That doesn't entitle us to anything. It is the result of hard work by successive Councils and the staff of the college who went out and marketed the services we offer. We have earned our reputation. This strong brand identity has served the college well. Research expenditure now represents a significant proportion of the college's annual expenditure.
Research is a key indicator of the quality of a third-level institution.
We're concentrating on biopharmaceutical research and, within that, we put a high value on strategic alliances with other organisations, both commercial and educational. Underpinning this research activity is the recent opening of a new 48,000 square foot clinical sciences building at Beaumont Hospital. Alongside this development, the college is planning a significant diversification of its services. Last year a school of physiotherapy was started, a school of pharmacy is planned for as early as the coming autumn and a school of nursing may open in 2002. The timing of these depends on a number of variables - we will require more space and we have plans to expand the facilities on campus.