[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Sunday Times published recently their Good University Guide 2022, where National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) was named their University of the Year 2022. Dublin City University (DCU) ranked sixth on the list this year. DCU is down from fifth this year.
According to the guide, 82.9% of graduates have left with a first or 2:1, and the university boasts a 90% progression rate. Other key stats include DCU placing tenth in student experience, fourth in entry points, seventh in research income and joint fourth with Trinity and University of Dublin City in graduate employment.
NUIG was awarded University of The Year by the publication for many key-features including, kindness, determination to work for the greater good in local and global communities, it’s international led study of Covid19 patients in 6 countries.
A DCU spokesperson told The College View, “Dublin City University is placed amongst the top universities in Ireland in the recently announced Sunday Times University rankings. This is a period of flux of the university sector in Ireland. DCU continues to be at the forefront of third level education in Ireland and will continue to strive for excellence across all aspects of teaching, learning and research,”
DCUSU President, Terence Rooney said, “Personally, I think DCU should be ranked higher as I think the university has handled the return to campus extraordinarily well and we have had great student engagement,”
Rooney added, “…It’s fair to say that my opinion will be biased towards my own University, and at the end of the day we shouldn’t get too caught up in rankings”
Michael Power, a master student in DCU told The College View, “It seems about right, with the slow communication with students, the late decisions on a lot of things. The campus may be great but a lot of the administration is slow and sometimes it seems that the lecturers don’t know what’s going on,”
Power reiterated that his experience is not universal however these were common issues he has came across while attending DCU.
Waqar Ahmed, an International PHD Communication student told The College View, “The ratings are surprising since DCU was quite helpful during Covid-19 and provided support to research students. The ratings however, do reflect a need to enroll more international students. With the overall disparaging working rights for postgrad students, increasing fees and accommodation crisis in Ireland; this looks difficult and would require efforts both on institutional, and government level”
Christine O’Mahony
Image Credit: DCU