Dylan O’Donnell, a graduate of SETU’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) in IT Management, was awarded his degree at SETU’s conferring ceremonies in Carlow.
Alongside the huge achievement of graduating, Dylan will present his final-year project, entitled ‘A Fast-Track Way to Identify Derelict and Vacant Homes for Refurbishment,’ at Dáil Éireann. His project was selected for Póstaeir san Oireachtas 2025, earning national recognition.
Through the project, Dylan developed a system using smartphone LiDAR and photogrammetry to help local councils identify and assess empty properties more efficiently. The system creates accurate 3D models in minutes, helping authorities make faster, data-driven decisions about which buildings can be refurbished and reused.
“I’m excited and honoured to present my project in the Dáil for Póstaeir san Oireachtas 2025. It’s a great chance to show how smartphone LiDAR and photogrammetry can help tackle Ireland’s housing challenges by bringing vacant homes back into use faster and supporting vibrant communities.”
Dylan O’Donnell.
Technology with real-world impact
Dylan’s academic journey is defined by curiosity, creativity, and a drive to use technology for real-world impact. Graduating from SETU’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) in IT Management, he reflected on how his time shaped both his technical skills and his understanding of how technology can help to solve public challenges.
"I wanted a balance between technology and strategy, something that connected systems, cloud, and cybersecurity, with real business impact."
Dylan O’Donnell.
Dylan highlighted that SETU’s IT Management degree offered exactly that, a programme that showed how technology can make a real-world difference.
A degree relevant to industry
When choosing a course of study, Dylan was eager to pursue a degree that offered both practical learning and industry relevance. During his studies, he interned at State Street in Kilkenny as an Infrastructure Engineer, focusing on automation and system monitoring.
“My experience at State Street helped me see how the systems we studied in class operated at scale in a professional environment. This alongside our academic study built my technical confidence and opened the door to a career in cloud and security engineering,” said Dylan.
He credited much of his success to the hands-on labs, research opportunities, and the supportive teaching environment. “The lecturers encouraged us to think independently and explore new ideas. That freedom to experiment and problem-solve was one of the best parts of the course,” he remarked.
Purpose-driven progress
Since completing his studies at SETU, Dylan has begun working as a Junior Cloud and Security Engineer at HealthBeacon.
"I am thrilled to begin my career at Health Beacon. My experience at SETU has given me the confidence to enter the next chapter. I look forward to combining creativity with technology in my future roles; whether it’s housing, healthcare, or sustainability. I want to keep building solutions that make a real impact."
Dylan O’Donnell.
Building on the foundation Dylan developed at SETU, he continues to push the boundaries of what technology can achieve. His story shows how curiosity, purpose, and a strong academic foundation can combine to create real-world progress and inspire positive change.
