Graduate Profiles

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Faculty of Engineering - Graduate Profiles

Keith Greville - Civil Engineering

What did you like about the course?

The Civil Engineering course I studied in Carlow helped me greatly with my career. The amount of practical knowledge taught was hugely beneficial and our final year project really allowed us to spread our wings and delve into engineering. My group chose to design a bridge over the local river and we covered every aspect of the project from site visits to meetings with local engineers, working out construction means and methods and detailed bridge design calculations. It allowed us to both understand and enjoy what we were studying.

What are you doing now?

I am an Associate Principal with Arup Los Angeles and part of the Executive Leadership of the Infrastructure Practice. I am currently leading our multi-disciplinary team In the $1.3Bn Crenshaw LAX Light Rail Transit Project. The project will connect two original LRT lines in LA, covering 8.5 miles of grade, aerial and underground track via cut and cover sections and tunnelling. It is due to open to the public in late 2018.

How did the course prepare you for the job you are doing now?

A lot of what we learned over the first two years, I still apply to my work today and indeed, our final year project was also a significant stepping stone from college to career.

Brian Kenny - Facilities Management

What did you like about the course?

The course is designed to give students many options and ample time to decide on the career path they want to take. For me the law, accounting and AutoCAD subjects are a great help in my present job.

What are you doing now?

I am currently doing a 4 year graduate placement (Excelerate) with John Sisk & Son, which at the moment has me working in the UK. The course is set out so I can receive my chartership after 3/4 years with CIBSE. It incorporates monthly workshops which deal with all aspects of construction, design and management. The course is designed to give me the foothold I need to be senior management in a short space of time. In September I started working in North Wales on a billion pound project. My role was the management, coordination and design of the mechanical and electrical installations. In March 2015 I was moved to London. I will be doing placements with Sisk sub-contractors and working on Sisk sites.

How did the course prepare you for the job you are doing now?

It gave me great insight into the types of M & E technologies, the law and contractual side of construction, report writing (professional formatting), excel training, AutoCAD and research. These are all tools I use on a day-to-day basis and have given me a distinct advantage in the working world.

 

Faculty of Business and Humanities - Graduate Profiles

Emma Byrne - Sport Management and Coaching (GAA)

What did you like about the course?

I was always interested in coaching and sports management and wanted to gain a deeper understanding and knowledge in this area. Sport and coaching is a passion of mine and the course provided an opportunity to merge both. The balance of theoretical and practical content was very enjoyable and helped to relate the theory and science to the practical setting. Practical subjects such as player development, coach education and exercise and fitness instruction where balanced with theory subjects ranging from marketing and sponsorship to finance for sport. I continually broadened my knowledge in coaching and business practices by volunteering for many projects in my free time. I gained practical experience in many areas such as fitness testing, strength and conditioning, performance analysis, sports management and GAA club administration.

What are you doing now?

GAA Games Promotions Officer with Dublin GAA in St Vincents GAA Club involves:
• promoting Gaelic football and hurling in local primary and secondary schools;
• coaching 800 children per week in local feeder schools;
• providing club assistance to all team mentors within the club;
• delivering coach education workshops and programmes blitz camps;
• coordinating weekly academy and nursery programmes.

How did the course prepare you for the job you are doing now?

I got the opportunity to develop both as a player and person. I have gained in-depth knowledge in the areas of Sports management and coaching through theory and practical learning. I completed a work placement in China. I worked with various GAA Clubs on areas such as club development, club administration roles, club structures and coaching assistance in 6 major cities-Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Suzhou and Dalian. I also have been involved working as a Performance Analyst with Kilkenny senior hurlers for the 4 years while completing my studies. SETU Carlow (Formerly IT Carlow) provides top class facilities and staff that allow each student reach their potential. The variety of modules provided a wide range of disciplines to focus in on. It has also allowed me to continue my education by completing a Master’s course in Strength and Conditioning in SETU Carlow (Formerly IT Carlow).

Jordan Mulvaney - Media and Public Relations

What are you doing now?

After completing the Media and PR degree in Carlow, I interned with one of Ireland’s leading PR agencies, PSG Communications where I’ve worked my way up the ladder from Intern to Senior Account Executive. The real world is scary, but exciting! Getting used to agency life is definitely something students should be aware of if that’s the route they want to go down. It’s extremely fast paced and you must be a quick learner with great initiative to succeed.

How did the course prepare you for the job you are doing now?

Last year global advisor firm Teneo Global acquired PSG Communications so we’re now Teneo PSG! This has meant that there are bigger brand opportunities for pitch and project work and also the opportunity to get experience in other Teneo offices around the world like New York, London and Brussels (there are many more!). None of my work experience to date would have been possible without completing the Media and PR course at SETU Carlow (Formerly IT Carlow). The friends I’ve made are still some of my best buddies and the course is hard work, but great fun!

 

Faculty of Science Graduate Profiles

Maria Kehoe - Science

What did you like about the course?

I found the lecturers excellent, very professional, approachable and encouraging. The lectures love what they do and as a result are passionate about their professions. The one to one support lectures offer is exceptional. They continue to support students after they graduate and are always on hand to help with professional decisions if required.

The science courses at SETU Carlow (Formerly IT Carlow) have gained me friends for life. It has many advantages over other courses because you’re not only based in a classroom environment you spend at least 12 hours a week in a practical setting with your colleagues. I felt comfortable from the moment I walked into the college and I would be delighted to recommend this course to any potential students.

What are you doing now?

I am working in EirGen Pharma in Waterford as a Graduate Analytical Development Chemist.

How did the course prepare you for the job you are doing now?

Looking back at my time in the college I can see numerous advantages to studying science at Carlow. There are many aspects throughout my four years that have helped prepare me for my current job role. The practical classes give students many invaluable skills such as working as a group, the ability to problem solve and think quick, work under pressure and efficiently manage their time. Individual analytical projects allow students to explore their own ideas and have fun in the lab whilst continuously learning.

I found my work placement a huge advantage to me mainly because it gave me confidence in my own ability and it motivated me to reach my full potential. This opportunity allowed me to transform what I had learned into real life situations.

Stephen Smith - Sport Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy

What did you like about the course?

The structure, content and focus of the course was very well balanced and gave me a strong foundation of knowledge to allow me to begin my career. The quality of lecturers and practitioners were of the highest calibre and ensured that as students, we not only had the educational underpinning but were able to translate that knowledge to practical application. Alongside this, the level of detail and high standards that were expected ensured that as a student, I gained maximum value and was ready for life as a professional.

What are you doing now?

Following study in Carlow, I went on to work with Leinster Rugby for nearly eight years. Whilst working with Leinster I conducted my masters research, investigating combined risk factors as predictors of athletic injury and subsequently founded Kitman Labs. Kitman Labs is a sport science technology company helping elite sports teams use data and analytics to reduce injury risk and improve performance. We are currently working with some of the biggest brands in professional sport from across the globe including NFL, NBA, MLB teams as well as all of our own home grown Irish rugby teams. I am incredibly proud to be the founder and CEO of an Irish company changing the world of sport.

How did the course prepare you for the job you are doing now?

The course in Carlow assembled the building blocks of my professional career. The course gave me a well rounded and holistic knowledge that allowed me to understand what aspect of sport science and medicine I had a true passion for. This allowed me to fine tune my skills to an area that excited me. The level of dedication and interaction with the lecturing team at SETU Carlow (Formerly IT Carlow) provided me with more than just an education, it provided me with an understanding and a skillset that has shaped my professional career. I will never forget the amazing time I spent in Carlow.