Contemporary global challenges

A large precious metal mine

Concentrates on the recent dynamics of the global environment focusing on the changes in the geopolitical and economic map, the crisis in the Western World, the power of states in market economies, the central role played by innovation and technology in development and the challenging global imbalances, such as commodity markets and environmental issues.

Sustainable Business (Specialist course)

This course will look how creative and sustainable business can tackle environmental and resource problems such as air pollution, climate change, ozone depletion, food supply problems, depleting stocks of fish, fossil fuels, and fresh water. We will review national and international government agencies initiatives such as eco-taxes, recycling policies, environmental taxation, regulations such as the Kyoto Protocol and eco-business opportunities. In this course we will study the main components of sustainable business practices includes sustainable economic theories, modern business practices, cost savings from recycling, reducing power consumption and reusing inputs.

History seminar: themes in Irish history

This course examines selected themes and developments in Irish history from prehistoric times to the present. The objective is to develop an understanding of the course of Irish history and its place in the wider European historical experience. Class sessions are conducted in a lecture and discussion format. Student participation requires full and punctual attendance, taking of lecture notes, completion of required reading, involvement in class discussions, and completion of assigned reports on various themes with presentation to the rest of the class. Field trips explore historically relevant aspects of Ireland’s capital.

Dubliners: writing the Irish short story (General education course)

This course focus on introducing students to the basics of short story writing, with special reference to the context of Ireland’s capital city. With a combination of reading examples from seminal short story writers, critical work, class-based writing exercises and field trips to sites of literary interest around Dublin, students will learn the form and mechanics of the short story while also working toward developing their own short prose piece. Their first draft will be work-shopped in class, in which constructive criticism and feedback will be given. The final polished pieces of 2,500 words will be submitted for assessment and, possibly, submitted for publication to literary magazines or websites around Ireland.