1,300 students from trade union and business management backgrounds were learning together at the re-branded National College of Industrial Relations. In 1976 the college achieved recognition by the statesNational Council for Educational Awards, the forerunner of HETAC, for a number of its programmes. The college again re-branded as the National College of Ireland in 1998, with an expanded National Campus Network, and an array of outreach programmes across the country. As the College continued to grow, the land and buildings at Sandford Road were transferred by the Jesuits to the NCI Board of Management. The College's Higher Certificate, Bachelor, Higher Diploma, and Master courses are accredited by the Irish government's Quality and Qualifications Ireland ; a number of other short term courses are unaccredited. At the turn of the century, NCI relocated to a 0.8 hectare site on Mayor Street in the Dublin Docklands. A€25,000,000 fundraising campaign resulted in the development of a modern campus including 53 residential apartments accommodating 286 students and a new Business and Research Building. In 2009 and 2010 the College ran a series of free debates called the Insight Debate Series, organised in partnership with The Irish Times and the radio station Newstalk 106-108 FM. The college's Legends in your Lunchtime series saw public figures such as Ben Dunne, Willie Walsh and Giovanni Trapattoni interviewed live by a Newstalk presenter. In 2012 the College's chairman Denis O'Brien and Jeffrey Ullman, emeritus professor from Stanford University, opened the NCI's Cloud Competency Centre.
Courses
Both full and part-time, undergraduate and postgraduate courses in computing, business, Early Childhood Education, psychology, data analytics, marketing, digital marketing, cybersecurity, human resource management, cloud computing, accountancy, and finance are offered through the College's Schools of Business and Computing. A number of professional development programmes are also offered. A full list is available on the college website.
In February 2010 Dr. Phillip Matthews joined as president of the college, succeeding Dr. Paul Mooney. In August 2016, Dr. Matthews was succeeded by Gina Quin, the former CEO of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.
Honorary Fellowship
The National College of Ireland as did before as the National College or Industrial Relations awards the Honorary Fellowship
