The President of IT Sligo has told new graduates that renewed investment in third level education is a necessity if Ireland’s economic recovery is to continue.
Professor Vincent Cunnane was speaking at the opening of the Institute’s annual conferring ceremonies on Thursday.
1,524 students are graduating during two days of ceremonies. Families, friends and other guests joined in the celebrations at the Institute’s Knocknarea Arena in the heart of IT Sligo’s 72-acre campus.
In his address, Professor Cunnane said that graduates were entering the workplace at a very exciting time and that they now possessed some of the most industry-relevant qualifications for 21st century Ireland.
“All the future economic-growth projections are based on export-orientated industries and businesses and the skills base that is needed to supply that. The skills base is not provided at the Primary and Secondary level or in businesses. It is provided here at third level, and particularly in the Institute of Technology sector.”
Professor Cunnane highlighted the fact that, since 2008, overall funding for higher education had dropped by 13.5% yet the numbers of full-time students had increased in that same period by 25%.
“If the third level sector is to properly harness the confidence and capabilities of our students and graduates, then it needs parity of esteem,” he said. “There is not enough money coming into third level.”
Qualifications ranging from Higher Certificate to PhD were presented to students across the Schools of Engineering & Design, Science and Business & Social Sciences.
The President urged the Institute’s new graduates to approach the ‘next step’ in their careers with real confidence and cited the recent upturn in the engineering and construction industry as one reason why.
“The workplace is finding its self-confidence again. The need for skilled engineers is growing steadily. This is already evident in the Construction sector where there is a shortage of skilled graduates.
Photo Caption:
Michaela Niland, Galway,receiving her Bachelor of Engineering, at the Conferring Ceremonies at IT Sligo.