Construction BUSINESS

A new €5 million bespoke Executive Development Centre has been opened by Dr. Michael WJ Smurfit at UCD Smurfit School, marking the culmination of a five-year investment programme which has seen the creation of a world-class Executive Development offering in Dublin. This latest evolution at UCD Smurfit School ensures Dr. Michael Smurfit’s vision of Ireland and its capital having an internationally respected post-graduate business school and executive development offering on its doorstep is now truly realised.

The investment programme over the past five years has allowed for a significant expansion of Smurfit Executive Development’s offering with both the number of programmes and graduates increasing tenfold in that period, while also building a global reputation for excellence with its Open Enrolment programmes now ranked in the world’s Top 50  according to the Financial Times.

This centre, which has over 50 customised and open enrolment courses, complements the broader post-graduate business education offering at UCD Smurfit School including its MBA, MSc Finance and Masters in Management programmes all ranked in the Financial Times annual rankings and underpinned by the ‘triple crown’ of accreditation from UK (AMBA), Europe (EQUIS) and the United States (AACSB), demonstrating adherence to the highest standards.

The Executive Development Centre provides a genuinely world-class learning environment based on international best practice. Planning for the centre commenced three years ago and assimilates learnings from Top 50 global business schools including Harvard, Oxford Saïd and IESE with which UCD Smurfit School enjoys enduring partnerships, ensuring the very best of every learning environment is integrated into Smurfit Executive Development.

Speaking ahead of the opening, Dr. Michael WJ Smurfit, founding benefactor, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School said: “Today marks the latest evolution in the development of a world-class centre of excellence in the provision of post graduate business education and Executive Development in Ireland. It is encouraging to see the ongoing progress the School has and continues to make across all aspects of its business education offering. It has been achieved over many years due to the dedication of a stellar leadership team who have striven for excellence at every stage.”

Acknowledging Dr. Michael Smurfit’s key role in developing this Centre of Excellence, Niall FitzGerald, Chairman, UCD Smurfit School Advisory Board said: “The progress made by UCD Smurfit School has been founded on the vision of one man over a quarter of a century ago. A trailblazer in business, both nationally and internationally, Michael Smurfit not only built a world-leading enterprise but, in the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, has fostered a culture of business educational excellence which has helped create Ireland’s current and is now shaping a future generation of business leaders.”

Speaking of the importance of having a world-class Executive Development Centre in Dublin to support the MNC and indigenous sectors and to help FDI agencies attract investment, Helen Brophy, Director, Smurfit Executive Development said: “Having a world-class Executive Development centre of excellence is a key part of Ireland’s offering to the MNC and indigenous sectors and a key asset for FDI agencies in seeking inward investment, particularly in a post-Brexit context. With growing complexity, increased uncertainty against a backdrop of greater volatility, demands on Irish business leaders are greater than ever – they need the leadership skills to plan, adapt, react and counteract challenges as they strive to compete in a globalised market. At Smurfit Executive Development we now have a state-of-the-art executive development facility, which is an exemplar of a world-class learning environment and business school campus and which matches the reputation of our programmes and faculty.”