TCDD

MrWatts

The college's graphic designers are planning a secret "rebranding" exercise. Out with the old, in with the new.

Grolschevik

Don't know how "secret" it is, given that they're surveying all staff for their views.

GerardKeating

Grolschevik wrote: »

Don't know how "secret" it is, given that they're surveying all staff for their views.

And it was mentioned in the media a few days ago...

Extrasupervery

So what's it going to be, Trinity University? TUD?

Grolschevik

There's a new director of communications and marketing. May be just shaking the tree.

Pure marketing speak here:

"As you may know, we are undertaking an Identity Initiative - a review of how we want to be perceived in the outside world. The objective is to create a shared visual identity and narrative for the entire university. This will allow us to tell a more cohesive and powerful story about what Trinity wishes to achieve in the future. By taking such a professional approach to our identity and brand, we will be able to better use our strengths as a university with a global reputation in student recruitment, in fundraising, and in public relations."

Anita Blow

They're not changing the name, but rather clarifying it & it isn't a secret.
If you look online, you see the college called Trinity, Trinity College, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin etc. There's also issues with other colleges also called Trinity, & that the name 'Trinity College' can sometimes give the impression it isn't a University. They want to remove the confusion and consolidate it into one definitive name & identity.

It's also a matter of consolidating all the brands the college owns. I think it runs to about 200 different brands like CRANN and IMM. These output loads of important research, but the college is rightfully unhappy that that research isn't associated with Trinity, & that international institutions & researchers don't know that the likes of CRANN etc. are Trinity-owned & the research is Trinity's.

234

Part of the problem is that Trinity is simultaneously a college (Trinity College, Dublin) and a University (University of Dublin). They can try all the re-branding they want but they can't get around this.

Grolschevik

Rebranding is rebranding. Look at AIB Bank.

The survey asked people to rate the importance of each of these words in terms of the university's identity:

• Trinity
• College
• University
• Dublin
• Ireland

And also which of these designations respondents thought most appropriate:

• Trinity College Dublin,
• Trinity, the University of Dublin,
• Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin,
• Trinity College, the University of Dublin,
• The University of Dublin, Trinity College,
• Trinity College,
• Trinity,
• TCD.

I would bet that the marketers will push for the second one there. Personally, I believe the greatest resonance is with the simple "Trinity College Dublin".

Most Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth, near Dublin. What's wrong with that?

Anita Blow

I'd prefer the status quo (Trinity College Dublin) but if they have to change it I'd go with 'the University of Dublin, Trinity College'. Sort of fits in with the Cambridge/Oxford scheme of University-College

Amirani

Anita Blow wrote: »

I'd prefer the status quo (Trinity College Dublin) but if they have to change it I'd go with 'the University of Dublin, Trinity College'. Sort of fits in with the Cambridge/Oxford scheme of University-College

I'm in agreement.

234

Anita Blow wrote: »

I'd prefer the status quo (Trinity College Dublin) but if they have to change it I'd go with 'the University of Dublin, Trinity College'. Sort of fits in with the Cambridge/Oxford scheme of University-College

Except nobody does that in Oxbridge.

It's just "Christ's College, Cambridge"

That won't work for Dublin because the city is associated with more than one university.

In a way the current "Trinity College, Dublin" (note the comma) achieves that but people don't realise it.

Sanguine Fan

A couple of years ago I heard a radio interview with the president of NUIG in which he expressed his regret that the university had replaced its old name UCG, which he felt was a better brand.

I'm not sure what's driving the current desire to alter the TCD identity other than the appointment of a marketing supremo.

I hope it's not a case of 'If it ain't broke, break it'.

Anita Blow

234 wrote: »

Except nobody does that in Oxbridge.

It's just "Christ's College, Cambridge"

That won't work for Dublin because the city is associated with more than one university.

In a way the current "Trinity College, Dublin" (note the comma) achieves that but people don't realise it.

I completely agree. I'd rather it just stay the same. I have a feeling though they're intent on either adding University to the name, or taking College out

innad

Anita Blow wrote: »

I completely agree. I'd rather it just stay the same. I have a feeling though they're intent on either adding University to the name, or taking College out

I agree that they should leave it as it is. Didn't they try to introduce "University of Dublin, Trinity College" a while back? In long form that's fine, but UDTC is just a mouthful. Definitely prefer Trinity College Dublin and TCD. And as long as Trinity is in the name, people will refer to it as "Trinity", there's nothing they can do about that.

