Gary Sweeney
Sports Coaching & Business Management (Soccer)
I am a performance analyst at the scouting department of Manchester United FC. The role involves the collation, analysis and feedback of scouting information to help aid decision-making on players who could potentially play for Manchester United first team.
The facilities on campus are second to none, I was able to make full use of the performance analysis lab with industry leading equipment that I still use in my position today. I gained valuable analysis experience working with teams at SETU in Carlow, Irish international teams and various other individuals and organisations. I was also lucky enough to travel to the World University Games as the performance analyst for the Men’s football team on two occasions (Kazan, Russia in 2013 and Gwangju, South Korea in 2015), something that wouldn’t have been possible without the help from my lecturers while I was there. The staff (on both the sport & academic side) that deliver the courses are enthusiastic, approachable and most importantly want all their students to genuinely do well and be successful. SETU in Carlow also has a great social environment, the sports clubs are well run, very successful and offered a great opportunity to talk with like-minded students who love sport.
Upon graduating from SETU in Carlow I was able to gain employment immediately. I went to Reading FC as an Academy Performance Analyst where I spent 3 successful years before moving to my current position last March at Manchester United. I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent at SETU in Carlow and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to work in sport.
Alan Nolan
Sports Coaching & Business Management (GAA)
Level 8 degree in Management Practice (1 Year Add on)
I really enjoyed my time completing this honours degree. After Finishing the BA in Sports Coaching and Business Management (GAA), I took the opportunity to develop my business knowledge. This course gave me a great insight into the business world with many interesting real life projects with outside clients (Social Media Campaign & Client Research Project etc.). Alongside this, studying Management Practices has enabled me to understand managerial leadership and public relations in the work environment. The course has not only made me ready for the working world but also helped me to build contacts to gain employment opportunities throughout my life. The course is great in the way that you can put what you learn into practice in the working world.
I am currently employed as a GAA Games Development Officer with the SETU in Carlow which has many different roles and responsibilities. Currently my job involves the following:
• Promotion of GAA within SETU in Carlow, and externally
• Administration of the GAA Club and its 9 GAA teams
• Supporting & coordinating role
• Management of specific events.
From studying both courses in IT Carlow I got the opportunity to develop both as a player and person. I have gained an in-depth knowledge in the areas of business and coaching through theory and practical learning. The Erasmus programme which I completed for my work placement in third year gave me the chance to develop GAA abroad and also helped me to get my current role by building up experience and also building contacts within Leinster GAA.
Emma Carey
Media & Public Relations
As Press Officer for the BBC, I am the first port of call for journalists with inquiries about the corporation in the UK and across the world. I manage corporate announcements, reputational issues, develop and implement publicity campaigns for TV programmes. It’s an exciting and challenging job. Prior to this role, I specialised in technology PR for four years where I developed media relations strategies for global tech brands such as AT&T, Dell, SAP, IPsoft, Avaya and Philips.
The BA in Media and Public Relations at IT Carlow set me up with vital knowledge and understanding of the TV and new media industries. It also taught me how to juggle several projects, which is vital when working in a busy PR environment with conflicting deadlines.
Una McBreen
Media & Public Relations
I started my career with an internship in Edelman Dublin, a leading global communications marketing firm. I am currently working for Thames Valley Police, the UK’s second largest police force. My role has involved establishing social media as a key communication tool for TVP. I am also a key player in aiding other police forces to do the same and was invited to present my work on this topic at the Home Office. My role sees me apply my knowledge and skills to provide varied content and social media guidance to support operations for the Police. I can often be found Instagramming from a drugs raid or live streaming from a press conference.
Studying Media and Public Relations at IT Carlow prepared me incredibly well for a career in social media. In particular, the practical skills in video creation I acquired through our studio practice, has directly resulted in me supporting major incidents. My social media videos have been shown on many UK news channels including BBC, ITV and Sky and featured on various news sites including The Independent.co.uk and TheTimes.co.uk. Also, one of my final year projects at SETU in Carlow involved working with a company to create a PR plan. I feel this real world experience boosted me above other graduates and was one of the deciding factors in me being offered a highly sought after Intern position and ultimately guiding me on the career path I find myself on today.
