IT Tallaght Graduates
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IT Tallaght Graduates Magazine for Graduates & Friends of the Institute of Technology, Tallaght, Dublin 2008 / 2009 Graduate People & News from Clubs and Profiles Features the Institute Societies CONTENTS Welcome from Graduates Association Officer 5 Features What the Tweet is Twitter and how are businesses using it 12 The Harambee Scholaship Fund - An Update 20 Creative Digital Media students putting ITT Dublin on film 28 11 Bluebrick.ie - New flexible learning initiative launched by IOTs 78 Graduates Association News News over the last year at ITT Dublin 6 Institute News Business & Humanities 14 Science & Computing 23 Engineering 29 Other Institute News 32 New Courses 36 20 Graduate Profiles Get a glimpse into what some of our graduates are getting up to at home and abroad 52 Research and Innovation The latest news from research and innovation at the Institute 60 News from the Clubs and Societies News from the ever-thriving clubs and societies 72 46 Acknowledgements: Editor: Gareth Ebbs Cover Photo: Stephen Darcy. Darcy Imagery - www.darcyimagery.com Design: Matt Scallan / Horizon Graphics Email: [email protected] Contact the Graduates Association Tel: (353 1) 404 2107 Email: [email protected] 77 Web: http://graduates.ittdublin.ie Advance Corporate Club Advance Pitstop 10% off ALL Products and Services Pitstop For all ITT Dublin Graduates, Students, Staff & Friends CorporateAdvance✓ Great discountsPitstop available to ITT Corporate Club Corporate Club members and their families ✓ Over 40 branches nationwide Club ✓ Comprehensive 35-point car service from %180 ✓ FREE 5 point safety check ✓ FREE pre NCT check ✓ Quality work guaranteed and affordable prices 10% off ALL Products and Services Graduates, Students, Staff & Friends Please mention ITT Corporate Club at time of booking For all ITT Dublin Check your or *%180 applies to cars below 1.1 litre. Check branches for other details nearest branch at book online .com advancepitstop ✓ Great discounts available to ITT Corporate Club members and their families ✓ Over 40 branches nationwide ✓ Comprehensive 35-point car service from %180 ✓ FREE 5 point safety check ✓ FREE pre NCT check ✓ Quality work guaranteed and affordable prices Check your nearest branch or Please mention ITT Corporate Club at time of booking book online at advancepitstop.com *%180 applies to cars below 1.1 litre. Check branches for other details Graduate Association News some really worthwhile guidance on how to advance Hi folks, I hope this yourself in these tough times so don’t be afraid to get in issue finds you well. touch and pick their brains. Make sure you’re registered as an official Association Needless to say it finds Ireland and indeed the globe, in a member at http://graduates.ittdublin.ie to ensure very different position to when we ran our last magazine you receive monthly e-bulletins. The site includes jobs and I hope our readers haven’t been affected too badly posted by the Careers Service, Member Discounts and as a result of it. much more. You can also find our Facebook page by searching Facebook for ‘IT Tallaght’ - we now have over The Graduates Association is no different and there are 800 friends so log on and see who else is online that you greater challenges than ever. Indeed there’s a chance may know. you are only reading a digital version of the magazine but we hope to print as soon as possible. Our flagship ITT Dublin now has a college Youtube channel – check event, the Graduates Association Ball, has unfortunately out www.youtube.com/user/ITTDublinadmin. It’s also been a victim this year and it’s uncertain when it will mostly a bit of fun for the moment but as it grows and go ahead in the near future. we add more footage of academic interest as well as recreational, I hope this will become an genuine We’re particularly looking at low-cost reunions which will promotional tool for prospective students to get an idea make it cheaper (or free in the case of ‘Drinks on Us’) for of the Institute when pondering over their CAO choices you to attend. With funds so scarce it’s very difficult to as well as graduates who are interested in keeping in hold events unless we know there will be a reasonable touch with what’s happening. By the time you read this attendance, so your input and participation are more it should also include five videos made by our 2nd Year valuable than ever. We know many are interested in Creative Digital Media students, who we teamed up reunions, so if you have a network of your old mates who with for the first time to produce promotional videos for want to get