Motion to Adopt a Union Social Class Policy
📅 Passed: 24 Mar 2025
⏳ Expires: 24 Mar 2028
🎯 Area: Education / Wellbeing / Community
Union Council adapted a Social Class Policy; setting out the Union’s commitment to tackling socioeconomic inequalities on campus and nationally. It builds on existing policy mandating universal access to higher education.
Support for the Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation
📅 Passed: 12 Feb 2025
⏳ Expires: 12 Feb 2028
🎯 Area: Education / Organisation / National Affairs
UCDSU supports the rights of postgraduate researchers, including recognition as workers, fair pay, and access to basic entitlements like annual and sick leave. Council has called for UCDSU to work with the Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation (PWO) and the UCD PhD Society to support campaigning efforts and build student solidarity.
Universal Access to Higher Education
📅 Passed: 30 Sept 2024
⏳ Expires: 30 Sept 2027
🎯 Area: National Affairs / Education
UCDSU promotes higher education as a public good and is mandated to continued campaigning and lobbying for the full abolition of the €3,000 Student Contribution Charge, pushing for a publicly funded model of higher education. It also calls for ring-fenced Government investment to reduce student fees and assist with financial hardship. A further motion passed on 18 November 2024 commits the Union to fighting to abolish international student fees.
Improvements for Information about Erasmus/ Internship/ Placement for Students
📅 Passed: 25/03/2024
⏳ Expires: 25/03/2027
🎯 Area: Education
Council notes the ongoing challenges students face in the Erasmus, internship, and placement processes. It acknowledges that students cannot fully benefit from these opportunities without consistent support and clear information, both during application and throughout their experience.
Council mandates College Officers to work with Programme and Exchange Offices to introduce:
Pre-application info sessions – sharing past student experiences to inform new applicants.
Post-allocation sessions – providing institution- or organisation-specific information once places are accepted.
Support for the #ebooksos Campaign
📅 Passed: 24 Oct 2022
⏳ Expires: 24 Oct 2025
🎯 Area: Education
This motion commits the Union to supporting the #ebooksos campaign. This was borne out concern that student access to vital journald databases is under threat. UCDSU has spoken out in relation to this, in partnership with colleagues in the UCD Library, as well as student and librarian representatives across the country.
Implementation of Education for Sustainable Development in UCD
📅 Passed: 27/03/2025
⏳ Expires: 27/03/2028
🎯 Area: Education
Council acknowledges the responsibility of UCD students to promote sustainable practices and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) on campus. It recognises the urgency of climate action in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement targets.
The Union mandates its President, Welfare, Campaigns & Engagement Officer, and Education Officer to engage with UCD to advance ESD initiatives, especially linking with student issues like period poverty and food insecurity. It further mandates advocacy for UCD’s collaboration with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and other leading universities.
Second Hand Clinical Uniform Sale
📅 Passed: 16 Oct 2023
⏳ Expires: 16 Oct 2026
🎯 Area: Education
The Union supports organising and promoting second hand sales of clinical uniforms to reduce financial burdens on health science students.
Lecture Recordings
📅 Passed: 6 Nov 2023
⏳ Expires: 6 Nov 2026
🎯 Area: Education
UCDSU supports expanding the availability and accessibility of lecture recordings for all students.