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MIT Entrepreneur at IT Sligo
One of the world’s leading global sales entrepreneurs arrived in Sligo yesterday to take part in the Global Sales Seminar, which is being hosted by the Institute of Technology Sligo and concludes this evening (Fri)
Professor Kenneth Morse is a well known entrepreneur and has established five global high tech companies that have all had successful IPOs or mergers. These companies include 3Com, which is now a $1.3 billion global enterprise networking solutions provider, and Aspen Technology, a provider of software and services for the process industry that has 34 offices in 27 countries across the world.
Professor Morse was recently appointed to the US National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship by President Obama and he is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
The Global Sales Strategies seminar features a mix of case studies and lectures along with interactive discussions, participant presentations, hands on exercises and the opportunity to engage in business to business interaction.
Professor Morse will also address the Institute of Technology Sligo’s Enterprise Society, which comprises of IT Sligo students that are focused on enterprise and innovation outside of college lectures, some of whom may be the global entrepreneurs of the future.
Niall McEvoy, Head of Innovation for the Institute of Technology Sligo, believes this is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs and ambitious start ups to learn how to grow their businesses and ideas. “Professor Morse is one of the world’s leading sales entrepreneurs. His record is outstanding and to have someone of this calibre available to Ireland’s entrepreneurs and start ups is a great opportunity to learn some world class techniques. Now, more than ever, in the current economic climate, start ups and high growth ventures need world class sales education to match their ambition and this seminar and the workshops will help satisfy the need for world class education for those looking to grow their businesses and ideas.”
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Story by Ciaran McCarthy of SligoToday
IT Sligo accepts prestigious invitation to China
Cristina Luminea, masters’ research student, and her supervisor Dr David Tormey from the Centre for Design Innovation, Mechanical Engineering Department at IT Sligo have been invited to present their “process simulation” research work at a major international conference in China later this month.
It is a major internationally recognised achievement the Institute of Technology and yet another ringing endorsement of the Institute’s School of Engineering, which is continuing to earn plaudits in the international Engineering community.
The International Conference on Life System Modelling and Simulation & International Conference on Intelligent Computing for Sustainable Energy and Environment (LSMS & ICSEE 2010) will be held from September 17-20, 2010 in Wuxi, China.
And as an added endorsement of the Sligo connection, Dr Tormey has also been invited to chair one of the conference’s special sessions relating to simulation applications for energy savings within production environments.
Left: Cristina Luminea, masters’ research student at IT Sligo is also China bound to co-present process simulation research work
Their research paper entitled ‘Modelling of Energy Demand in an MDF Manufacturing Company’ is based on their process modelling and simulation work with a major Industrial manufacturing partner based in the Northwest.
This project focused on developing production and thermal process models for optimising energy costs with respect to variable product demand.
This research project, in collaboration with our industrial partner, focused on increasing production efficiency whilst reducing energy costs thought the use of simulation models Dr Tormey commented: “Over the last number of years one of the major costs to manufacturing has being the cost of energy. This is particularly true for high volume and highly automated production facilities.”
Cristina Luminea added: “We were able to develop a computer simulation model that accurately represented our industrial partners production processes correlated to their energy consumption. The model enabled us to investigate a range of different possibilities for reducing their manufacturing and energy costs, and because we were using a computer model, we were able to do this without actually having to impact on any physical production process.”
A number of production scenarios that have been identified by the computer model have forecasted significant costs savings, which are now been reviewed and considered by our industrial partner for implementation.
The acceptance of this work to the ISMS-ICSEE is a significant endorsement of its scientific merit and its industrial application. Over 800 papers were submitted and only 25% were accepted.
Petzerts benefits from Innovation Voucher scheme
288 small companies in the Border Region have used a €5,000 Innovation Voucher from Enterprise Ireland to access research and business innovation services from IT Sligo and the Food Technology Centre, St. Angela’s College along with other knowledge providers throughout the country.
Pictured at the Event in Dublin were (l to r): Niall McEvoy, Head of Innovation, IT Sligo; Carole Brenan, Enterprise Ireland, Sligo; Clodagh Fitzgerald, Manager, St. Angela’s Food Technology Centre, Sligo; Seamus Sheeran, Frozen Pet Zerts and Conor Lenihan TD, Minister for Science Technology, Innovation and Natural Resources.
A great example of a company benefiting from the Innovation Voucher scheme is IT Sligo Innovation Centre company Petzerts. Founder Seamus Sheeran also previously participated in the enterprise development programme CÉIM at IT Sligo.
