University with a difference - this is how Dr Danny O'Hare, president of DCU, describes the institution. "We don't offer a conventional arts degree, but we do have arts," he says. "We have, for example, one of the finest language schools on the island. We are strong in communications and journalism - they are arts. Not having the whole gamut of academic subjects doesn't make us less worthy - just different."

Many of the college's degree courses were national firsts, he says. "We were the first university to offer degrees in analytical science, biotechnology, computer applications, in business with languages, accounting and finance and mechatronics. DCU is about innovation and redefining what is valid in a university." Many of DCU's programmes reflect the needs of industry and business and have been replicated in other institutions, he argues.

However, it's unwise to regard collaboration with business and industry as a negative, he warns. "It's important for a university to be engaged with the outside world, not as its servant, but by being attentive and listening and assessing what is relevant and what should impact on what we do. Fear of employers calling the tune is a sign of a lack of confidence."

The hallmarks of DCU are openess, excellence and the fact that it is research driven, he says. But DCU fared badly in a recent allocation of HEA research funding. Surely that was a black mark against the college? "We were surprised that we weren't awarded funding - but that was no reflection on the quality of our research. We interpreted the HEA's requests in a particular way which was not the way they required. We do blame ourselves on that one. In future we will pay more attention to the application process."

Research , says Dr O'Hare is vital to the college. It generates an annual income of over £7 million. Indeed in 1993, DCU graduated more PhDs than any other university in Ireland.

Charges that DCU is dull are worrying, O'Hare admits - but simply because they are unfair and untrue. "We are building an institution from scratch. People look at the older universities and then turn to us and say we don't have the facilities. It's taken us time to put the sports and social facilities in place, but now they are as good if not better than those in other universities. colleges. And the quality of our graduates is second to none."