together for a bit of catch-up, do contact a range of recreational and academic areas within the us and we can work with you and help to tailor an event Institute. This was a great success which will continue on that suits your people. One idea that may appeal to you an annual basis. is ‘Drinks On Us’ – read more about this in the ‘Drinks On Us’ article in this issue or on the website. We’d love to Lastly I hope you enjoy the magazine and I want hear from you. thank everyone for their contributions, particularly our graduates who as always have given an interesting peek Now more than ever, careers advice is vital so if you are into their exploits beyond the walls of the Institute. a recent graduate, don’t forget that ITT Dublin may have a unique insight into your opportunities. Our Careers All the best, Officer, Marie Kielty is available to offer advice on your Gareth Ebbs next steps and along with your old lecturers you may find [email protected] IT Tallaght Graduates 2008/2009 5 Graduate Association News Dr. Tim Creedon Retires as President During a time of unprecedented growth for the Institute and among many achievements, Tim was responsible for implementing the Strategic Plan and instrumental in developing the new Strategic Plan for the Institute which helped to facilitate a period of great strides in all facets of the college. One of Tim’s considerable achievements was developing the Research and Innovation capabilities of the Institute and in these areas, ITT Dublin has grown to consistently punch above its weight among its Institute of Technology counterparts. He also successfully led the Institute through the Delegated Authority and Institutional Review processes, with both commendably highlighting the extremely high level of professionalism in ITT Dublin’s academic and administrative structures. Always an approachable and popular member of staff, In June 2009 Dr. Tim Creedon announced his resignation we wish Tim well in his retirement and expect a steady as President of the Institute. Tim served as President from decrease in his golfing handicap, indeed at the time of September 2004 until his departure in August 2009. Prior writing Tim has confirmed he has already reduced it by to taking the position as President, Tim served as Head two shots. of the School of Science and Computing from the opening of the college in 1992. Best of luck from all at the Institute! delighted to provide support for the night at the Metro ‘Drinks On Us’ Reunion Bar in Tallaght which turned out to be a great success. Held at Metro Bar Funds are thin on the ground at the moment but if you fancy setting up your own reunion of ITT Dublin g r a d u a t e s and have 25 guaranteed attendees then why not get in touch with us with a view to us providing some support for the night. If you want to have it on an evening at the Institute, needless to say, funds will go a bit further but like January’s event we can also consider going offsite. On Saturday 30th of January we held our first Drinks On Special thanks to Peter O’Neill for his work in putting the Us event. A group of 30 Business Studies graduates from night together. To read more about Drinks On Us visit 2007 got in touch with us and put forward a date and the website at http://alumni.ittdublin.ie and click ‘Have venue for a reunion. The Graduates Association were Drinks On Us’. Make it happen! 6 IT Tallaght Graduates 2008/2009 Graduate Association News Christmas Reunion 2008 On Wednesday the 17th of December a small Christmas reunion was held in the new staffroom. Amidst Christmas tunes and decorations and a healthy amount of food and drink, a small but lively mix of staff and graduates whiled away a few festive hours. There was also enough food and drink left over to ensure the St. Vincent de Paul raffle had a nice injection of small prizes the following day, which was certainly appreciated by Sister Elizabeth and the St. Vincent de Paul. Thanks a mill to everyone who made the effort to attend. Drinks On Us! you have planned. You can also add whatever quirks you want to the event by talking with us. How do you get involved? There needs to be a minimum 25 people (with a minimum of 15 ex ITT Dublin students) to attend for this to go ahead so if you’re interested we need you to contact your Institute mates to come along and make it happen. If you mention the word free, it might help! As soon as you get confirmations, contact us at [email protected], suggest a date and we’ll go from there. These 25 people don’t have to be all from your group – there may be other groups Are you interested in meeting some of your old mates and we can combine to make up the 25.