Latest News

• Global top 50 ranking for the 8th year in a row for Open Enrolment Programmes, top in Ireland
• Ranked 3rd globally in the Growth category in Custom Executive Education

UCD Smurfit Executive Development remains Ireland’s number one-ranked provider of Executive Education in the 2025 Financial Times Executive Education Rankings, achieving top 10 in both Open Enrolment (6th) and Custom Programmes (9th) across UK and Ireland. It places UCD Smurfit Executive Development with an elite group of business institutions that are among the most recognised in the world.

In the Open Enrolment ranking, Smurfit Executive Development ranked 47th globally and first in Ireland. It marks the 8th year that the programme has been in the global top 50. The School placed 36th globally in the New Skills and Learning category, which highlights real-world application of skills gained through programmes. The overall Participant Satisfaction score increased to an impressive 9.4 out of 10.

The School is ranked 56th in the world in the Custom Executive Education Rankings and 3rd globally in the Growth category, which reflects year-on-year revenue growth and repeat business.

Tim Wray, Director, UCD Smurfit Executive Development, said: “This prestigious ranking reaffirms UCD Smurfit Executive Development’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation in executive education. Consistently delivering world-class programmes, the School is recognised alongside the most elite and internationally recognised business institutions as listed in the top 10 in both Open Enrolment and Custom Executive Education across the UK and Ireland. This reflects our dedication to designing relevant programmes that can have an immediate impact in the workplace and champion new ways of thinking.”   

Professor Joe Peppard, Academic Director, UCD Smurfit Executive Development, said: “Our ranking of 3rd in the world in the Growth category for Custom Programmes shows consistent progress on our ambition to deepen our engagement with client organisations. The improved ranking shows momentum and is a testament to our strategy and the transformative impact it delivers to business leaders and organisations.”