182 members of the Defence Forces are conferred at SETU
Defence Forces graduates pictured with minister of state for defenceThomas Byrne, Professor Veronica Campbell, president of SETU, David Denieffe, chief operations officer, SETU, Derek O'Byrne, vice-president, academic affairs, Dr Frances Hardiman, head of the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Anne Meaney, head of extended campus, SETU, and Lt Col Colin Lawlor Photo: Mary Browne
MEMBERS of the Irish Defence Forces boosted the organisation’s level of expertise when 182 of them were conferred with academic awards from South East Technological University last Friday afternoon. The conferring ceremony at SETU’s Carlow campus is the largest annual military graduation from a higher education institution to take place in Ireland.
Graduates received awards in leadership, management and defence studies (LMDS) across certificate, bachelor’s and master’s levels. Several achieved master’s level in communications technology management, military engineering management and ordnance, munitions and explosives engineering.
Lieut Gen Rossa Mulcahy, chief of staff of the Defence Forces, said he was “very proud” of the graduates. “These awards are a culmination of what has been a very challenging and rewarding process,” he noted.
President of SETU Professor Veronica Campbell said the graduation “holds a distinctive place” during the university’s week of conferrals.
“I have every confidence that our graduates will respond to the challenges of today and make your unique and lasting contribution to society. You have proven that your knowledge and curiosity for learning is underpinned by resilience and empathy,” she added.
The LMDS programme remains the most popular academic course within the Defence Forces, with currently over 2,000 graduates.
Nine serving and retired personnel additionally received recognition of prior learning awards this year, which recognises their experiential learning during their military service.
More than 2,400 military personnel have received awards since the collaborative partnership between SETU and the Defence Forces began in 2012. The partnership enables personnel to “adapt to the complex and challenging demands of military operations and deliver effective military capability,” explained Lieut Gen Mulcahy.
“It is heartening to see the great value that our Defence Forces places on education,” said Thomas Byrne, minister of state for defence, at the ceremony.
Minister of state Jennifer Murnane O'Connor, MEP Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, Major General Colm O’Luasa and officers and personnel from the Defence Forces attended the conferring ceremony.
