Conferring Ceremonies at University College Cork – September 8th 2010
Click Picture to Enlarge
Conferring Ceremonies at University College Cork – September 8th 2010
08.09.2010

Conferring ceremonies continued today (September 8th 2010) at University College Cork with over 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students graduating from the College of Science, Engineering & Food Science.

The Conferring Addresses were delivered by Anne O’Leary, Executive Chairperson, Kinematik (attached) and Julie O’Neill, Vice-President & General Manager, Gilead Sciences Limited, Ireland.

Picture:  Eoghan Casey, BSc Hons (Microbiology) and Rory O'Neill , BSc Hons (Microbiology) who graduated today (September 8th 2010).

____________________

 

Conferring Address by Ms Anne O’Leary, Executive Chairman, Kinematik, 10am, 12.30pm, September 8th 2010
Well congratulations – you did it!  You have qualified with your masters or honours degree. That is no mean achievement – I remember back to when I was where you are now. It was a real milestone in my life. I have no doubt it is the same for you.  Well done!  Savour the moment. There is a world of opportunity out there for you to seize…..

Yes, we are in a recession and you may be thinking that this is a terrible time to graduate. You may be wondering why you bothered at all. Well … stop that way of thinking. You have graduated .. NOW .. so for you it has to be the best time ever to graduate. From here on – you have to believe that the only way is up.

 

I should know, when I graduated in the early 80's the unemployment rate was 15% and topped out at 18% in the mid 80’s (latest figures for 2010 puts it at 13.7%), we had mass emigration, nicely referred to as the “brain drain” and a severely overvalued currency zero economic growth (sounds familiar?).  Bank interest rates then were 17% so money was scarce just like now.  But you know, my graduation class might have been spread across the globe in the following years, but we survived .. in fact, we thrived.

My Grandfather used to say “Just remember nothing is ever as good as it seems and nothing is ever as bad as it seems either”.  Engineers aren’t known particularly for their literary references, but let’s say that “it is the best of times, it is the worst of times”.  It’s really down to you.

You have come through challenging times to get here today. The challenge intensifies and this is where all the real fun begins!!  In a recession, great things are born...great ideas generated...expectations are realistic and aspirations are always high....it’s a time when innovation and energy abound ... need is great catalyst.  When you’re low on money, creativity and courage are the currencies that count.  Necessity is the corner stone of great invention.

They told me I was crazy in 1990 when I started CADCO, but to me the changes that were happening with technology was like been part of the industrial revolution. It was an incredibly exciting time!! And fantastic to be part of it!!  The technology was finally allowing engineers to do what they were trained to do…design, innovate and create…not spend tedious hours at a drawing board.

The Sunday Business Post had just started in business then too and gave CADCO great coverage, which was fantastic for us and clearly they were short of positive news… So when my business partner was asked …for the 10th time…”so it’s quite unusual for a female engineer to set up in business, why?”… he glibly answered, “She couldn’t get the job she wanted so she decided to make her own”.  And he was right!!

And that is the same situation you find yourselves in today. When you have nothing to lose, you have more room to play, to let your imaginations run free, to create. When you have little to protect, you can take risks, you can fail often and without shame because failures abound, but you can be the ones who learn from each failure and have the courage to build that learning into your next risk taking venture.

Actually, now we’re getting on to something I’m quite passionate about… Failure… and yes, I know you are all incredibly successful graduates here today so why am I talking to you about failure? Because I absolutely believe that to achieve your dreams you have to have great courage.  And courage is not just doing something difficult to the best of your ability.  Courage is doing something that seriously scares you… well outside your comfort zone... but if you’re right, the rewards will be great and if you’re wrong... you’ll learn from it... grow and develop from it.

And I do still live by the “do something that really scares you…it’s good for you“ rule.  I’m here… and public speaking actually terrifies me!!

I have very few rules in business… but it’s NOT… Never Make Mistakes.  It’s Never Make The Same Mistake Twice!!  Being honest, I firmly believe that if you have not had some failures in your business life, then you’re just not trying hard enough.  And playing it too safe never pays off!

