The Conferring Addresses were given by Dr Edward Herring, Dean of Arts, NUI Galway, Professor Peter Woodman, Emeritus Professor of Archaeology, UCC and Mr Pat Roche, VP, Moog Limited (attached).

Conferring Address by Mr Pat Roche, VP, Moog Limited, December 11th 2009
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge your achievement. Each of you have worked hard to earn the degree that you received today. You deserve congratulations. In addition, we should not forget those that have supported your achievement: your loved ones, your friends and your families. It would be appropriate for each of you to acknowledge their support in the usual way.

It was just this summer that I attended a dinner at UCC to mark the 25th anniversary of my own graduation. Whilst sobering that so many years had passed, it was in some ways reassuring, familiar places and friends that really have not changed so much in all those years. For me, this milestone, helps to reflect on the journey that you are undertaking.

Whatever technical speciality that you have pursued, the process you have undergone has helped you to develop a set of key skills that, over the years, will enable you to fully exploit your potential. Some of the knowledge that you have learned will not be so relevant to you in 5 – 10 years time, but what will endure is your skills to uncover data, to critically analyse information and to extract meaning. Each of you now possess those skills and this will give you great freedom. The parchment that you hold acknowledges that you have those skills.

You have reached an important milestone today, but you should remember that this is just the start of the journey. As you apply your new found skills to real-world problems, with all the inherent constraints, you will continue to enhance your existing technical skills and develop a broader set of skills (decision making, prioritisation, ...). As your work experience develops, you will move from working on the periphery of teams, to being integral to those teams and eventually leading teams. Applying this evolving, rounded set of skills, you will begin to have a real impact on those around you. Your learning does not have an end – you will continue to learn either on the job or through further formal education. (that might seem like a chore now – but it allows you to recharge!)

Your parchment is your passport to future opportunities. It acknowledges that you have a set of core skills, which can be used in your chosen specialist area OR can be used in alternative areas of endeavour. You may apply your skills to build bridges (literally), or may move to the commercial world and analyse insurance markets. You have a portable set of skills AND you have the freedom to chose HOW to apply your skills. I know many science and engineering graduates that pursued careers in business, general management, finance, as well as engineering and science.
 
You may also consider WHERE to apply your skills. On graduating in the 80’s, the shortage of rewarding opportunities forced many to leave Ireland. Whilst it can initially be distressing for family and friends, it creates a unique learning opportunity for professional and personal development. I can strongly recommend the experience having spent several years in the The Netherlands and England. Such an exodus can have positive economic spin-offs, as witnessed by the return of our diaspora with new skills and new ideas in the ‘90s.

Your freedom of choice extends to the type of organisation or institution for which you work. No two organisations are the same, the company thorough its Board and management reflects a set of values and sets the culture and tone of the organisation. If that does not fit with your personal values and attitudes, you will find it a difficult and alien environment. If you can, chose an organisation that is a good fit for you. This is essential given that 8-12 hours of your days are going to be dedicated to work. In my case, I have worked for 6 different organisations, 2 multinationals, a consultancy, a state agency, and a start-up. The organisation for which I have worked for the last 10 years has been the best fit with my value system and it is for that reason that I enjoy my job. Work needs to be fun!

An integral part of any journey are the friends that you make along the way. Your network of professional relationships now includes your academic supervisors and year group. It is crucial that you maintain and build your network throughout your career. This should be no trouble to a generation living with Facebook, Twitter and other social networking tools. But it is really the quality of the relationships, not the quantity that is important. Knowing who you can call, for sound balanced advice is very powerful. If you can identify a trusted mentor from amongst your network, it will stand you in good stead. For many years, my professional mentor was the late Prof. John M.D. Murphy.  John has a profound influence on not just focussing my technical specialisation in early years, but in encouraging me to return to Ireland in the late ‘80s. Such relationships are founded on mutual trust and respect. Mentorship also provides you, in future years, an opportunity to give something back, in helping the development of others.

You are setting out on a long and uncharted journey. Your parchment is your passport, which will give you a wealth of choices. It is you that have earned that freedom. You will be rewarded with immense satisfaction, as you grow and develop your skills over the coming years. Use your new found freedom to identify a career that fires your passion. You have many options to consider: be that the role; the company or the country.
Whatever else, ENJOY the journey.  I wish you bon voyage.

ENDS
       
Picture: Mort Kelleher, who at 80 becomes the oldest graduate, was conferred with a BA Hons (oscail) degree with his wife Nora (left) and sister-in-law, Mary Fives at the Conferring Ceremonies.

Copyright: Evening Echo

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