University of Dublin
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| University of Dublin | |
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| Ollscoil Átha Cliath | |
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Latin: Universitas Dubliniensis |
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| Established: | 1592 |
| Type: | Public |
| Chancellor: | Mary Robinson |
| Students: | 15,000 (2006) |
| Undergraduates: | (2006) |
| Postgraduates: | (2006) |
| Location: | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
| University surroundings: | Historic landmark |
| Affiliations: | EUA IUA UI |
| Website: | http://www.tcd.ie |
The University of Dublin, corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin (since the 19th century), located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592, Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College Dublin as "the mother of a university" - making it Ireland's oldest operating university. This is one of the seven ancient universities in the English speaking world and the only one outside the present United Kingdom.
Unlike the universities of Oxford and of Cambridge, after which the University of Dublin was modelled and both of which comprise several constituent colleges, there is just one Dublin college: Trinity College. Thus the designations "Trinity College Dublin" and "University of Dublin" are usually synonymous for practical purposes.
The University of Dublin is consistently ranked top in Ireland in certain global surveys - for example, the Times Higher Education Supplement placed the university 53rd in the world (no other university from the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland appeared within the top 100).
The University of Dublin is a member of Irish Universities Association and the Coimbra Group, a network of leading European universities.
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[edit] Organisation
The University of Dublin may have been modelled on University of Oxford and University of Cambridge in the form of a collegiate university, though the establishing Letters Patent are not clear on this, Trinity College being named by the Queen as the mater universitas ("mother of the university"). As no other college was ever established, Trinity is the sole constituent college of the university and so Trinity College and the University of Dublin are effectively synonymous .
Queen Victoria issued Letters Patent in 1857 giving legal foundation to the Senate, and other authorities specific to the University - but the High Court held in 1888 that these dealt with "not the incorporation of the University of Dublin but of its Senate merely", the judge noting pointedly, referring to the founding of University College Dublin, that "The advisers of Queen Victoria knew how to incorporate a University when they meant to do so."
Dr. Mary Robinson is the current Chancellor of the University, its titular head.
The University is governed by the Board, chaired by the Provost, who is elected for a period of 10 years. The University Council, also chaired by the Provost, governs academic matters. The current Provost, Dr. John Hegarty, formerly a member of the School of Physics, was elected in 2001.
[edit] Reputation
The University of Dublin is one of the seven ancient universities in the English speaking world and the top-ranked university in Ireland (in some international surveys). It is viewed as one of the world's leading universities and prides itself on its numerous historic achievements, including the development of the ISBN system, introducing clinical teaching into medical education and being the first university in Europe to award degrees in modern languages.
[edit] Rankings
- Times Higher Education Supplement Global Ranking[1]
- 53rd overall globally and 13th in Europe [2], up from 78th globally in 2006, 37th for Arts and Humanities globally (up from 39th in 2006), and the only Irish University in the top 100 (there are 4 in the top 300).
- Financial Times MBA Ranking
- 70th globally, 1st in Ireland.[3] and 10th for international mobility of graduates and value for money (globally).
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University Ranking
- 203rd globally and 1st in Ireland.[4]
- Whitefield Consulting Worldwide - European MBA Rankings 2007
- 16th in Europe and 1st in Ireland [5]
[edit] History
[edit] Early History
The idea of an Irish university had been discussed over time, with a university authorised at Dublin by the Pope in 1311, for example (a Chancellor and staff were appointed, the students granted royal protection) and operating until the Reformation. In 1592, a small group of Dublin citizens obtained a charter from Queen Elizabeth incorporating Trinity College Dublin, only constituent college of the University of Dublin. The Corporation of Dublin granted the new university the lands of All Hallows monastery, a mile to the south east of the city walls.[6]Two years later a few Fellows and students began to work in the new College, which then consisted of one small square. During the next fifty years the community increased. Endowments, including considerable landed estates, were secured, new fellowships were founded, the books which formed the beginning of the great library were acquired, a curriculum was devised and statutes were framed.
[edit] 18th and 19th Century
The eighteenth century was for the most part a peaceful era in Ireland, and the university shared its calm, though at the beginning of the period a few Jacobites and at its end a very small group of political radicals seriously perturbed the College authorities. During this century it was the university of the Protestant ascendancy. Parliament, meeting on the other side of College Green, viewed it benevolently and made generous grants for building. The first building of the new age was the Library, begun in 1712; then followed the Printing House and the Dining Hall; and during the second half of the century Parliament Square slowly emerged. The great building drive was completed in the early nineteenth century by Botany Bay, the square which derives its name in part from the herb garden it once contained.
