News
Record Numbers Graduating from Institute of Technology Carlow
05/11/2015
IT Carlow is on the crest of a demographic wave with a huge increase in student population over the past five years.
“We have increased our learner population by over 30% in the past five years to more than 7,000 learners in this academic year, and our graduates by over 50%. We continue to attract learners globally. Currently 10% of our learners are international students” stated Institute President, Dr Patricia Mulcahy. “We have seen a significant increase in our postgraduate learner population with our percentage of postgraduate students now the second highest in the Technological Sector”.
Dr Mulcahy was speaking at today’s conferring ceremony of graduates from the Faculty of Science, Health and Computing. The conferring is one of eleven such ceremonies taking place this month where 2,200 graduates will be conferred across the Institute of Technology Carlow campuses and locations in Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin.
In response to student demand, IT Carlow has commenced a €100m capital investment programme which has already seen the delivery of the Dargan Centre for Research and Innovation, the Centre for Aerospace Engineering and a multi-million facility incorporating Sports, Health and Student Services. The Institute is on track to deliver a new signature Centre for Transformative Higher Education on the Kilkenny Road, with a 1,000-learner capacity, by the end of the current academic year. Further plans are at an advanced stage for the completion of its 30-acre South Campus and customised student accommodation adjacent to the Institute. IT Carlow is also at the planning and design stage for a new Campus for the Institute in Wexford, and for the development of a further seven acres adjacent to the Institute on the Kilkenny Road.
Dr Mulcahy highlighted the employment rate for graduates of IT Carlow. “In Ireland, the employment rate for graduates is currently at 80%. For IT Carlow graduates, the employment rate is significantly higher again, 93% at graduation and rising further to 96% within six months of graduation”, said Dr Mulcahy.
Addressing the graduates, Dr Mulcahy said, “In our society, the collective success of society cannot be separated from the development of the individual. Fundamentally, we all know that the best investment any society can make is to educate more people and to educate them to their highest potential. And that is what this Institute continues to make significant progress on”.
-ENDS-
For reference: Alma Feeley, Communications Officer, IT Carlow