News

Institute of Technology Carlow Conferring 2022

11/01/2022

The early weeks of January 2022 provided some time for celebration and reflection at Institute of Technology Carlow as almost 3000 graduates received their awards across Science, Health, Engineering, Computing, Business, and Humanities.

This year in line with COVID 19 protocols the Institute held twenty ceremonies rather than the usual eleven ceremonies to ensure the health and safety of all those attending. Preparations were spread across the campus using the Central Services Building, the Dargan Centre, and the Student Services Building. “Graduates and their guests were asked to comply with the national protocols for indoor events including checking of COVID certificates and the wearing of face masks” said Ms Shauna Whyte, Head of Academic Administration and Student Affairs, “We had full cooperation from our guests who were delighted to participate in the ceremonies. For those unable to attend in person all ceremonies were live streamed through our website. The organisation of the event was more detailed than in other years but our staff wanted the day to be special for our graduates and their families so they pulled out all the stops to make it so successful.”    

Dr Patricia Mulcahy, the Institutes President, warmly congratulated the graduates who come from over 100 countries across the globe. and informed them of the international standing of their degree. “Institute of Technology Carlow is this year ranked first in Ireland for university teaching and learning by the U Multirank World University Rankings. Your awards are internationally recognised and will stand the test of time, equipping you for the challenges, opportunities and adventures that lie ahead.” U-Multirank is the largest and most inclusive global university ranking, comprisinging an independent analysis of almost 2000 universities from 100 countries.

Among the graduates were mother and daughter, Bernadette and Kim Sheil from Clonegal, Co. Wexford who both graduated with a Master of Arts in Child, Youth and Family Studies;  recently engaged couple, Wexford Hurler, Cathal Dunbar and his fiancé Rebecca Canavan both from Gorey, Co Wexford who both graduated with a Bachelor of Business (Honours) while international athlete Molly Scott from Hacketstown, Co Carlow received her Honours Bachelor of Laws Degree. The conferring’s also saw the first graduates of the Institutes unique bachelor of science honours degree in brewing and distilling.

The chairperson of the Institute governing body, Mr John Moore reflected on the ten years since his first conferring speech in 2011 “At that point the country was emerging from recession and the employment prospects for graduates was uncertain. Today companies like mine are restrained only by access to talented graduates such as you. The world is full of opportunity, and you have the attributes as graduates from Institute of Technology Carlow to take advantage of these opportunities.”

Dr Mulcahy spoke of the decision announced in November 2021 that the Institute, in partnership with Waterford Institute of Technology, will be designated as the south east ´ó·¢ÌåÓý(dafa)Öйú¹Ù·½ÍøÕ¾@ university by the 1st of May 2022. She told graduates and guests that “this development is an important part of our country’s plan to transform our economy and society” and that the “new university will see the creation of one of the largest and most impactful universities in the country embedded right across our region, while being globally connected”