Mission & Vision

A School of Business and Economics for the Public Good

Mission - Our Core Purpose

Energised by our regional edge on the west coast of Ireland, we are a globally engaged School of Business and Economics for the public good that makes a transformative impact for students, society and business.

• Energised by our regional edge on the west coast of Ireland refers to our location on Ireland’s Atlantic coast in a globally significant hub for technology, innovation and creativity providing a unique blend of regional context and global outlook.
• Globally engaged School of Business and Economics refers to our globally focused teaching, research and contribution to society, business and public policy.
• For the public good emphasises our dual focus on society and business. Through our teaching, research and public policy impact, we contribute to sustainable societal change in economic, social and natural environmental contexts.
• Transformative impact emphasises our focus on contributing to transformative impact for our students, society and business through our core activities of teaching, research and influencing public policy development in line with our vision and values.

Vision - Our Ambitions and Aspirations

Striving beyond: from our regional edge on the west coast of Ireland, our vision is to make a global impact for the public good by addressing grand challenges through our teaching, research and influence on public policy.

• Striving beyond refers to our commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. We are not content only to reflect on what we’ve achieved, but are constantly seeking how we can move further for the benefit of our students, society and business.
• Our regional edge on the west coast of Ireland recognises that our unique location informs and inspires what we do: we are situated at the most western edge of Europe on Ireland’s Atlantic coast, but within a globally significant hub for technology, innovation and creativity. This location provides a unique blend of regional context and global outlook and impact.
• Global impact for the public good... through our teaching, research and influence on public policy refers to our commitment that everything we strive to achieve must ultimately be for the public good and have positive impact for our students, society, business and public policy.
• Grand challenges links to the significant challenges impacting the world today and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which we can make a contribution. We are particularly focused on the following grand challenges: › Digitalisation › Global and economic development, innovation, accountability and governance › Health and well-being › Social inclusion and equality › Sustainability, climate and environment. Our research, teaching and public policy impact address the following specific UN SDGs: › Good health and well-being › Decent work and economic growth › Industry, innovation and infrastructure › Sustainable communities and cities › Peace, justice and strong institutions.

A Distinctive School

J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics is for the public good.

Our research, teaching and public policy impact address the following UN SDGs:

• Good health and well-being
• Decent work and economic growth
• Industry, innovation and infrastructure
• Sustainable communities and cities
• Peace, justice and strong institutions

We are particularly focused on the following grand challenges: 

• Digitalisation
• Global and economic development, innovation, accountability and governance
• Health and well-being
• Social inclusion and equality
• Sustainability, climate and environment

We recognise that sectoral grand challenges can be addressed in different ways. Many of our strengths lie in cross-cutting expertise and thus can address multiple SDGs and grand challenges.