Recent evidence indicates that there is a large gap between the business competencies of veterinary graduates and the expectations of their employers. Weaknesses among the business skills identified as particularly relevant to new graduates included their competence in discussing finances with clients and their confidence in charging for veterinary services. Business orientation, employee development, negotiating skills, leadership and personal finance have also been recognized as deficient.
About this initiative
The aim of this project is to develop university-wide capacity for public engagement by designing a cross- disciplinary structured elective pathway at UCD.
The key deliverables of this project are the design and submission for approval (by Governing Board) of a cross-disciplinary structured elective in public engagement; a mapped overview of existing public engagement provision across UCD; and a suite of modules developed or enhanced and ready for delivery in the 2027/28 academic year. The project will also produce guidance and resources to support ongoing module development
and integration across Schools.
For students taking the elective, the primary outcome is access to a coherent, flexible pathway through which they can engage with public engagement as part of their degree. Through participation, students will develop key graduate capabilities, including the ability to communicate complex ideas to diverse audiences, collaborate across disciplines, and engage critically with societal challenges. The modules will provide opportunities for real-world, public-facing tasks, including engagement with external partners and communities, supporting the application of academic knowledge in practical contexts. By connecting learning to real-world contexts and enabling interdisciplinary participation, the elective will also support a stronger sense of belonging and connection to the university.
For student co-applicants and those engaged through the project’s deliberative processes, outcomes include experience of partnership in curriculum design and institutional development. These students will contribute to shaping learning outcomes, module design, and evaluation processes, developing skills in co-creation, leadership, and critical reflection. This supports the development of confident, reflective graduates with a strong sense of agency in their education and capacity to contribute to institutional and societal change.
| Project Lead | Associate Professor Shane Bergin |
|---|---|
| College | UCD College of Social Sciences and Law |
| School | UCD School of Education |
| Partner Colleges | UCD College of Arts & Humanities
UCD College of Health & Agricultural Sciences UCD College of Science, College of Engineering and Architecture |