The Undergraduate Awards were established on 20^th October 2008 to recognise and reward Ireland’s most innovative young knowledge creators, to catalyse the development of the brightest undergraduates, and to inspire all undergraduates to achieve.

In its inaugural academic year (2008/2009) over 1,500 essays (from undergraduates from the nine universities – Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Dublin, University of Limerick, Dublin City University, Queen’s University Belfast and University of Ulster) were submitted.

The first awards ceremony took place on 20^th October 2009 in the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) with guest of honor, President Mary McAleese.

The 2010 awards are open to undergraduates across the island of Ireland’s universities, colleges and ITs. Submissions are drawn from the outstanding papers and essays produced as a normal part of course work during each academic year. Our values of impartiality, inclusiveness and active facilitation guide our operations and strategic direction. The initiative aims to enhance the Island of Ireland’s prospects of becoming a leading global knowledge economy by creating an entirely new and unique set of incentives and rewards for undergraduates, through academic and corporate recognition, monetary bursaries and internship and employment opportunities.

With job prospects at an all time low and the subsequent erosion of graduates’ confidence – it is critical that we creatively invest in the potential of our undergraduates to reinvigorate the knowledge economy with their talent, passion and energy.

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