UCD Innovation Academy

This summer, we welcomed students from across the globe for the NICE (Network for Intercultural Competence to Facilitate Entrepreneurship) programme.

Together, students from:
🇮🇪 University College Dublin
🏴 The University of Edinburgh
🇺🇦 Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
🇮🇹 Università degli Studi di Padova
🇳🇱 University of Amsterdam (UvA)
🇿🇦 University of Johannesburg..came together to take on our Creative Thinking & Innovation module.

Working in multicultural teams, they tackled real-world challenges, explored Design Thinking, and developed innovative ideas while building friendships and learning from different cultures and perspectives.

💡 Want to experience it for yourself?

Creative Thinking & Innovation is back on the elective list this Autumn for UCD undergraduate students!

Choose the experience that suits you best:
📍 On-campus
💻 Online

Whichever you choose, you'll collaborate, challenge your thinking, build practical innovation skills, and discover just how much you can achieve when great minds come together.

Ready to think differently? We hope to see you this Autumn! Registration starts 13 August on a phased basis.

🇱🇦 Sabaidee from Laos!

What an incredible week it's been for our UCD Innovation Academy team! 🌏

Some of our facilitators have also been in Laos, working alongside colleagues from Vietnam National University (VNU) and the National University of Laos (NUOL) to deliver immersive programmes in creativity, entrepreneurship, and sustainability for both students and educators.

From inspiring workshops and thought-provoking discussions to meeting university leaders and the Irish Embassy's Deputy Head of Mission, it's been a week of learning, collaboration, and building connections that extend far beyond the classroom.

We're especially proud that this initiative was also recognised by the Embassy of Ireland, highlighting the growing collaboration between Ireland, Laos, and Vietnam to strengthen innovation and higher education across the region.

Of course, it hasn't all been work! Our team has been embracing the warm hospitality of the Lao people, practising their Lao greetings, navigating the local currency, and experiencing the rich culture that makes every international collaboration so memorable. 💚

Next stop: Vietnam! 🇻🇳 We can't wait to continue the journey and work with even more students, educators, and partners to inspire the next generation of changemakers.

🇨🇳✈️ UCD Innovation Academy goes to China!

What happens when students, sustainability, and Design Thinking come together? Two weeks of big ideas, real-world challenges, and innovative solutions.

Together with our partners at Beijing Dublin International College (BDIC), students took on sustainability challenges inspired by Huawei's solar energy solutions, applying Design Thinking to create human-centred ideas for a greener future.

From brainstorming and prototyping to pitching their final concepts, it was an incredible journey of creativity, collaboration, and global learning.

Here's to empowering the next generation of innovators, wherever they are in the world. 🌍💡

Education is at one of the most significant moments of reform in a generation.
Wellbeing. Inclusion. AI in the classroom. Curriculum change. Belonging. These are complex, interconnected, and deeply human opportunities. And most professional development was not designed to help educators make the most of them.

This September, UCD Innovation Academy is launching the Professional Certificate in Creative and Innovative Problem Solving for Educators.

NFQ Level 9, 8 weeks, fully online.

Applications now open. Link in bio.

The past two weeks have been full of creativity, collaboration and fresh ideas at UCD Innovation Academy. 💡

Our Professional Diploma in Creativity, Innovation and Leadership and Professional Diploma in Innovation for Sustainability participants recently completed their first module, Creative Thinking and Innovation, with an engaging in-person learning experience on the UCD campus.

From lively discussions and creative challenges to collaborative problem-solving, participants explored how design thinking and innovation can unlock new ways of tackling complex challenges while learning from one another's diverse experiences.

This is just the beginning of their journey as they develop the mindset, tools and confidence to drive innovation in their organisations and communities.

Congratulations to everyone on completing Module 1! We're excited to see what you'll create next! 👏

If you've been thinking about changing careers, future-proofing your skills or making a greater impact through your work, now is the perfect time to explore what's possible.

Join our MSc in Design Thinking for Sustainability Information Session tomorrow to discover how this innovative programme can help you transition into one of the fastest-growing sectors while learning practical innovation and design thinking skills to tackle real-world sustainability challenges.

Any career background or undergraduate course is welcome!

📍 Study at University College Dublin, one of the world's top 1% universities
🌱 Learn through real industry and community projects
💼 Build the skills employers are looking for in the green economy

Link in our bio to sign up. Questions? Email us at [email protected]

📸Guess where this was taken... Spain? Portugal? The Wicklow Mountains?

Not quite! These photos were taken right here on the University College Dublin campus during a Woodland Walk with our Professional Diploma in Innovation for Sustainability students, led by module coordinator Dr. Thomas Macagno.

Fun fact: UCD is home to beautiful woodland trails and green spaces, making it the perfect place to step away from the classroom, connect with nature, and continue learning in a different way.

We encourage our students to take a mindful walk, converse with classmates, or simply take in the surroundings as spending time outdoors is a great way to support both physical and mental wellbeing.

Experiences like these are an important part of our in-person programmes, encouraging curiosity, reflection, and connection—all essential ingredients for innovation.

Interested in joining our Professional Diploma in Innovation for Sustainability or exploring our other in-person programmes?

📩 Email us at [email protected] or register for one of this week’s information sessions. Click the link in our bio to learn more.

Learning doesn't stop when the classroom session ends. ✨

Some of the students on our Professional Diploma in Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership recently took part in a range of enriching extracurricular activities, from getting hands-on in the UCD Innovation Academy MakerSpace—where they explored 3D printing, laser cutting, and the creative tools available to them—to discovering Ireland's rich cultural heritage with a visit to the University College Dublin National Folklore Collection

These experiences are designed to inspire fresh perspectives and connect learning with the world beyond the classroom.

Thinking about joining us? There's just one day left to apply for the summer intake of our Professional Diploma in Innovation for Sustainability and experience learning that goes beyond lectures.

📍 Find all the details via the link in our bio, or email us at [email protected] to learn more.