The nineteenth century was marked by important developments in the professional schools. The Law School was reorganised after the middle of the century. Medical teaching had been given in the College since 1711, but it was only after the establishment of the school on a sound basis by legislation in 1800 and under the inspiration of Macartney, the brilliant and quarrelsome anatomist, that it was in a position to play its full part, with such teachers as Graves and Stokes, in the great age of Dublin medicine. The Engineering School was established in 1842 and was one of the first of its kind in the British Isles.
Queen Victoria issued Letters Patent in 1857 giving legal foundation to the Senate, and other university authorities.
The School of Commerce was established in 1925, and the School of Social Studies in 1934. In 1962 the School of Commerce and the School of Social Studies amalgamated to form the School of Business and Social Studies. The School of Pharmacy was established in 1977.
In 1969 the several schools and departments were grouped into Faculties as follows: Arts (Humanities and Letters); Business, Economic and Social Studies; Engineering and Systems Sciences; Health Sciences (since October 1977 all undergraduate teaching in dental science in the Dublin area has been located in Trinity College); Science.
In 1977 the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was transferred to University College Dublin.
[edit] Recent Years
The University of Dublin is today in the very centre of Dublin, as the city has moved eastwards. Its campus contains many buildings of architectural merit, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries. These include the Chapel and Examination Hall designed by Sir William Chambers and the Museum Building designed by the Irish architects Thomas Newenham Deane and Benjamin Woodward.
[edit] Access for Catholics and Women
During its early life, the University of Dublin was a university exclusively for the Protestant Ascendancy class of Dublin - Elizabeth actually expressed the hope that it would help shape a more developed loyal ruling class. Following the first steps of Catholic Emancipation, Roman Catholics were first admitted in 1793 (prior to Cambridge and Oxford, upon which the University of Dublin was modelled). In 1873 all religious tests were abolished, except for the Divinity School. However, it was not until 1970 that the Roman Catholic Church, through the Archbishop of Dublin John Charles McQuaid, lifted its policy of excommunication for Roman Catholics who enrolled without special dispensation, at the same time as the university authorities allowed a Roman Catholic chaplain to be based in the university.[7] Trinity College, Dublin is a sister college to Oriel College, University of Oxford and St John's College, University of Cambridge.
Women were admitted to the University of Dublin as full members for the first time in 1904, thus making it the first ancient university in Ireland or Britain to do so. The first female professor was appointed in 1934.
[edit] Degrees
Graduates of liberal degrees, i.e. non-professional such as Humanities or Science, receive an honours Bachelor of Arts degree after four years, but may receive an ordinary B.A. after three years' study. Bachelors of at least three years' standing may proceed to the degree of Master of Arts.
From 1975 onwards, University of Dublin degrees were also awarded to graduates at the colleges of the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT); this practice continued until 1998 when DIT gained the ability to award degrees in its own right.
[edit] Parliamentary representation
For more details see Dublin University (constituency).
The University has been represented since 1613 when James I granted it the right to elect two Members of Parliament (MPs) to the Irish House of Commons. When the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain were joined with the Act of Union, which came into force in 1801, the University sent one MP to the British House of Commons at Westminster until 1832, when it was given another. It continued to elect two until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The Government of Ireland Act 1920 provided for a House of Commons of Southern Ireland, for which the University was to elect four MPs. They were the only MPs to attend the opening of the House in 1921. From 1923 to 1936, the University elected three TDs to sit in Dáil Éireann. Since the new Constitution of Ireland in 1937, the University has elected three Senators to Seanad Éireann.
The current representatives of the University are Ivana Bacik, Shane Ross and David Norris. Notable representatives have included Edward Gibson, W. E. H. Lecky, Edward Carson, Noel Browne, Conor Cruise O'Brien and Mary Robinson.
The franchise was originally restricted to the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of Trinity College. This was expanded in 1832 to include those who had received an M.A. and in 1918 all those who had received a degree from the University.
[edit] Notes and References
- ^ Based on various categories including peer review, recruiter review, international faculty ratio, international students ratio, student faculty ratio, citations per faculty; 3 of Top 5 UK but most of Top 25 USA - http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2007/1108/1194222854525.html
- ^ ireland.com - The Irish Times - Thu, Nov 08, 2007 - Several Irish universities advance in world rankings
- ^ Financial Times Ranking
- ^ SJTU Ranking
- ^ Whitefield Consulting Worldwide - European MBA Rankings 2007
- ^ History of Trinity College: Laying the Foundations
- ^ B.A.S.I.C.: Soline Vatinel, The Archbishop and Me
[edit] See also
- Education in the Republic of Ireland
- List of universities in the Republic of Ireland
- List of alumni of the University of Dublin
[edit] External links
- Trinity College, Dublin — official site
- The "difference or distinction" between the University of Dublin and Trinity College
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