Program Overview

The Odyssey Programme UCC

The Odyssey Programme is a career development initiative designed for Research Staff and final year PhD students at University College Cork (UCC). The program aims to enable researchers to adapt, integrate, and expand on their existing expertise to prepare for diverse career choices beyond academia.

Programme Overview

The Odyssey Programme is a transformative training program that highlights the significant differences and advantages of various workplace cultures beyond academia. It is designed to help researchers pursue professional opportunities in industry, government, non-profits, and entrepreneurship.

Programme Details

The programme consists of the following modules and content:

• Organisational cultures beyond academia
• What are the metrics for success in organisations beyond academia
• The numbers - the facts about careers in academia
• Fear and personal change
• Changing your perspective
• Career opportunities available to researchers in a range of work environments
• Specific research skills valued by organisations beyond academia
• How applications are won and lost
• Using research skills resourcefully to move beyond academia
• Discover the skills you already have!
• Develop a career action plan
• Speakers who have successfully transitioned from academia to other domains

Programme Structure

The programme includes:

• Meeting with participants individually prior to the programme to explain the programme and get to know them and their career expectations
• Meeting with participants individually after the programme for individual CV Clinics
• Tracking the careers of those who completed the programme for 2 years (with their permission)

Registration and Fees

The programme is available to Research Staff and final year PhD students. The fee for Research Staff is 200, and a valid research cost code is required for registration.

Programme Schedule

The programme is offered on the following dates:

• Group 1: Wednesday 18th February & Thursday 19th February 2026 (fully booked)
• Group 2: Wednesday 8th April & Thursday 9th April 2026 (fully booked for final year PhD's, limited availability for Research Staff)
• Group 3: Wednesday 19th August & Thursday 20th August 2026 (spaces available)
• Group 4: Wednesday 23rd September & Thursday 24th September 2026 (spaces available)

Learning Outcomes

The programme aims to help researchers develop a career action plan, discover the skills they already have, and learn how to use their research skills resourcefully to move beyond academia.

Contact

For further information on the UCC Odyssey Programme, please note that contact details are not provided here as per the instructions.