As I’m sure you know, you also have an absurdly useful tool at your disposal – the internet.  You are lucky enough to be graduating into what has been termed the knowledge revolution.  When I graduated, the person who had access to the information was in serious demand.  Now you all have access to more information than you can possibly digest.  Tomorrow those in demand will be those who can design ways of connecting consumers to the information they need, when they need it and in ways that make it useful, who demonstrate the relevance of that information, in other words, those who transform information into knowledge.

That’s what you have been learning to do for the last 4/5 years.  You have been learning to be creative.  You have been learning to apply the available information in solving problems and constructing knowledge that leads to creative solutions. Creativity is at the heart of the disciplines of engineering and science. By training in those disciplines you have been empowered. You have learned the skills, the processes, the procedures that enable you to capture information, distil it and transform it into knowledge. These skills are invaluable, so a nod to your long-suffering faculty might be in order at this point.

By using that knowledge to solve the problems that confront you, you create solutions. You make things better, faster, cheaper, easier, more accessible, more friendly to the environment, more sustainable. You enrich your society and your nation by improving the quality of life for everyone. You reshape your world.

But we accomplish nothing alone. Your ability to build networks with other professionals will be key to your success.  Look around you.  Everyone in a gown here today is now part of your network. 

Today you have a bond that will always be with you.  If you play your cards right, you can keep some of these extraordinary people as part of your network.  Use it.  Harness its energy.  Share ideas.  Liaise. Create. Facebook, Linkedin – these are your new best friends. The faces around you are the faces of the future decision makers, the business owners and managers, the entrepreneurs. These people can form a family, a safe place where you can discuss options, learn, assist, mentor and guide and be guided through your ever developing career paths!! 

 I may have spent most of my career working with technology, and some may say my iPhone is never out of my hand but there is one thing I have learned, and it’s this. No amount of Facebook messaging can replace the human connection, and no email asking for advice can replace the delight of the flashbulb moment that can sometimes only arise from the 2 am brainstorming session.  Keep in touch personally.  Make yourself available whenever you can to those who seek your counsel, and you’ll never find yourself short of people to turn to when it is your time to seek advice. And remember never be afraid to ASK for that help!!

This is your time. This is your opportunity. As a scientist or an engineer, your task is nothing less than to make the world a better place. It is your turn to take on the mantle, your time to reinterpret and reshape this world that your parents are handing on to you. It is an exciting time to be in your position. Courage Creativity and Conscience …Never sell yourselves short.  Be brave and be inspired.  And most of all have fun!!

Congratulations, class of 2010!

__________________

 

Conferring Address by Ms Julie O'Neill, Vice-President & General Manager, Gilead Sciences Limited - Ireland, 3.30pm, September 8th 2010
President, Professor Fitzpatrick, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen and conferees: it is an honour for me to be with you this afternoon and to have the opportunity to say a few words of congratulation and encouragement to the class of 2010.  Thank you for the invitation to share this very special occasion with you.

Graduates, this ceremony marks a key milestone in your lives.  It signals the end of a successful journey and the culmination of several years of hard work and effort, hopefully mixed with enjoyment and fun along the way. I am sure you have learned many things here at UCC, had exciting new experiences and made lasting friendships. I am also sure that there have been periods of worry and angst - possibly even a few tears here and there - as you worked hard to earn the degree conferred on you here today.

But you’ve done it! You’ve made it! You are a graduate of University College Cork and the proud bearer of a Bachelor of Science honours degree. This is the day when all of the long hours of study, the trips to the library in the rain and the dozens of exams become worth it. It is the day when your ample ability and hard work is duly acknowledged. And most importantly, it is the day when you can proudly and publicly share your achievements with all of the friends and relatives who have supported you through your academic career. You have done yourselves and your families proud and I congratulate you wholeheartedly on all that you have achieved.

It is heartening and rewarding to see you proudly collecting your parchments because, as a Governor of UCC, I see day to day the extraordinary level of work and dedication that staff and management put into making your learning experience the best it can be. I am sure that your college lecturers and tutors are extremely proud of your achievements. All of us sincerely hope that your time at UCC has been happy and fulfilled, both academically and personally. And we know that you will do UCC proud as you move into a career or into further study.

