CELEBRATIONS AS THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM IT SLIGO AND ST ANGELA’S
IT SLIGO AND ST ANGELA’S GRADUATES URGED TO HELP REBUILD ECONOMY
THE Class of 2017 has been urged to stay in Sligo and help build the local economy back up.
The President of IT Sligo, Dr Brendan McCormack encouraged the graduates to build their careers in the North West of Ireland and help contribute to the economic growth of the region.
Dr McCormack was speaking the Institute’s annual conferring ceremonies last week where more than 1,500 new graduates received their qualifications during two days of ceremonies on Thursday and Friday.
Families, friends and other guests joined in the celebrations at the Knocknarea Arena in the heart of the Institute’s 72-acre campus.
In his conferral address for the Institute’s School of Engineering & Design, the President encouraged the new graduates to follow their passions.
“I fully appreciate that many of you will take career journeys all over the world, and there are wonderful opportunities out there,” Dr McCormack told them.
“All I ask - is that you do not underestimate the quality of life, both personally and professionally, that the North West of Ireland can offer you in the long term.
“We need young vibrant entrepreneurs to create new businesses and to contribute to the economic growth that will ensure this region remains the best place to live in Ireland.
“Whatever you do, do it with passion and integrity and do not wait for someone else to take the lead,” he said.
Over the two days of conferringconferring, IT Sligo’s new graduates received higher education qualifications ranging from Higher Certificates to PhDs, from the Institute’s three Schools of learning: Engineering & Design, Science and Business & Social Sciences.
The new recipients include the first cohort of international students from Oman who first came to IT Sligo in 2012, and are being conferred this week with honours degrees in Computing in Systems & Networking, and in Medical Biotechnology.
The dedication of long-serving staff member Bridie Gaughan from the Institute’s School of Business and Social Sciences was also recognised, as she was the recipient of the prestigious Corn Sheáin Mhic Mhagnais.
The award was first established by former IT Sligo Chairman of the Governing Body, the late Seán McManus, and is awarded annually to recognise exceptional achievements or contributions to the Institute by an individual or group.
There were celebrations too as students from St Angela’s College also held graduation ceremonies last week.
A conferring Mass took place at 10.00 am in Carraroe Church, Carraroe followed by graduation ceremonies of Undergraduates, Postgraduates and Certificates at Sligo Park Hotel.