TSSG Masters Students Graduate
01-23-2003
By: Margaret Grene
Friday, November 28th was a milestone in the history of the TSSG. This was the day that three TSSG students graduated with Waterford Institute of Technology Masters degrees by research: Shane McCormack, Mary Christine Nolan, and Chamil Kulatunga (in absentia). Chamil was unable to attend as he is now taking a well-deserved break in his native Sri Lanka.
This is not only a happy occasion for the usual reasons, but it was the first time that Waterford Institute of Technology students received an MSc from the Institute directly rather than from the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC). The parchments reflected the Institutes new delegated powers to award degrees, taught masters and research masters, authority for which was signed on Tuesday by HETAC. Having already been granted certificate and diploma awarding powers on a previous occasion, Waterford Institute of Technology is the first, and so far, the only Institute of Technology to be granted degree, taught masters and research masters awarding powers.
The ceremonies were also attended by the families of the graduates and by their supervisors Jimmy McGibney who introduced them on the podium. Supervisors Eamonn de Leastar and Mícheál Ó Foghlú were also on hand to congratulate the students for their efforts over the two years duration of their studies.
Owing its existence to Dr. Willie Donnelly and his colleagues Eamonn De Leastar and Mícheál Ó Foghlú at the Institute the TSSG was established after an initial proposal for European Commission funding was accepted in 1997. Six years later the group can claim a turnover of over nine million euros, and forty-five full-time staff working on the campus.
Owing its existence to Dr. Willie Donnelly and his colleagues Eamonn De Leastar and Mícheál Ó Foghlú at the Institute the TSSG was established after an initial proposal for European Commission funding was accepted in 1997. Six years later the group can claim a turnover of over nine million euros, and forty-five full-time staff working on the campus.
Interestingly, for the TSSG, this was also the first time it was represented in the conferring party itself: Dr. Donnelly, in his newly appointed role, as Head of Research & Innovation was part of the conferring party. So congratulations to the three students who now have a well-deserved Waterford Institute of Technology MSc. Congratulations also to the three BSc students Andrew Betson, Karen Doyle and Venet Osmani who graduated with honours on Friday and have now commenced their Masters studies at the TSSG. And finally, congratulations to the Institute for the achievement of this level of autonomy within the Irish Higher Educational system.
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