I myself am somewhat of a hybrid product of the Irish university system. I initially graduated from Trinity College with a degree in Pharmacy before, a couple of years later, completing a Masters of Business Administration at UCD. Not content to stop there, I subsequently became a member of the governing body of UCC (and it is in that capacity that I am speaking to you today) while forging a career in business in the pharmaceutical industry.

Graduates, you are leaving university at a very tough time and I have no doubt that some of you are worried about your futures and whether you will be able to find work. I can only say this by way of reassurance. I, and many of my friends, faced a similar situation in 1989 when we left college. It was a very tough time in Ireland, with very high unemployment and what looked like a bleak future ahead.  Many young people had no choice but to emigrate. Others had to find work in industries they never expected to be in. But we survived. And in time we thrived.

I would like to tell you why I think that is.  I work in a multinational organisation, and I know that Irish employees are highly regarded all over the world for their ablity and commitment in whichever department or discipline they choose to work. They are recognised for four core strengths: excellence, agility, flexibility and accountability: I believe that if you can foster these four characteristics in coming years, you will be able to overcome any challenges that come your way and achieve success in your professional and, indeed, your personal life.

Excellence is achieved by applying your technical knowledge and best efforts to every situation you encounter. Always strive for excellence, and you will improve a little every day. Agility and flexibility will help you to navigate today’s fast moving working world. Companies change quickly as they respond to dynamic market environments and new customer demands.   Don’t be afraid to take on new challenges because some of the best opportunities come from uncertainty and change. Finally, strive for accountability. Be prepared to take the initiative and to do the right thing.  Be bold in your views, challenge the status quo and be sure that your voice is heard. Don’t be afraid to speak up and to take responsibility for your own mistakes or successes. These are the strengths that make Irish employees among the most respected and sought after in the world.

As you leave here today, there are many options open to you. Some of you may decide to continue with your studies, and will become specialists in your field with even stronger qualifications. Some will find work here in Ireland, and eventually move through the ranks gaining experience, new knowledge and forging a long career. Others will seek work outside of Ireland, as the number of job opportunities is somewhat limited at the moment. But remember that, back in the 1980s and 90s, very many Irish graduates went abroad. They found work in the US, Australia and Europe and acquired new skills, languages and experiences that shaped them into rounded professionals. They were promoted within big global corporations, giving them the chance to travel the world while building solid careers. In the end, many of them returned to Ireland, bringing their skills and international experiences with them, and they became extremely successful in Irish business.

In today’s global job market, travel and international experience is almost inevitable in any field that you enter. It’s not easy to make the decision to leave friends and family and travel abroad for work but, if you must do so, don’t see it as a negative. Rather see the upside of the world of opportunity that lies out there and remember that, many years from now, your career will have blossomed perhaps in a direction that you never expected it would take. Don’t be afraid to face new challenges and to make the very best of any situation you find yourself in. We all live with uncertainty; what matters is how you manage it.

Finally, as you take full responsibility for yourself and your career, don’t forget to thank those who have helped and supported you along the way. While I don’t normally give advice, today I would urge you all to say a special word of thanks to your parents and families – those that have been your most ardent supporters and helped you through thick and thin. And even though you have reached a landmark today, your family will continue to support you in good times and bad. I know the counsel that my parents have given me in the 20 years since my own graduation has served me well – even if, at times it was not always welcome!

I have no doubt that all of you have a bright future ahead of you. With hard work and a willingness to adapt, you will find the niche that suits you best. It is refreshing to see degrees being conferred in such a wide range of subjects: from rural development to food science to mathematics. I see that a small number of you have even studied astrophysics – but I know that all of you are reaching for the stars.

Graduates, when I left university in 1989 I didn’t know what lay ahead and my career has taken many turns as I have worked my way through the pharmaceutical industry. Today, I am privileged to head up an organization in Ireland dedicated to the provision of life saving therapies to address unmet medical needs, principally therapies for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. I am fortunate to have found a rewarding career, to have achieved success and to be able to stand here today and offer encouragement to you, the next generation of Ireland’s scientists and development experts. I hope that your future holds even greater happiness and success, and I wish you all the very, very best for the future.

1541MMcS



<<Previous ItemNext Item>>

« Back to 2010 Press Releases