University of Limerick and Dogpatch Labs, a leading startup hub in Ireland, have announced a new partnership to provide computer science students with real-world experience.
UL’s Immersive Software Engineering programme is collaborating with the company to offer students the opportunity to work on their own business ideas or with startups affiliated with Dogpatch Labs.
These include the Founders Talent Accelerator, HBAN, and Ireland’s national startup accelerator (NDRC) operated by Dogpatch Labs, RDI Hub in Kerry, Republic of Work in Cork and Portershed in Galway.
The Immersive Software Engineering programme is widely recognised as one of Europe’s premier software engineering courses. Its core emphasis on practical experience strives to nurture exceptional students.
The programme allows ISE students to benefit from alternating blocks of academic study and full-time work, enabling them to refine their career paths, establish valuable industry connections, broaden their perspectives, and acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed—all while stepping outside of the traditional classroom environment.
Designed in collaboration with industry leaders, the programme encompasses guidance from the ISE's Industry Advisory Board, headed by esteemed figures such as John Collison, President of Stripe; Des Traynor, Chief Strategy Officer at Intercom; and Bobby Healy, CEO of Manna Aero.
With over fifty industry partners, the newly established partnership with Dogpatch Labs offers unique access to the world of entrepreneurship and innovation, as Dogpatch Labs operates as a crucial gateway to the startup ecosystem.
UL students will access exclusive talks from world-class founders, work on real-life engineering projects with startups, and will also be given the space, mentorship and resources to work on their own startup ideas.
Professor Stephen Kinsella, ISE Co-Director and Head of the Department of Economics at the Kemmy Business School in UL, explained: “Immersive Software Engineering is about creating Europe’s best software engineers. Some of them will work in the best companies. Some of them will create the best companies, and that is what our partnership with Dogpatch Labs will help to build.
“We are excited to work with everyone at Dogpatch Labs and the Patch youth accelerator to make these new companies a reality.”
Expressing excitement about the partnership, Patrick Walsh, CEO of Dogpatch Labs, said: “We are excited to work with University of Limerick and the ISE programme to open up the dynamic world of startups to future software engineers. Our collaboration is set to provide these students with a well-rounded education that spans beyond traditional lectures and corporate internships, delving deep into the heart of innovation and entrepreneurship.”
The partnership between University of Limerick and Dogpatch Labs will provide students with unparalleled real-world experience that spans beyond traditional lectures and corporate internships. By integrating academic rigour with practical, hands-on experiences, this programme is set to transform the way students learn and apply software engineering principles significantly impacting students' future careers in software engineering and entrepreneurship.
This also illustrates a clear example of the “flywheel effect” in the startup ecosystem; with many of the talented ISE students being Patch Alumni (a youth accelerator run out of Dogpatch Labs), creating an ideal future pipeline for Founders Talent Accelerator, a new pathway to tech entrepreneurship for those with huge “founder potential”, offering participants the opportunity to find a co-founder and pitch for €100K pre-seed investment in a 12-week programme.