Carlow IT graduates speak about their positive experiences
RECENT graduates from Carlow IT, who are fronting the Institute’s CAO campaign for 2017, have spoken about their positive experiences and the advantages of choosing it for third level.
‘At Institute of Technology Carlow, I was given a great opportunity to learn new skills and develop my experience in software engineering. The degree course was really well-tailored to industry needs and the latest technological advancements and practices. I found that was really advantageous,’ said Matthew Gerig, an honours software engineering graduate who is now a software engineer at Unum.
His sentiments are echoed by fellow graduates: BA (Hons) Media & PR graduate Emma Carey, now a press officer at the BBC; Stephen Reid, who graduated this year with a B.Eng (Hons) in Aircraft Systems and is Ryanair Maintenance Coordinator for all of Europe; and Lucy Gernon, an honours biotechnology graduate, who is now Lab Manager at MSD (formerly Merck, Sharp & Dohme).
Speaking at Carlow IT’s CAO campaign launch, Emma Carey said, ‘As press officer for the BBC, I am the first port of call for journalists with enquiries about the corporation in the UK and across the world. I manage corporate announcements, reputational issues, develop and implement publicity campaigns for TV programmes.
‘It’s an exciting and challenging job. The BA in Media & Public Relations at Institute of Technology Carlow provided me with vital knowledge and understanding of the TV and new media industries. It also taught me how to juggle several projects, which is vital when working in a busy PR environment with conflicting deadlines,’ she said.
Lucy Gernon, QC Microbiology Lab Manager at MSD, said she loved the ethos of the college and the energy and positive attitude towards helping each student reach their full potential.
‘Many of the lecturers have experience in industry so bring real life examples to the academic world and this proved invaluable when I started my career,’ she said.
Stephen Reid said that when he was in his 6th year and unsure what to do, he looked at the aircraft systems degree at Institute of Technology Carlow and spoke to some of the lecturers.
‘I felt the degree offered something different to other colleges and I have not looked back since. Without completing this degree, I would not be working for the world’s biggest airline’
The Institute prides itself on its ‘student first’ ethos which puts its learners at the heart of everything it does.
Over the last four years, the Institute has carried out a €120 million capital investment programme that has delivered first-class lecture facilities, technology support, sports amenities, student services, a dedicated research & development facility and an aerospace centre to ensure an unparalled learning experience for students. The Institute’s latest addition – the €10million Haughton Building - was officially opened last week. Encompassing premier lecture theatres, the latest computing laboratories and progressive meeting and seminar spaces over three levels, the Haughton Building was built to meet the needs of Institute of Technology Carlow’s flourishing student body which is the fastest-growing of any Irish institute of technology; student numbers have increased by 31% in the last five years to 7,000 current learners.
Several programmes of study at Institute of Technology Carlow are exclusive to Ireland, such as the recently introduced B.Sc. (Hons) in Cybercrime & IT Security, the B. Sc. (Hons) in Brewing & Distilling and the BSc. (Hons) in Sustainable Farm Management and Agribusiness.
The Irish Survey of Student Engagement records very high satisfaction ratings by Institute of Technology Carlow students for access to faculty staff, the career inspired nature of the learning and for the high quality physical facilities and support services.
‘Your choice of Higher Education College and programme of study are two of the most challenging and important decisions you will make in the foreseeable future. It is important you choose wisely and I would advise students, when filling out their CAO application form, to explore the many opportunities open to them at Institute of Technology Carlow,’ said Dr. Patricia Mulcahy, President, Institute of Technology Carlow.
For further information, visit www. itcarlow.ie