The ‘Class of 2019’ received their graduation awards at the Institute of Technology, Tralee’s Conferring of Awards Ceremonies on Friday.

This year’s graduation marked a particularly special occasion for IT Tralee with all conferring ceremonies taking place at the newly opened Kerry Sports Academy, a state-of-the-art sports facility that is home to the Health & Leisure Department and the Sports Programme at IT Tralee.

Bríd McElligott, Vice President of Research, Development and External Engagement commented, “Today marks a momentous occasion for the graduates of the IT Tralee who along with their family and friends will celebrate this superb occasion at our newly opened Kerry Sports Academy. Developed at a cost of €19m, it is wonderful that the IT Tralee can now host its graduation ceremonies on site and we look forward to welcoming our graduates and their guests to celebrate their exceptional achievement on campus.”

This year’s graduating classes includes students from the School of Business, Computing and Humanities, the School of Hotel, Culinary Arts and Tourism, and the School of Health and Social Sciences and represent direct CAO applicants, mature students, international students, and those completing studies on a part-time basis.

The total number of students receiving their parchments on Friday is 1,030 ranging from Higher Certificates at Level 6 to Masters Degrees at Level 9, and includes the first cohort of students from the Level 8 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Animation, Visual Effects and Motion Design.

Testament to the multicultural diversity at IT Tralee, this figure also includes 297 International students who hail from Canada, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Jamaica, among other countries. Also included in this number is 283 graduates from programmes completed through IT Tralee’s Lifelong Learning department, with the first graduates coming through the Higher Certificate in Engineering in Engineering Technology. Courses offered through Lifelong Learning are developed in close consultation with industry to meet skills shortages and provide opportunity for job seekers or returners to gain fully accredited third level qualifications, and for existing employees to enhance their qualifications or gain a new qualification to advance careers.

Acting President of the Institute, Dr Brendan O Donnell, paid tribute to all graduates and their families for what they have achieved, “Conferring Ceremonies are a time for great celebration and the highlight of IT Tralee’s Academic calendar. Today, we congratulate all of our graduates, their families and friends and recognise the hard work and dedication that led to this moment. This is the beginning of a new chapter in our graduates’ lives as they go forth into the workforce and continue their career journeys.”