MORE THAN 65 per cent of recent graduates from the University of Limerick (UL) secured employment despite the economic downturn.
The university’s president, Prof Don Barry, told a conferring ceremony yesterday that UL has one of the highest employment rates for students and is also ranked first in Ireland for degree completion. More than 240 students graduated from the faculty of science and engineering yesterday. This week the university will present a total of 1,500 awards of which 46 are PhDs. Prof Barry highlighted the importance of the university’s research agenda in developing Ireland as Europe’s leading smart economy.
“Given the national priority attributed to advanced research, I am very pleased that a total of 46 PhDs are being awarded this week. University research is vital in today’s economic climate. It is essential that we continue to exceed international benchmarks in the delivery of high quality, relevant research that will continue to attract foreign direct investment.”
In total, four university campus companies have been set up over the past three years, attracting more than €30 million in investment funding. These companies employ over 70 people locally at graduate and PhD level.
Research income during the year amounted to €40 million from industrial partners and agencies such as Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the HEA and the EU.