THERE CAN be no recession in education, imagination or creativity, the president of Waterford Institute of Technology, Prof Kieran R Byrne, said yesterday.
He was addressing hundreds of people at the Waterford Institute of Technology’s College Street campus, where this week over 2,600 students are being conferred with academic awards.
WIT chairman Redmond O’Donoghue said Ireland did not “completely blow” the boom.
The motorway network connecting all major urban centres with Dublin, the new Aviva Stadium, the revamped O2, Wexford Opera House, the Theatre Royal Waterford and the National Convention Centre on Dublin’s north quays – as well as peace in Northern Ireland – were examples of improvements, he pointed out.
Mr O’Donoghue, a former director and chief executive of Waterford Wedgwood, added: “The vitality of new leadership will lead to the gradual renewal of Ireland. Young people will lead the way with confidence – knowing they are the best educated Irish people ever.”
A total of 863 of the graduates – about one-third of the overall number, are from Waterford city and county, while the rest hail from surrounding counties including Wexford (380), Kilkenny (305), Tipperary (243), Cork (148) and Carlow (81).
Conferral ceremonies began yesterday and will conclude tomorrow.
Prof Byrne said: “We can educate our way out of adversity, as we have done in the past . . . It is clear,” he added, that “we live in eventful and challenging times, with endurance being stretched, [but] we must not capitulate.
“This tide will turn too – especially if we unite with social solidarity. New models of leadership are required,” he said. “All actions have consequences, whether at an individual or collective level.”
Prof Byrne yesterday confirmed a new DBA (Doctorate in Business Administration) will be introduced at WIT later this year, while 11 PhDs are being awarded this year.
Courses which have students graduating for the first time include the BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying; BSc (Hons) in Architecture; BA (Hons) in Criminal Justice Studies, and BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Studies.
Meanwhile, work is to begin shortly on an additional research, development and innovation building at the West Campus in Carriganore, where new sports facilities and pitches are to be opened in coming months, it emerged.
