Tag: UCD

MBA International Study Tour 2015 – South Africa & China


South Africa ~ MBA International Study Tour 2015


On Saturday, March 7th, we saw 90 of our MBA students jet off on the Annual MBA International Study Tour. This is an intensive 8 day tour which is spent visiting cultural, political and educational institutions and undertaking a number of company visits as part of the MBA Module; Doing Business In Emerging Markets.

As we are an International Business School based in Dublin, it is no surprise that the MBA module ‘Doing Business in Emerging Markets’ forms an integral component of our MBA Programme. During this Study Tour, our MBA students will have the opportunity to engage with leading academics and world class organisations across a number of sectors, not to mention the experience of a lifetime with their classmates.

Each year we review our destinations and this year, due to popular demand, we are returning to China for our tenth year and visiting South Africa for the first time.

This is no surprise as China’s story is still fascinating, having transformed from a traditional centrally planned economy into a market economy with all of the associated challenges. South Africa has managed to stay on its feet during the wake of the global financial meltdown, largely due to its prudent fiscal and monetary policies. South Africa is one of the largest economies in Africa – and it remains rich with promise. It was admitted to the BRIC group of countries of Brazil, Russia, India and China (known as BRICS) in 2011. Therefore, this is a very interesting time to experience these economies first hand. We are hopeful that it will be an unforgettable experience for our students and that they will gain a new perspective on international business.


China ~ MBA International Study Tour 2015


There are over 60 participants on this year’s trip to China, including students from both the Full-time MBA and Executive MBA classes. They will visit both Shanghai and Beijing during their trip. This tour is being led by Professor Pat Gibbons.

There are just under 30 participants travelling to South Africa and their tour will include a visit to both Cape Town and Johannesburg. Dr. Paul McGrath is leading this tour.

CELAP, Baosteel, Cisco, Vodacom, QK Meats Group, Enterprise Ireland and Business Ireland are just some of the companies and organisations that will be hosting the company visits and networking events over the course of the week.

I am looking forward to hearing all about both study tours when the students arrive back in Dublin next week and I’m sure they will have lots to share with us on the blog upon their return.

Avril Donohue
MBA Senior Programme Coordinator

The calm before the storm…



The calm before the storm...


Week three, semester two, year one, and there is a sense of calm within the class that is both unfamiliar and a little unsettling. I have to admit, I’m enjoying this part of the semester. We have time to properly read the required reading for each new module. We have the time to prepare all case study questions and example questions and problems assigned to us each week. We have a sense of clarity and calm in order to really analyse and appreciate the material and messages the lecturers are trying to get across to us. Unfortunately, this may just be the calm before the storm.

It may sound like the work load has significantly decreased but alas I fear it is more likely that I have just grown accustomed to the madness that is the Executive MBA. I’m doing 15-20 hours a week on top of lectures however I know this will continue to increase as the weeks progress. The attitude from week one of semester one of Sunday’s and Friday nights being sacred has long since disappeared. I have yet to speak to one of my classmates who did not get sick over Christmas following the marathon that was semester one and the concluding exam schedule. The talk around the class has turned to the best way to avoid getting sick – fruit, vegetables, exercise, honey, sleep, Berocca, the list is endless but will any of it work.

There is however one tiny sense of achievement that is fuelling us to continue and that is the fact that we all made it through semester one alive! We are reenergised after the Christmas break and excited for what is to come.

I was initially a little apprehensive about some of the modules this semester but following two weeks of lectures they have exceeded my expectations and I’m excited for what’s to come.



You can't have both


This time last year, I was only starting to consider the EMBA as being a real possibility for me. At that point, I never thought that I would be half way through the first year now. But someone along the way advised me not to keep looking for excuses to put it off and to start it as soon as I could, as there would always be plenty of excuses to delay. That was one of the best bits of advice I received. At least now I know that this time next year, I’ll be on the home straight with the future looking much brighter.

Dorothy Chestnut ~ Year 1 Executive MBA

We Do Get a Break!

Many of the posts on this blog touch on the aspect of time, and how little of it we have when immersed in the MBA. It is true that the workload is intense and takes up much of your time. Each semester consists of 12 busy weeks of lectures, assignments, group work etc. This is then followed by a week of exam prep and then the exams themselves.