Ziphius

There's an interview with the provost in the Irish Times today which briefly touches on this.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/running-university-is-serious-business-for-trinity-s-provost-1.1610370?page=2

“I personally think Trinity is a key word and a very successful name. One of the issues we face globally is that the word college often is used to mean secondary school. When we work in Asia, we have to emphasise University of Dublin as there is confusion.”

“Nobody says Harvard University, they just say Harvard. Maybe Trinity should be the same. It’s not something we are doing for the sake of it. We are doing it because it brings value to our students and to our country to have a university that’s widely recognised.”

usersame

I hear they've settled on Trinity Institute of Technology, Pearse Street

partyatmygaff

For use in countries where college means secondary school or where Trinity isn't well known
Trinity College, University of Dublin

For use in Ireland/countries where Trinity is already relatively well known
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity
TCD

guineylab

Trinity is so fixated on comparing themselves to Harvard

Amirani

guineylab wrote: »

Trinity is so fixated on comparing themselves to Harvard

First I've heard of that. If Trinity can be accused of comparing themselves to anybody then it's Ox-bridge.

Not that there's anything inherently wrong with trying to emulate some of the most prestigious universities in the World.

Bears and Vodka

Exactly, Trinity does have more in common with Oxbridge than most universities worldwide. And Oxbridge just happens to be so successful as well, why not look up to them?

MrWatts

You never hear students of Cambridge refer to "TCC" (Trinity) or "KCC" (King's).

If you ask a student of Cambridge where they study, they'll say "Cambridge". If you dig deeper and ask them what college, they'll say "King's"/"St John's"/"Trinity"/etc.

Trinity College, Dublin has an identity crisis. This has come about in recent decades and is of the college's own making. Attempting to "resolve" the crisis by way of graphic design and morkeshing will only make things worse.

Of course the answer to all the college's problems are staring them in the face. The administration are preoccupied with "focus groups" and "surveys" and are too busy to go into the library and actually read a calendar from the 1940s or a copy of Trinity News from the same period. Certain matters should not be put out for democratic digestion. The ordinary man/woman on the street is too stupid to know what's good for them.

I can see this whole TCDD project being yet another notch on the ratcheting downwards. If the college wants to be a generic FETAC institution -- UCD, TCD, UCC, NUIG, UL, DCU, etc. -- totally reliant on the whims of government, then best of luck. There was a day when academic independence from government was strived for. Nowadays the college authorities are lap-dogs to government so they can push through their "big ideas" projects (e.g. blood-sucking architectural monstrosoties that bleed current-accounts dry, makey-up courses "designed" for industry, etc.) knowing full well they they have a government-backed pension at the end of it all.

Mr Pseudonym

234 wrote: »

It's just "Christ's College, Cambridge".

Or "Trinity College, Cambridge".

That won't work for Dublin because the city is associated with more than one university.

In a way the current "Trinity College, Dublin" (note the comma) achieves that but people don't realise it.

It was only recently that I realised that there's no comma before Dublin. I still haven't decided if it should be that way. Invariably, though, I write it the other way (if only to be a contrarian!).

Both Oxford City and Cambridge City do have other universities within them - the one in the former being called Oxford Brookes. Ofc, though, they are University Towns, whereas Dublin isn't!


St Stephen's College, part of the University of Delhi, is possibly India's most prestigious institution for the studying of Arts/Humanities (naturally, not being an Indian, I've relied on secondary sources to make that assertion!).

Amherst College and Williams College, in the States, are very prestigious "Liberal Arts" colleges for undergraduate study (on par with the Ivies).

One assumes MIT and CIT grads are not handicapped by the names of their Alma Maters.

Obviously, listing famous institutions that have not felt it necessary to change their name to suit the needs of Asian recruiters isn't an especially good argument (partly because it assumes they haven't considered doing so). But, it demonstrates that TCD isn't alone in being a university with an archaic name.


I bloody well hope it doesn't change. If only because my hypothetical redesign of Higher Education in Ireland involves UCD being incorporated in the UoD. How cool would this be: "do you go to Uni or Trinity?"

