1,355 graduates were conferred with awards ranging from Higher Certificate to PhD across three days of ceremonies at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). Amongst the graduates, a total of 52 Postgraduate awards were conferred, including 9 PhDs and 41 taught Masters programmes.

Since launching the DkIT-DCU Graduate School in 2014, the Institute has increased postgraduate research awards to 109, including 33 Masters of Arts, 28 Masters of Science and 48 PhDs.

Seven ceremonies took place over the 2 days across the four Schools of Business & Humanities, Engineering, Health & Science and Informatics & Creative arts. Graduates from across the North Leinster-South Ulster region attended the ceremonies alongside their families, partners and friends. During his address, Michael Mulvey highlighted that graduation is a celebration of great importance, he said,

“Today is important day of celebration for our region of North Leinster-South Ulster. This year over 1,350 diverse graduates will accept their awards here in DkIT before stepping out to make their own mark on the world. We know that almost 90% of our graduates stay in the region to live and work.  Each graduate plays an important role in helping to continuously energise our region – bringing new ideas, new skills and new talent  to industry, organisations and communities. This has been the case every year for the past 50 years with a very positive impact on social, cultural and economic life in this region and beyond.”

Later, Michael Mulvey thanked the graduates for their valuable contribution to the Institute and its continued progression and growth. In looking ahead for DkIT, he said added,

“Over the past year, we have been encouraged by the very positive news and developments from businesses and organisations across the region, many of which already employ a large proportion of our graduates which is great news for you as you seek entry-level positions.

Recently, at the DkIT Careers Fair over 68 companies and organisations exhibited and were seeking to attract  graduates to their companies.

Next year DkIT commences construction  on an  €18.5M investment in our Science, Engineering, Business & Humanities facilities, allowing us to significantly expand and develop a centre of excellence for the region in the areas STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics). We have ambitious targets to increase our provision in Part-Time and Postgraduate courses – thereby creating more learning opportunities for our communities to either upskill, retrain or participate in continued professional development – something which is required in high demand by employers today.

We remain absolutely determined to ensure that DkIT continues to provide access to higher education, continues the process of developing our new and existing educational programmes from Apprenticeship to Ph.D. and maintains our top position within the sector for Research and our Engagement with industry.”

71 graduates from across the four Academic Schools received President’s Awards in recognition of academic excellence in specific programmes. These included 3 sponsored awards:

• Social Care Ireland / Irish Association of Social Care Educators (IASCE) Award for Academic Achievement in Social Care 2019
• Katie–Anne Holdcroft, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care
• Elaine Kearney, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care (Part-time)
• Veterinary Council of Ireland, Veterinary Nursing Graduate of the Year Award 2018
• Naoimh McCann, Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing
• Failte Ireland Prizes 2018
• Linda Laverty, Higher Certificate in Arts in Culinary Arts
• Grace Bohan, Higher Certificate in Arts in Hospitality Studies

Shane Gray, graduate of the BB in Business & Technology received the inaugural Karl Mernagh Award 2019 and Caroline Matthews, graduate of the BA in Community Youth Work received the Ann McGeeney Scholarship Award 2019.