SETU hosted a cross-disciplinary Work Placement and Employability Fair for students on our Summerhill Road Campus on 15 October 2026, with regional and national companies.
The event offered employers the opportunity to connect with a talented pool of students from SETU's business programmes, the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Tourism & Event Management and the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sustainable Farm Management & Agribusiness.
The students who attended the fair came with clear goals in mind: third-year students were seeking professional placement opportunities beginning in January 2027 and final-year students explored graduate career opportunities commencing from May 2027. Professional Practice Placement is an integral element of SETU programmes, empowering students to connect theory to practice in a meaningful way, while enhancing their technical, social and green skills.
The companies invited to participate in the event recruit SETU graduates from a range of degree programmes. In their 'Preparation for Placement' module, students are advised to ‘never judge an opportunity by the name of the company’, and this rang true at the fair. Students from all programmes queued patiently to speak to the Tirlán representative about the dynamic internship and graduate opportunities available across all functional areas of the company.
SETU was also delighted to welcome Specialisterne Ireland, a specialist consultancy supporting neurodivergent people (autistic, ADHD, dyspraxia/DCD, dyslexia) into employment, to the fair. The transition into placement and graduate employment is exciting and daunting in equal measure; the Specialisterne team are empowering neurodivergent people to thrive in their roles, making companies and workplaces more inclusive.
The success of the Work Placement and Employability Fair reflects SETU's continued commitment to enhancing graduate employability through meaningful collaboration with industry partners. By facilitating direct engagement between students and employers, the event provided valuable opportunities for career exploration, professional networking and workforce preparation. Such initiatives play a vital role in supporting students as they transition from higher education to employment, while further strengthening SETU's partnerships with organisations across a diverse range of sectors.