However, the good news is that there is a break! This year, the Year 1 Executive MBAs finished their last Semester 1 exam on December 12th and we return for Semester 2 on January 16th, meaning there was a solid month’s break for us to enjoy and regain our strength! At the end of Semester 2 we will commence a nice long summer break. Year 2 will then follow a similar structure, except that it will be followed by the Capstone project.

Anyone considering the Exec MBA may be a bit daunted by the notion of undertaking the MBA for “2 years”. Hopefully, you may take some solace in the above information! The best way to view the MBA is to break it into its semester-long sprints. After each sprint you can enjoy a bit of downtime and relaxation. Of course, for those of you who just can’t get enough, there is plenty of additional reading and online courses for you to enjoy in your spare time!

Ciarán Reilly

EMBA Weekend Year 1

Class of 2014 Graduation Ball

Class of 2014 Graduation Ball



On Friday December 5th, we saw the MBA Classes of 2014 receive their well-deserved graduation awards at the conferring ceremony in UCD O’Reilly Hall.

Following this, on Saturday December 6th, we attended the Smurfit MBA Graduation Ball 2014. The ball was organised by the graduates and took place in The Morrison Hotel, Dublin.

One of the greatest things about working in Academia is the privilege of seeing our students, year after year, achieve one of their greatest life goals, and the past weekend was no exception.


The Blues Brothers


The graduation ball was a huge success; with a champagne reception, delicious four course meal, a free prize draw and a night of fantastic music from the Blues Brothers which saw everybody dance the night away, it was the perfect way for our former students to celebrate the monumental achievement of becoming a UCD Smurfit MBA Graduate.


Emma Fagan, Alan Leahy, David Addie, Cormac Dunne


Class of 2014 Graduation Ball


Aisling O'Keeffe, Andrew Bacon, Lorcan McFadden, Claire McAlister


Ciaran Hynes, Claire O'Sullivan, Andrew Bourke


Congratulations to each and every one of our graduates and best wishes for your future adventures! Although you are no longer students, no matter where life takes you post-MBA, you will always be connected by the UCD Smurfit Business Alumni, keep in touch!


MBA Team: Shannon Coco, Avril Donohue, Orla Nugent, Michael McDonnell


Big congratulations again and best wishes for a bright future!

Avril Donohue

The MBA Team

MIJE – Masters in Juggling Everything

The only thing I ever knew about spreadsheets was how to spell it. And if I typed in a hurry, there was a fairly good chance I’d get it wrong.

Coming from a journalism background, the thoughts of studying financial modules brought me out in a cold sweat. I didn’t know my EBIDATA from my ROI and I felt much more comfortable quizzing a head of state or covering a murder trial than using a calculator.

Fast forward three months and not only can I use Excel, I can actually read spreadsheets and financial statements. And acronyms are now my new language. Instead of my eyes glazing over when I hear of ROCE or EPS or WACC, I’m now comfortable with the terminology. And I also know that HRM has another meaning other than Her Royal Majesty.

One the many lessons I’ve learned since taking the plunge to do an MBA is that not having a financial background is no hindrance. Sure, it would make Financial Reporting a little easier, but having a background in writing means that I don’t baulk at being handed a 2,500 word project. Give me an interesting topic and 5,000 words to write and I’ll give you a work of art (almost) in a few hours. And as for deadlines? I’ve never met one that I didn’t like to sail close to.

Aside from finance, there’s so much else to learn and juggle – strategy, human resources, operations, economics, marketing….the list goes on.

Maybe the MBA title is what misled me into thinking only people with a background in business and finance ever did the course. Perhaps it’s time for a new title that could give a more accurate interpretation of what it’s all about?

Masters In Juggling Everything (MIJE)

Masters in Time Management (MITM)

Masters in Getting By On No Sleep (MIGBONS)

Masters in Networking and Job Hunting (MINJH)

I’m not sure they’ll ever catch on but they might help explain a little of the madness of the rollercoaster journey of an MBA student.

Edel Kennedy

FT MBA