Prof Leinonen, Raissa Borges De Jesus, Raiane Borges De Jesus
More than 4,000 new grads join MU alumni community
Maynooth University conferred more than 4,000 graduates with a range of degrees and diplomas at undergraduate and postgraduate level in virtual and on-campus ceremonies during the year.
The events marked the first conferring for several new programmes, including a Higher Diploma in Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience, a Bachelor of Business Studies International Business (International), Postgraduate Diplomas in Higher Education, Teaching and Assessment, History, and in Business Analytics, and a Master of Social Science (Social Work). In total, over 2,542 degrees and 697 diplomas were conferred. Additionally, 740 Masters degrees and 44 Doctorates were conferred across 19 ceremonies during the year.
At the last conferring ceremony of his presidency, Professor Philip Nolan congratulated graduates as they embarked on their life journey:
“These are the final graduation ceremonies for me at Maynooth University. I have had the privilege of conferring degrees on over 45,000 graduates - each one of you now making a way anew in the world, empowered by your education. And it’s one of the great pleasures of my life to meet our graduates.
In total,
degrees and
diplomas, masters degrees and doctorates were conferred
I meet you all the time, in many walks of life and I am so impressed, so uplifted, by your ability, your ambition, your optimism, your concern, to use your education, collectively, to make the world a better place.”
Taking the presidential baton from Professor Nolan on 1st October incoming president Professor Eeva Leinonen officiated her first conferring ceremony at MU on 27th October and the first on-campus ceremonies since the pandemic began.
I meet you all the time, in many walks of life and I am so impressed, so uplifted, by your ability, your ambition, your optimism, your concern, to use your education, collectively, to make the world a better place
“Moments like this can pass all too quickly, and their true meaning and full importance can slip past us unconsidered. Let us not let that happen, as your achievements are simply extraordinary, and even more so given the context in which you have completed your studies, a global pandemic, that has changed many of our lives beyond recognition. You have all shown most extraordinary resilience, creativity and humanity,” Prof Leinonen said.
“I was in Australia, with no Covid in the community, for the past 18 months.
I was in awe, hearing what you went through. What touched me most was the spirit in which you confronted the challenge. You looked out for your loved ones; you looked after others in your community. This is a very special thing about Ireland - your community matters and you look after each other. It is something to be truly cherished. I urge you, as you venture from our beautiful campus, do hold onto that sense of empathy for one another. It will stand you well.”