TUS graduates to ‘transform’ their regions including record number of PhD and Master’s Graduates

2023 TUS graduates Kieran Gill (Castlerae), Odhran Adamson (Mullingar), Michael Cannon (Kinnegad), Frankie Phelan (Moate), Oisin Lough (Athlone) holding Annya Coyle (Roscommon) after graduating BSc Music and Sound Engineering

2023 TUS graduates have been called to ‘Transform your regions’ by the Technological University President at this year’s graduation ceremony which included its largest group of PhD and research master’s students

The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) recently reached a significant milestone, conferring its largest-ever cohort of PhD and research master’s students as part of its 2023 ceremonies which saw more than 3,500 graduates over the course of four days and 10 ceremonies.

Included in the 3,500 graduates were the first award of a PhD in Civil Engineering to Dr Ana Caroline da Costa Santos and the conferral of Dr Patrick Ruane, the first PhD candidate to transfer from TUS’s research master’s in manufacturing digitalisation, supported by Johnson and Johnson Vision and IBEC’s Irish Medical Device Association.

Prof. Cunnane stressed the importance of graduates using their voices to advocate for their regions and use the skills and talents honed throughout their time at TUS to make a real impact, emphasising that this is about people and communities, contribution over profit.  

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“Your education provides you with opportunities in your region. You in turn contribute to the economy and society, strengthening the local economy, and this economy becomes better positioned into the future to capitalise on opportunities and to innovate for the betterment of the region, the country and the world,” he explained.

Founded in 2021, the graduation of 26 PhDs and 19 master’s by research students marks a great milestone for the young technological university, VP for Research, Development and Innovation at TUS Dr Liam Brown congratulated the graduates on their achievements.

“From animation and addiction to extended reality and the societal benefits of biodegradable polymer and breakthrough biotechnology developments, the applied nature of our research was evident through the many graduates that were supported by industry partners and community stakeholders,” he said.

The transformative role of TUS in the Midlands and Midwest regions was underscored, with particular emphasis on two significant initiatives ­— the Just Transition programme, which sets the model for transitioning to a net-zero future, and the Shannon Estuary’s potential to become a renewable energy powerhouse.  

Prof. Cunnane said that TUS graduates, by staying firmly rooted in the regions in which they will work, live and raise families, will be the ones to drive forward these green, renewable energy initiatives and propel Ireland to a new and brighter future.  

“These are great developments – they are not abstractions, they are not aspirations, they are reality, and it is here in the regions that reality happens, it is here that sustainable change will happen,” he said.  

TUS Governing Body Chair Josephine Feehily echoed this, explaining that an investment in education and in knowledge is an investment in a shared future and emphasised the role of TUS and of its graduates as a catalyst for sustainable change that transforms lives.  

As only the third graduating class to be conferred since its inauguration in October 2021, TUS noted the special place the class of 2023 holds in its short history and the trying time for the students who navigated challenges from a pre-pandemic world, through the pandemic, to the new normal.

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