Biography

UCC’s first Vice President Global Engagement, Professor Ursula Kilkelly has long and distinguished service with UCC, as a Professor of Law in the School of Law since 2011, as Dean of the School of Law (2012-2019) and as Head of the College of Business and Law (2013-2023). A graduate of UL, QUB and UCC, Professor Kilkelly is an expert in international children’s rights law, a prolific author and sought after international collaborator, holding visiting positions and delivering keynote addresses all over the world. 

Professor Kilkelly is a Chartered Director (IOD) and has significant experience of governance including as Chair of Oberstown Children Detention Campus (2016-2023), Board member of the Irish Management Institute (from 2016), and of Hockey Ireland (from 2022).

A native of Castlebar, County Mayo, Ursula has responsibility at UCC for strategic development of the University’s global operations, taking account of international partnerships, student recruitment, mobility and our reputation under our University Strategic Plan, 2023-2028, Securing our Future.

Vision

University College Cork is committed to solving the world’s greatest challenges through international engagement and strategic partnerships with impact.

Professor Ursula Kilkelly, UCC’s first Vice President Global Engagement, is leading the development and implementation of a Global Engagement Plan under UCC’s Strategic Plan, designed to strength the university’s international profile and grow its global reach.

As a world-leading university for sustainability, UCC aims to engage responsibly on a global scale, with a commitment to sustainability - environmental, social and economic - and ethical practices to secure a future for our people, planet and university.

Growing UCC’s international reach is a central pillar of the university’s Strategic Plan – Securing Our Future 2023-2028 - and I am excited to lead our global engagement, as Vice President, to ensure the University’s commitments to people and planet have global impact in line with our vision and mission,

Professor Ursula Kilkelly, UCC Vice President Global Engagement.