Ruth Flood
Bachelor of Business in Business Administration
Ruth graduated fromSETU in Carlow in 2016, with a 1.1 degree in Business Administration. "I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at IT Carlow, and being a mature student making the decision to return to education was very daunting, but I shouldn't have been so worried."
"The lecturers were amazing, always giving support when needed, and everyone was so friendly, it really is a supportive environment. My course was very hands on and it covered all areas to equip me with the knowledge and skills to work in a business environment.
As part of the course I had the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, which I did in Kildare County Council. Upon completion I was offered a position as clerical officer. I believe the course best prepared me with the knowledge and skills required for this position. Having the opportunity to gain work experience while studying helped me gain this wonderful start to my career. It is a great course, that I really enjoyed, and I would highly recommend it to any student considering a career in this area."
Saad Islam
BA Honours in Law
The Irish Stock Exchange plc in Ireland is responsible for listing securities and some other areas of securities regulation. The ISE have been providing markets for companies to raise funds for over 200 years. The ISE sets listing requirements for issuers and is also authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland to operate its three securities markets. This programme improved my analytical and communication skills. It also improved my flexibility in terms of working both as part of a team or on my own.
Jack Gregan
Product Design Innovation
Firstly the fact that course was studio based was very appealing. As a mature student I was coming from a working environment so this really suited my work ethic. While in the course I felt the close working relationship between the students and the lecturers really helped motivate and drive me. The course is very practical which again helped me to further develop my existing skills.
After graduating I undertook an intern position in designCORE which is based in IT Carlow. This position allowed me to further develop the skills that I gained during my degree course. I got to work with start-ups and SMEs designing and developing their ideas and products. It also allowed me to gain a lot of experience with 3D printing and prototyping which I feel is a strong aspect of design now and in the future.
In 2015 I was awarded the. UDGC People’s Choice Award, the.UDGC Judges’ Choice Award.and the Enterprise Ireland.Universal Design Commercialisation Award.for my design of a Go Therapeutic Horse Riding Aid. This therapeutic horse riding aid can be used in equine therapy, which is growing in popularity as an activity for children with autism. In addition to the prize money, the commercialisation award from EI, has enabled SETU in Carlow to receive additional funding of up to 15,000 euros to explore the marketing/commercial opportunity for this design.
The programme has a lot of practical aspects that I feel directly translate in to industry. One of the most important being project management which is a key part of the course and which has really helped me in my positions since graduating.
Eimear Walsh - Marketing Communications Manager, SKODA, VW Group
BBS in Marketing
Following my graduation from SETU in Carlow, I worked in the motor industry for Renault Ireland, as advertising and communications executive where I managed through the line campaigns and went on to be promoted to Digital and CRM Manager. During this time I managed the launch of a new car brand, Dacia, which was the first car to be launched digitally in Ireland, exceeding all expectations and KPIs. Today I work for Volkswagen Group Ireland as Marketing Communications Manager for Skoda. I highly recommend the BBS Marketing course at SETU in Carlow to anyone interested in a career in the ever changing and challenging world of marketing.
Phil Murphy - Group Digital Media Manager, Glanbia
BBS Marketing
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at SETU in Carlow. Of all the things I learned, I think the approachability of the lecturers enabled me to be confident in dealing with senior people when I moved from the academic to the business environment. The lecturers were very open and willing to take time to help you. I would highly recommend studying marketing at SETU in Carlow.I lead Glanbia’s global digital team which acts as a central digital media agency that sits at the centre of Glanbia serving their global brands. The team comprises of digital marketers, creatives, UX designers, social media analysts and developers. The team manages the digital marketing and social media marketing for category leading brands such as Optimum Nutrition, BSN, Avonmore, Gain, and Nutramino.
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SETU - Carlow Campus