University College Cork has been ranked as one of the most sustainable universities in the world. The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, which examines sustainability practices in universities across the world and examines their work in reducing carbon footprint and helping combat climate change, has ranked UCC at ninth, the only Irish university to make the top 10 of the greenest universities in the world. 

On 30 December 2020, UCC celebrates the 175th anniversary of its establishment. On that date in 1845, royal letters patent granted charters to Queen's College, Cork, and to its sister colleges at Belfast and Galway. Throughout the current academic year, in which we continue to respond to unprecedented challenges, we will also reflect on this significant milestone through the theme of 'Reconnection'. We wish to reconnect with our past and our staff, students and graduates as part of our evolving role as a dynamic and vibrant regionally-placed university with global impact.

The vellum manuscript known as The Book of Lismore (Leabhar Meic Carthaigh Riabhaigh) created at Kilbrittain, Co. Cork, for Finghin Mac Cartaigh, Lord of Carbery (1478 - 1505) is rightly regarded as one of the Great Books of Ireland.

Sunday, 25 October, marked the centenary of the death of former Cork Lord Mayor, Terence MacSwiney. MacSwiney died in Brixton Prison, where he had been on hunger strike for 74 days.

On 25th September, Taoiseach Micheal Martin visited Tyndall National Institute, one of Europe's leading ICT research centres.

Professor O'Halloran has served as Deputy President & Registrar since 2018 and assumes the role of Interim President immediately for a period of one year.