Awards ceremony at Cork's MTU campus honours professional graduates  

A special awards ceremony was held at Munster Technological University (MTU) in Cork this week, honouring the achievements of its part-time and professional development students.

The ceremony, at MTU’s Bishopstown campus, recognised graduates who completed special purpose awards, which are designed to meet Ireland’s evolving workforce needs.

The event brought together learners, industry partners, and academic staff to mark the success of collaborative programmes that respond directly to skills priorities across sectors such as manufacturing, digital transformation, engineering, leadership, and sustainability.

The special purpose awards are short, focused qualifications designed to upskill participants in specific areas. They were developed with input from employers and professional bodies, and allow working adults to gain accredited qualifications without the need for long-term study interruptions.

Strengthen

Many of the graduates are professionals who returned to education to strengthen their capabilities, future-proof their careers, and contribute to their organisations’ success.

More than 30 nationalities were represented among the graduates, including Lithuanian, Ukrainian, Filipino, Hungarian, Polish, and South African.

Professor Maggie Cusack, president of MTU, said the “effort and commitment it takes to balance learning with a career is commendable, and each of our graduates has done so with great resilience”.

“I’m very grateful to the many employers, companies, and professional bodies for their support for the special purpose awards, and extend my congratulations to this year’s award recipients,” said Prof Cusack.

“Our awardees are an inspiration to all of us, and a reminder of the power of education to transform lives.”

Commitment

Professor Christine Cross, who is the vice-president of academic affairs and registrar at MTU, said the organisation is “delighted to celebrate the achievements of our part-time and professional development graduates”.

“Their commitment to lifelong learning is genuinely inspiring,” said Prof Cross.

“Our graduates have successfully managed to balance full-time work and family, along with their coursework, which demonstrates their determination.

“We are proud to see them applying their new skills to make a meaningful impact in Ireland’s workforce and beyond.

“Their success is a testament to what can be achieved when ambition meets opportunity.”

Hani Mohammed, who is a recipient of one of the special purpose awards said MTU “offered the perfect blend of practical learning and supportive lecturers”.

“The programme gave me the confidence and skills to advance in industrial automation,” said Mr Mohammed.