Frozen Pet Zerts is a frozen treat for dogs and was launched at Pet Expo 2009 in the RDS. Seamus Sheeran researched the market for a number of years and found that the products were available in the US but not available in Europe so he trademarked the idea.
Seamus used his first innovation voucher at the Food Technology Centre at St Angela’s College in Sligo and they developed a recipe for his frozen treats. He then went on to receive another voucher which was used to further ongoing product and flavour development.
Frozen Pet Zerts was one of the companies present at a special event in Dublin on 1st September to celebrate the success of the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher initiative. Minister Conor Lenihan attended the event and presented 5 top knowledge provider awards for their work on Innovation Vouchers. The award was given in recognition of the efforts for the last three years in collaborating with industry. Helping them to solve business and technical challenges and enabling them to move businesses like Frozen Pet Zerts on to the next level.
Enterprise Ireland Regional Director Conor Fahy congratulates Frozen Pet Zerts and St Angela’s College on their partnership. “Innovation Vouchers open doors for small companies like Frozen Pet Zerts to the rich knowledge resources and equipment in research institutes. I would encourage all small companies in the Border region to consider applying for an Innovation Voucher in the next call which opens on 1st October 2010.
To be successful in an application for an Innovation Voucher, a company’s project must require an innovative solution, provide additional value for the company and have on-going benefits
Visit www.innovationvouchers.ie to apply.
10 new Jobs for IT Sligo graduates at Rebasoft Ireland
Rebasoft Ireland has just announced a new software development operation at the Innovation Centre at IT Sligo, along with 10 new high-value positions for network software engineers – most of whom will be graduates of IT Sligo.
Rebasoft is a leading edge network security management software company. Their software helps complex organisations manage their network activity helping to control access and network activity in business critical applications. Rebasoft have secured a deal with the a major stock exchange to deploy network management software on their trading systems.
Serial entrepreneur Mike McGrath, Chief Strategy Officer of Rebasoft, started out in 1993 setting up LAN Communications which became the leading Network Integration company in Ireland. This was sold to Eircom in 1999. Having set up an managed services business in LAN Comms saw the business opportunity for network management tools that lead to the setting up and sale in 2007of Crannog Software to Fluke Networks. Now resident in Rosses Point Sligo, the selection of the Innovation Centre at IT Sligo for a new development facility was a convenient choice.
“Rebasoft is growing rapidly and we needed to link with a higher education provider to acquire talent and collaborate on research and development. The Innovation Centre at IT Sligo was an obvious choice,” said McGrath.
“The Innovation Centre at IT Sligo is the perfect location for our software development team as we can hire their network engineering graduates, work with the School of Computing on course development, and more importantly work with like-minded entrepreneurs and developers who stimulate our thinking in the Innovation Centre” he continued.
Welcoming the announcement today, Professor Terri Scott, President of IT Sligo said, “This announcement of 10 new jobs for the North West is evidence of our close liaison with industry and entrepreneurs. We make it easy for enterprise and the wider community to get direct access to the expertise and support they require.”
Global Sales Strategies seminar and workshop
Global Sales Strategies for Ambitious Entrepreneurs and Sales Focused Companies is a high quality seminar and workshop for Entrepreneurs, CEOs and senior sales executives from innovative, fast-growing companies, featuring case studies and lectures, interactive discussions, participants presentations, “hands-on” exercises, and the opportunity to practice “elevator sales pitches” to potential customers. Hosted by: The Institute of Technology, Sligo. For more info click here
IT Sligo sends students to Africa
IT Sligo has just announced its intention to expand its ‘Student Placement in Africa’ programme, due to unprecedented results in African aid.
Since 2006, the Applied Social Studies Degree course at IT Sligo has sent 30 third year students on placement to work as volunteers in the township of Kayamandi, located in Stellenbosch South Africa. Following the success of the programme, with major progression for the township and positive feedback from the students involved, the college now intends to expand the programme to the degree in Early Childhood Care and Education. In January 2011, 8 students will have the opportunity to go to South Africa for 13 weeks.
The students, placed by programme coordinator and mentor Margaret Gilmore, will work under the supervision of Elsa Pretorius, Director of Prochorus Community Development Programme, a social development organisation in South Africa, and for 13 weeks they will help provide early childhood care and education for young people ranging from toddlers to teenagers.
