University of Limerick marked another first this Tuesday as three different levels of apprentice students graduated from supply chain programmes.
There was a unique occasion at UL’s Winter Conferring as three levels of apprentice students spanning from diploma, degree to masters in Supply Chain Management and Operations were conferred.
More than 1,900 students in total – including 77 PhDs – are being conferred this week as part of the University’s graduation ceremonies, taking place over three days.
Apprentices graduating from the Supply Chain Associate Diploma, Supply Chain Specialist Degree and Supply Chain Manager Masters programmes received their parchments from UL President Professor Kerstin Mey on Tuesday morning.
The conferring marked the first ever national graduation for the Supply Chain Associate Apprenticeship programme.
Responding to the growing popularity and diversity of apprenticeship options, UL is the first university in Ireland to offer higher-level apprenticeships and it is the first in the world to offer an apprenticeship at doctorate level.
The Supply Chain apprenticeship programme is delivered interfaculty via Science and Engineering and Education and Health Sciences.
These programmes were developed by a consortium of industry leads in partnership with IPICS - The Supply Chain Management Institute, the National Apprenticeship Office and SOLAS. This pathway presents the opportunity for new and existing employees to upskill with options to study Supply Chain from diploma, degree, masters and doctorate.
Included among the ranks of graduates were three employees of global medical devices company TE Connectivity, who were conferred with awards at all three levels.
Daniel Cowman, Dominika Maleinska and Brian McCarthy were among those being conferred today in UL’s Supply Chain apprenticeship programme.
Elaine Butler, Apprenticeships Programme Manager in UL’s Flexible Learning Unit, emphasised the importance of industry collaboration to the programme.
“Offering flexible and industry-relevant pathways for working professionals is crucial for advancing both the individuals and the industry as a whole,” she explained.
“We are proud to support the upskilling of these professionals with this unique apprenticeship programme. Knowledge and skills must flow both ways between academia and industry to remain responsive to the evolving landscape of business and enterprise.
“This collaboration is essential for fostering innovation, preparing a skilled workforce, and driving economic development. As we celebrate a total of 38 students graduating at all levels of our Supply Chain apprenticeship programme, it’s not only a personal achievement for the graduates themselves but also a milestone in the collaborative efforts of academia and industry in advancing skills and knowledge in the field of Supply Chain Management.”
This upskilling pathway at UL aligns with TE Connectivity’s commitment to nurturing employee professional growth and development opportunities.
Nicola O’Connell, Learning and Development Lead at the medical devices company which is based outside of Galway City, highlighted the importance of upskilling in an ever-changing global business.
“At TE, we believe in developing our people and place emphasis on upskilling. The apprenticeship model has a huge amount to offer our organisation as it allows our employees to learn on the job with us and from industry experts in the field of supply chain at the university.”
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Daniel Cowman, who was conferred with a Diploma in Supply Chain Management, said the industry-focused programme had allowed him to enhance his skills and apply them directly to some of the company projects he has worked on.
“This qualification has given me great insight into the supply chain industry while allowing me to apply my new skills to certain projects at work,” he explained.
Graduating with an honours BSc in Supply Chain Management, Dominika Maleinska came from Poland to Ireland in 2007 and has worked at TE Connectivity since 2010. She said the graduation had aided her journey of self-development and new skills.
“Today's graduation is the culmination of my hard work and dedication. It represents new knowledge in supply chain management and a journey of personal growth and developing new skills to serve as a foundation for my future.”
Brian McCarthy, who received his Masters in Supply Chain Operations, said: “I returned to learning because my organisation encourages upskilling, and I also had a personal ambition to develop my skills and knowledge in this field. Continuous professional learning is necessary in the rapidly changing global supply chain environment.”
Mid-West Regional Skills Manager Joe Leddin told the new apprentice graduates: “Today you are an ambassador for the apprenticeship model of learning. On behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education who are funding these apprenticeships go out and tell your friends and family that apprenticeships are not just in traditional trades like carpentry and block laying and this unique programme here in University of Limerick is an example of that.”
