Becoming a Stakeholder in Ireland’s Next Generation of ICT Leadership

18 May 2010

On Tuesday 20 April, the Board of the DCU Educational Trust invited business leaders from the ICT sector to a briefing entitled Becoming a Stakeholder in Ireland’s Next Generation of ICT Leadership, to discover how in an age when technology is literally transforming our daily lives, DCU’s core programmes in Computing, Electronic Engineering and Communications continue to promote Ireland’s role as a centre of excellence in ICT.

Over 50 business leaders and alumni working within the sector attended and heard from Patrick Brazel, Chairman of Goldtier Technology LLC / Founder and CEO www.zignals.com  and Bernie Cullinan, Chief Executive of Clarigen on where Ireland is placed in the world on delivering first class information, communications and technology and what needs to be done in establishing Ireland’s ICT as a global competitive profitable leader.  Professor Alan Smeaton, Deputy Director of Clarity: Centre for Sensor Web Technologies updated guests on DCU’s unrivalled teaching programmes, research and resources and highlighted some of the University’s links with industry in continuously evolving its teaching modules to deliver highly skilled graduates with the knowledge and expertise necessary in advancing this sector.     Guests were reminded of the importance of investing in Ireland’s next generation of skilled workforce and how everyone can play a role in sustaining this requirement, like the DCU Access Scholarship Programme.  Two scholarship recipients studying in the area of multimedia and engineering shared their personal stories on the opportunities now open to them in attending third level and the support they receive through the Access Programme.

Pat concluded with trends in this sector in the future and how all involved, educational institutes, alumni, industry employers, must play an active role in its development and the placement of Ireland.inc as a global leader in the ICT sector.  Funding in such programmes like the Access Programme can and will enable the delivery of qualified first class graduates in taking the required next steps in this advancement.   We believe these students along with our vibrant research initiatives are helping shape Ireland’s Next Generation of ICT Leadership.

If you would like to received further information on the DCU Access Programme or wish to attend a future briefing, please contact Orla Holmes, Director of Operations, DCU Educational Trust office at (353) 1-700-5467
Expanding ACCESS to Higher Education.

The DCU Access Programme was created in 1989 to target schools in the University’s North Dublin neighbourhood. It has since evolved into a national programme and now accepts students from all over the country, making it the largest and most successful programme of its kind in Ireland. DCU currently has over 400 students on access scholarships from all of the 26 counties.  Every Access Scholarship is privately funded through the generosity of friends of DCU.

• Each year over 4,000 11-15 year olds drop out of school before reaching the Junior Certificate.
• Over 750,000 adults between the ages of 25 – 64 years of age have little or no formal educational qualifications.
• In some socio disadvantaged areas fewer than 2% of eligible young people progress to higher education (Higher Educational Authority, 2004)

The DCU Educational Trust supports students who receive a place on the DCU Access Programme with scholarships funded entirely by the private sector.  These awards are vital to the students during their years at the university.