234

Mr Pseudonym wrote: »

Or "Trinity College, Cambridge".

Yes? There are 31 constituent colleges in the University of Cambridge, we don't need to start listing them.

It was only recently that I realised that there's no comma before Dublin. I still haven't decided if it should be that way. Invariably, though, I write it the other way (if only to be a contrarian!).

I believe, though I don't have an example to hand, that traditionally it was written with the comma and its absence is a recent innovation.

Both Oxford City and Cambridge City do have other universities within them - the one in the former being called Oxford Brookes. Ofc, though, they are University Towns, whereas Dublin isn't!

Yes, ARU and OBU have to be taken into account. But they are not considered the default. If you say that you study in Oxford/Cambridge people assume that you are a member of the eponymous university; you would always have to clarify that you studied at the less well known university.

The same cannot be said for Dublin. Saying "I'm studying in Dublin" doesn't say anything about which institution you study at. It could easily be UCD or DCU.

St Stephen's College, part of the University of Delhi, is possibly India's most prestigious institution for the studying of Arts/Humanities (naturally, not being an Indian, I've relied on secondary sources to make that assertion!).

Amherst College and Williams College, in the States, are very prestigious "Liberal Arts" colleges for undergraduate study (on par with the Ivies).

One assumes MIT and CIT grads are not handicapped by the names of their Alma Maters.

Obviously, listing famous institutions that have not felt it necessary to change their name to suit the needs of Asian recruiters isn't an especially good argument (partly because it assumes they haven't considered doing so). But, it demonstrates that TCD isn't alone in being a university with an archaic name.

I agree with this. Brand recognition will come with advances in the rankings, not the other way around.

I bloody well hope it doesn't change. If only because my hypothetical redesign of Higher Education in Ireland involves UCD being incorporated in the UoD. How cool would this be: "do you go to Uni or Trinity?"

Really? I always assumed that it would have involved TCD joining the NUI. However, both institutions are dead set against it and it will not be happening any time soon.

That said, I think that it could only be a good thing if the University of Dublin founds more colleges. Particularly because of the space constraints in the immediate area of TCD there is some potential to buy other sites around the city center and develop them. Of course, TCD doesn't have the money to do that at the moment.

Mr Pseudonym

Okay...so...King's...St John's...Clare...erm…King's...oh, I said that...erm...

I wasn't being in any way caustic. Just thought I was further supporting your point. Many mightn't be aware that Ox and Cam also have Trinity Colleges - in a sense we form a trinity of Trinities. By any chance, are you an Oxbridge reject? If "yes", it takes one to know one!

Of more relevance, I think, is that Dublin isn't a University Town. One wouldn't say, either, "I'm at London"!

Since you seem vaguely interested in my HE proposals: NUI, in brand terms, is undermined by the substantial spread of the reputations of its members. UCD and Trinity, on the other hand, are effectively equal. Therefore, I would have UCD join the UoD, and have certain depts. transferred from one to the other (roughly, and predictably: Arts/Humanities to Trinity; Engineering/Sciences to University). First year undergraduates would attend one of the colleges based on in what subject they intended to get their degree. Bearing in mind the proposed alteration to the structure of first year, there would still be opportunities to, say, study beginner and intermediate Literature in University, but those wishing to take it degree level would have to transfer to Trinity (one could transfer easily between the two). In truth, the academics of the colleges would be less dichotomic than I’ve suggested – try to take Physics away from Fitzgerald, Hamilton, and Walton’s alma mater, for instance. But, I think, it would free-up a lot of space in Trinity, encourage a lot more interaction between the two colleges (Trinity students could even be housed on University's campus), remove duplication, and lead to enhanced performance in each faculty. It's all hypothetical, and almost certainly unachievable!

*On re-reading that, it would be clearer if I could give my thoughts in person!

Had you given it any consideration?

petronius

More rebranding nonsense do they have nothing better to do?
If you cant decrypt Trinity College, Dublin to be a University in Dublin then really is this place for you?
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Trinity is the word I associate most with the college, I cant imagine people saying oh we studied in Trinity College, University of Dublin together..
TCUD doesnt resound the same as Trinity or TCD ..