More than 1,800 students will be conferred at the annual IT Sligo conferring ceremonies today and tomorrow (Friday and Saturday).
The first cohort of students from five new programmes in the School of Business and Humanities will be conferred over the course of six ceremonies; Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts, Level 8; Bachelor of Business in Marketing in Event Management & PR, Level 7; Bachelor of Business in Marketing; Bachelor of Business in Marketing and Languages; and the Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Care and Education, Level 8.
Graduates from the Higher Certificate Arts in Custodial Care will also be conferred at the IT Sligo campus for the first time. The first graduates from this course, which trains recruits to the Irish Prison Service, were conferred at a ceremony in Portlaoise earlier this year.
Speaking at the Conferring, President of IT Sligo Professor Terri Scott encouraged those graduating to be resourceful, and to be hopeful, when making the next step.
“IT Sligo’s duty to each student extends beyond teaching and awards. We work with, and listen to, employers every day in strategic synergies to ensure that our courses are relevant to their needs. They tell us that this gives IT Sligo’s graduates an edge when it comes to recruitment.
“Qualifications open doors, but graduates must offer more than an academic award. Those that succeed will demonstrate evidence of strong personal values, IT and Communication skills and importantly the ability to work resourcefully as part of a team.
“Employment prospects may not as bright as they were ten years ago but, while students should be hopeful, they must also be resourceful. The must explore all options available to them when taking the next step.”
Professor Scott commented that a strong entrepreneurial culture has been fostered at the Institute; “Many former graduates have benefited from start up business support in the Innovation Centre here at IT Sligo. A strong culture of entrepreneurialism has been fostered in the Institute over the past number of years and the Innovation Centre has established itself as a leader in regional development for local business and industry.
“Just last month a leading hedge fund company called Equinoxe AIS opened an office in the Innovation Centre. The company is set to create 50 jobs over the next three years. Its Director Alan McKenna is an IT Sligo graduate and four other graduates have already been employed by the company.”
Professor Scott also congratulated the staff at IT Sligo for contributing to the Institute’s significantly improved Sunday Times League Table ranking in September, which endorsed its performance across all categories.
The Academic Procession.
Students who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Investigation and Analysis Paul Black, Drogheda, Paula Glass, Dublin, Tarha Westby*, Sligo and Simon Ryan, Mayo. Photo: Brian Farrell
President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott pictured with Kevin Cowley who was conferred with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering Level 8, his father, former TD Dr Jerry Cowley, sister Maria and mother Teresa. Photo: Brian Farrell
Sean McNulty from Bundoran was conferred a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering Level 8, pictured with his daughter Shona and son Cealum. Photo: Brian Farrell.
