Kilkenny students graduate from regional college, WIT President says new University can become one of world’s best
More than one in every 10 students that graduated in Waterford Institute of Technology this week hails from Kilkenny.
Of the 2,552 graduates who were conferred at the higher education campus last week 275(11%) are from Kilkenny
In total, 72% of the class of 2020 were from the south east counties of Waterford, Carlow, Wexford, Kilkenny and Tipperary.
In all, 874 are from Waterford City and County (34%), 353 from Wexford (14%), 274 from Tipperary (11%) and 180 from Cork (7%).
In his conferring address, WIT President Professor Willie Donnelly acknowledged the challenge the sudden move online in March last year posed to the then final year students.
“Despite the continuing impact of Covid-19 and the need to move this ceremony online, today remains a day to be cherished in your memories,” he said.
“The conferring ceremony is an important occasion, marking your academic achievement and the hard work you have put into earning your qualification.
“Covid-19 has redefined the work environment with the emergence of hybrid work environments combining physical and remote working as the new normal.
“You have the skills to succeed in this new environment, to develop new business, to transform existing ones, and particularly to take the lead in shaping the future of Waterford city and the wider South East.”
Prof Donnelly also expressed his ambition that the long awaited Technological University – the first university in the south east region – will become one of the world’s best.
He added: “The time has now come for the Institute to move to the next stage in its development with the Institute of Technology Carlow, into a Technological University.
“The new university will be a university for the entire region and will have significant impact nationally and internationally – it is our ambition that in time it will be amongst the top new universities in the world.
“The creation of the Technological University will ensure that the Institute continues to drive the future economic, social and cultural development of the South East.”
