This article argues that an overhaul of undergraduate education in Ireland is needed. It asserts that at present most students leave university short-changed, never having been exposed to the riches of discovery and research. A framework founded on research and inquiry is designed to stimulate learning and innovation through action. It is argued that a coherent institutional mission is essential, with exploration, creativity and practice as the core of the undergraduate experience. An approach based on inter-disciplinarity, collaborative learning, identity and place as guiding features is developed along with a discussion of how this might be implemented so graduates are prepared for living and working in a knowledge-driven sustainable society.