Graduates Conor Daly, Sarah Hogan and Wesley Demaine share their experiences studying the Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Business Information Systems (BIS).
Conor Daly
Recent graduate Conor shared his thoughts on why he chose to study the BIS programme at SETU: “The course provided an excellent balance between business and technology. This helped me develop strong analytical, problem-solving, and digital transformation skills that can be applied across multiple industries.”
The projects Conor worked on during his studies played a huge role in his experience: “I completed a range of projects covering topics such as data analytics, machine learning, information security, and data modelling. This gave me a real appreciation for how technology can drive innovation and efficiency in organisations. These experiences gave me confidence in working on complex, real-world challenges.”
A highlight of his time at SETU, Conor took part in the ALONE community support initiative. “As part of this project, we hosted digital skills drop-in clinics, providing one-to-one assistance to older adults with their technological devices. Our group was honoured to receive the Garda Youth Award in 2025 in recognition of our community impact through this work,” Conor explained.
For his work placement semester, Conor worked at State Street Kilkenny on the Investor Distributor Services team. “The responsibilities of the role included managing incoming queries and requests from clients and investors, responding within agreed timeframes and adherence to SLAs. I found work experience highly beneficial, not only in strengthening my skills and CV, but also in developing confidence and personal growth,” Conor praised.
Since graduating, Conor has completed Phase 1 of Enterprise Ireland’s New Frontiers Programme (NFP) in the Xcelerate Business Incubation Labs at SETU’s West Campus. “I have always wanted to start my own business and the New Frontiers Programme is ideal for first-time founders who want to build their start-up toolkit, learn about the Irish start-up ecosystem, and grow their professional network,” Conor explained, “I have also received an offer to complete a Master’s programme and a Graduate Programme with a multinational based in Waterford. Whichever option I choose, the BIS course has provided me with multiple pathways for my future career.”
Sarah Hogan
Graduate Sarah Hogan knew BIS was the right choice course for her when she saw how quickly technology is changing: “I always knew I wanted to study business, but as I got older, I became increasingly aware of how rapidly technology was changing the world around us. I saw this first-hand in my family’s shop, where digital systems were transforming how everyday tasks were done. That’s when I knew I wanted to pursue a course that combined both business and technology. BIS at SETU was the perfect fit.”
Practical work experience shaped Sarah’s studies. “Throughout my degree, I had incredible opportunities to put my learning into practice. I completed an eight-week internship with KPMG Dublin in the Tax Department, where I developed strong skills in communication, teamwork, and data analysis. I later joined the Glanbia Ireland’s Innovation and Collaboration Centre in Kilkenny for my flexible semester work placement in year three. I worked as a Digital Finance Intern, gaining valuable experience across accounting and digital transformation.”
A highlight to her experience was partnering with ALONE. “Something that really stood out to me during the course was taking part in a project with ALONE, a charity working with older people in our community. Our team worked with older people to help them become more comfortable using technology in their everyday lives through a series of weekly free Digital Skills Clinics in the Carrickphierish Library in Waterford. It was so rewarding to see how small bits of guidance could make a big difference, and our efforts were even recognised when we received the Garda Youth Group Award 2025.”
Reflecting on her time at SETU, Sarah concluded: “Looking back, BIS truly prepared me for a career I’m passionate about.”
Wesley Demaine
BIS graduate Wesley Demaine is now working for Tirlán, as Information Technology Business Analyst on Tirlán’s graduate programme.
Studying the BIS programme at SETU gave Wesley “a strong foundation” in undertaking his new role. “The course provided the perfect mix of business and technical modules, which helped me understand how companies, such as Tirlán operate as well as equipping me with the skills to solve real-world IT issues,” Wesley said.
Discussing his highlight of studying at SETU, Wesley shared: “One of the highlights of the course was the work placement with the Glanbia Global Technology Centre in Kilkenny. It gave me practical experience and the opportunity to utilise my skills in an employment setting. That helped me decide what kind of work I wanted to pursue and eventually led to my position at Tirlán.”
Wesley now works as an IT Business Analyst on the IT Applications team. “I’m involved in several major projects, including rolling out a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system into different parts of the business. My role involves close cooperation with stakeholders and end users, assisting with implementation and testing of the new system. The knowledge I gained during my degree and placement has been essential to my role thus far,” said Wesley.