Kayamandi means “sweet home,” yet ironically 65% of the population live in shacks, an average family consists of eight people and often three generations are forced to share a two-bedroom shack. IT Sligo students contribute to these families by providing parent and toddler supports, giving literacy classes, teaching sports and recreation and drama classes. Through the direct involvement of IT Sligo, 30 crèches have been established providing much needed early childhood care and education for over 500 children.
“The Applied Social Science and Early Childhood Care degrees equip IT Sligo students for employment across a range of sectors” says Roisin McGlone, lecturer in Department of Humanities, “and armed with this experience in Africa, students have an advantage over their peers when going out into the workforce. They have gained not just a degree, but life experience,” she continued.
“I visit the project annually and I see the students gaining confidence. They grow in self belief when they realise their ability to survive in a challenging environment like an African township. They develop a sense of empowerment, and in their own way, empower these communities aswell.” she concluded.
Grainne Queenan, a graduate of the course and volunteer at Kayamandi said she “felt very privileged to have played her small part,” and added that when interviewed for her current position, her experience was beneficial as it clearly demonstrated her ability to work as part of a team and use the limited resources available efficiently and effectively.
Fundraising pays for flights and accommodation the students travelling out to the South Africa in January. The students choose to live in the township community with house parents and by doing so contribute directly to supporting these families’s limited incomes.
Meet Us Here: IT Sligo Open Evening, Sep. 2nd 6-8pm
Now is the time to consider your job prospects and your future. IT Sligo will provide you with a supportive, encouraging and flexible learning environment so that you can reach your full potential.
Come to our Open Evening on Thursday, 2nd September from 6-8pm. Our friendly team will be there to give you expert advice on finding the course that best suits your needs.
Our Lecturers and Educational Advisors will be available to discuss our Postgraduate, Part-Time and Online courses and your learning needs.
See below for a list of the courses which you can choose from:
School of Business and Humanities
BUSINESS AND MARKETING
- Higher Certificate in Business
- Bachelor of Business in Management Applications
- Bachelor of Business (Hons)
- Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Business Administration
- Master of Science in Marketing
HUMANITIES
- Higher Certificate in Arts in Advocacy Studies
- BA in Applied Social Studies
- BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education
COMPUTING
- Higher Certificate in Computing
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- LANGUAGES
- Single Subject Certification in Beginners or Advanced French/German/Spanish.
- Sign Language
School of Science
- Special Purpose Award in Occupational Safety & Health
- Higher Certificate in Science in Good Manufacturing Practice
- Higher Certificate in Science in Environmental Management.
- BSc in Environmental Management.
- BSc in Pharmaceutical Science
- BSc (Hons) in Pharmaceutical Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Biopharmaceutical Science
- MSc in Biopharmaceutical Science
- Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Protection
- MSc in Environmental Protection
- Postgraduate Diploma in Science in Pharmaceutical Regulatory Affairs
- MSc In Industrial Pharmaceutical Science
School of Engineering
- Certificate in Automation and Instrumentation
- Higher Certificate in Science in Supervisory Management
- BEng in Mechatronics
- BEng (Hons) in Mechatronics
- BEng in Polymer Processing
- BEng in Electronic Engineering
- BEng (Hons) in Electronic Engineering
- BSc in Construction Management
- BSc in Manufacturing Management
- BSc in Quality
- BSc (Hons) in Quality Management and Technology
- Higher Diploma in Science in Quality
- MSc in Quality
- Postgraduate Diploma in Energy Management
- MSc in Energy Management
- Certificate in Engineering in Lean Sigma Quality
- Qualifier programmes for Electronic Engineering Quality and
- Manufacturing Management.
Learning More . . . it couldn’t be easier!
IT Sligo Students become Retail Entrepreneurs
While the news is full of doom and gloom two IT Sligo students have taken a leap of faith by converting their “work placement” project into their own new retail business. Paul McCole (22) and Ronan Boyle (20) both 4th year students at IT Sligo, gained invaluable experience while completing a work placement with Pulse Accessories in the Quayside Shopping Centre in Central Sligo. The pair now lease a large vacant unit on the mezzanine level offering space for stall holders in their new venture, Quayside Market. Currently they have eight stalls on display with an additional 20 stalls expected each Saturday.
Their concept is to have ’something for everyone’ and it appears to be working! On their mezzanine level you can find fresh home-grown vegetables, designer Mexican jewellery, fresh bread and cakes, picture framing and photo enhancement, soaps, free-range hen and duck eggs, home-made preserves, stained glass and small piercing jewellery item. Good luck and every success to Paul and Ronan in their entrepreneurial venture!
