It is the largest annual military graduation from a higher education institution to take place in Ireland. Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for Defence, attended the ceremony.
“As Minister of State for Defence, I want to commend and congratulate the members of our Defence Forces graduating from SETU today. Lifelong learning is integral to personal development, and it is heartening to see the great value that our Defence Forces places on education.
I encourage others to consider a career in the Defence Forces, which offers a ‘life less ordinary’, along with diverse opportunities, structured training and lifelong learning. I welcome the ongoing collaborative partnership between the Defence Forces and SETU and I want to take this opportunity to thank the staff and management of SETU.”
Thomas Byrne TD, Minister of State for Defence.
Speaking at the ceremony, Professor Veronica Campbell, President of SETU, said, “The Defence Forces ceremony holds a distinctive place within this week of celebration at out University. As the number of graduates and programmes grow, and so too does the strength of our connection with Óglaigh na hÉireann.”
“At SETU, it is our huge privilege to play our part in supporting the educational achievements of serving members, knowing that the ongoing upskilling and development of our Defence Forces are vital in creating and maintaining stability both nationally and globally,” Prof. Campbell continued.
“I have every confidence that our graduates will respond to the challenges of today and make your unique and lasting contribution to society. You have proven that your knowledge and curiosity for learning is underpinned by resilience and empathy. These traits will guide you, sustain you, and help you shape a better world."
Professor Veronica Campbell, SETU President.
Prof. Campbell concluded by acknowledging the contribution of SETU’s Extended Campus Office led by Dr Frances Hardiman, Anne Meaney, and the Defence Forces Registrar’s Office, led by Lieutenant Colonel Colin Lawlor, whose commitment and collaborative efforts have made this partnership possible.
“I am very proud of all our deserved graduates today. These awards are a culmination of what has been a very challenging and rewarding process. Lifelong learning is one of the key tenets of a career in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces values and promotes education opportunities and supports the concept of “life-long learning” whereby personnel are encouraged to up-skill continuously so that they can adapt to the complex and challenging demands of military operations and deliver effective military capability.”
Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces.
“I would like to thank SETU’s President, Professor Veronica Campbell and her dedicated team of academics and administrators as well as our own instructors and support staff in the military college and across the Defence Forces for their work in the delivery of high-quality education experiences to members of the Defence Forces,” Lt Col Mulcahy concluded.
SETU’s collaborative partnership with the Defence Forces began in 2012. Since then, over 2,300 military personnel have received awards from the University. The relationship is founded on a collaborative approach to lifelong learning between organisations.
At this year’s ceremony, students received awards in Leadership, Management and Defence Studies (LMDS) across certificate, bachelors, and master’s levels. Awards were also achieved at master’s level in Communications Technology Management and Military Engineering Management, as well as in Ordnance, Munitions and Explosives Engineering.
The LMDS programme remains the most popular academic course within the Defence Forces, with currently over 2,000 graduates.
A Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway for this programme was developed to enable serving and retired personnel to earn academic awards based on their experiential learning during their military service, nine of whom were conferred with awards this year.
The partnership is an excellent example of ongoing professional development through higher education, supporting members to meet their personal and professional potential with curriculums specifically designed to develop the necessary skills and competencies for their military career.
The ceremony was attended by Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health, Public Health, Well Being and the National Drugs Strategy; Cynthia NiMhurchu, MEP, Major General Colm O’Luasa; and officers and personnel from the Defence Forces.