A specialist Masters is now a highly sought after qualification both by those getting ready to launch their careers and potential employers. At WIT School of Business we offer the MBS programme as a platform to build your own unique degree, based on your business interests, and career ambitions. Students choose which discipline to specialise in - Marketing, Human Resource Management, Management and Economics and Finance. This approach is unique both in terms of the breadth of the subject coverage and the depth of subject expertise with options from Monetary Economics to Business Simulation. A key feature of the programme is that it sets the theories into a wider practical perspective, through the use of seminars, case studies and interactive workshops.

1. by margaret o'brien
A
mongst the most
popular masters
programmes
availableatMay-
noothUniversity
arethoseofferedbytheSchool
of Business.
Three programmes sure to
attract plenty of interest this
year are MSc Business Man-
agementandMScIT-enabled
Innovation, both available to
graduates without formal
qualificationsinbusiness;and
MScStrategyandInnovation,
which is targeted at business
graduates.
All three are available on
a full or part-time basis. For
those with significant busi-
nessexperience,itispossible
to apply for entry without a
primary degree.
Peter McNamara, head of
theSchoolofBusinessatMay-
nooth University, said: “Our
MScBusinessManagementis
abusinessconversioncourse
aimed at students with a
non-businessprimarydegree
to provide a grounding in the
majordisciplinesofbusiness.
“SomefeaturesoftheMay-
nooth programme differ sig-
nificantly to other business
conversion programmes.
“Forexample,everystudent
willhavealivebusinessproj-
ectaddressingaproblemthat
oneofourpartnerbusinesses
needstobeaddressed–abusi-
ness where they are placed.
Thisistheiropportunitytoput
thetheorylearnedintheearly
stages of the programme into
practice.
“Our partner businesses
rangefromlargemultination-
alstosmallfirms.Studentson
theprogrammebidforwhich
project they would like to
work on and the university
and company then allocate
projects,” said McNamara.
With around 30 students
per class, this is quite a lo-
gistical feat, but McNamara
said it is very worthwhile not
leastbecauseit’swhatsetsthe
programmeapartfromand,in
hisview,aheadofcompetitor
programmes.
“Graduates of this pro-
gramme go on to work in a
wide range of businesses,”
said McNamara. “For exam-
ple, a recent graduate with a
BAinGeographyandEnglish
went on to become a project
officer with Aer Rianta while
anotherwithaprimarydegree
in Law and European studies
nowworksfortheglobalsoft-
ware company SAP.”
The MSc IT-Enabled In-
novation is another enticing
programme.
It was developed in re-
sponse to the work of the In-
stituteforValueInnovationat
Maynooth University, which
is a partnership of over 80
companiesincludingITgiants
suchasIntelandITuserslike
Boston Consulting Group.
“This programme brings
to life practical IT problems
withintheclassroomanden-
suresthatitisablendofprac-
tice and academic insights,
toolsandtechniquesthatcan
work in the real world, ” said
McNamara.
“Thisisnotaprogrammeto
develop stand-alone techni-
cal information technology
specialists, instead it aims to
add value by developing ca-
pacity amongst participants
to understand how IT oper-
ates both as a function and
asakeyinterrelatedresource
within an organisation. This
involves understanding peo-
ple,workprocesses,relation-
ships,organisationstructures,
organisation strategies, and
howalloftheseimpactonand
are impacted by IT.”
IT Enabled Innovation
is open to a business or
non-business degree hold-
ers; you do not need prior IT
knowledge.Alreadythisnew
programme is attracting an
atypical cohort.
“We have a student who
works for EY in Frankfurt,
who flies in for lectures. He
is highly experienced, yet
recognises that the learning
on this programme will give
him an edge when it comes
to delivering IT in a way that
adds value,” said McNamara.
Meanwhile, the popular
MSc Strategy and Innovation
is for business graduates.
Those with experience in
business can apply and enter
theprogrammeonthatbasis.
McNamara explained that
the programme of study is
different to other masters
programmes as classes are
concentrated into a 3-day
block (Tuesday to Friday).
“It’saveryintensivelearn-
ing experience that seeks to
improvedecision-makingand
building personal leadership
capabilities. In essence, par-
ticipants learn how to trans-
form a business through in-
novation.”
MaynoothUniversityenjoys
easyaccessfromtheM4/M50
andconsequentlyattractsstu-
dentsfromawidegeographic
base.
For more information on
postgraduateopportunitiesat
the School of Business, con-
tact: business@nuim.ie
Industrypartnersaid
Maynoothbusiness
masterscourses
TheSunday BusinessPost
March13,2016
30Focus On: Postgraduate & 4th Level Education
I
nrecentyears,Waterford
Institute of Technology
(WIT) has responded
proactively to the eco-
nomic downturn, par-
ticularly in terms of engage-
ment with Springboard and
other labour market activi-
sation initiatives.
WIThasgainedconsidera-
bleexpertiseinunderstanding
theneedsofadultlearnersand
establishing the appropriate
supportstructurestoenhance
the student’s learning expe-
rience.
According to Professor
Denis Harrington, head of
graduate business, WIT, “The
postgraduate business pro-
grammes at WIT have been
developedwithastrongfocus
on applied learning, showing
students how they can make
theconnectionsbetweenthe-
ory and practice. The courses
aim to provide students with
a strong analytical under-
standing of general finance,
marketing and management
techniques and the scope to
apply this knowledge crea-
tivelytoreal-worksituations.
“The MBS programme at
WIT brings graduates to the
cuttingedgeoftheirdiscipline
area by offering students the
opportunity for advanced
specialisation in finance,
marketing, human resource
and management.
“The course aspires to pro-
duce graduates who make a
critical contribution to the
day-to-day performance
and bottom-line success of
Irish and international com-
panies. Graduates from the
programme are uniquely
equipped with a compre-
hensive range of skills in all
majorfinance,marketingand
management processes and
are supported by lectures,
workshops and seminars to
achieve their personal and
professional development
goals.”
DrSheilaO’Donohoe,MBS
programme director (Eco-
nomics and Finance) added:
“Akeypartoftheprogramme
is the collaboration main-
tained with companies in
the region which act as live
casesforstudentengagement.
Theprogrammealsosupports
studentswithcareerdevelop-
ment, incorporating a range
ofspecificinterventionssuch
as sessions on social media/
networking and interview
preparation.
“Anewinnovationthisyear
– supported by the govern-
ment Springboard initiative
– has been the requirement
for students to undertake a
workplacedissertation,which
aimstodevelop,facilitateand
supportgraduatesincomplet-
inganappliedresearchproject
with a company.
“The project helps gradu-
atestointegratethetheoretical
and applied insights gained
on the programme in a prac-
tical dissertation process and
supportstheireffortstosecure
employmentupongraduation
from the programme.
“The response from com-
panieshasbeenverypositive
and they have worked close-
ly with the Business School
to ensure that the initiative
provestobeanenrichinged-
ucational experience for our
students.”
Partneringwithindustryisa
keyfeatureoftheprogrammes
at WIT Business School. The
new workplace dissertation
for MBS students comple-
ments the work placement
opportunities provided for
students on the MSc (Global
Financial Information Sys-
tems) where students are
placed with many of Ire-
land’s leading financial and
IT companies including AIB,
State Street and BNY Mellon.
O’Donoghue said: “It also
sits comfortably with the
strong case-led and ‘live
laboratory’ focus that is em-
beddedintheverysuccessful
MBSInternationalisationpro-
gramme, which is offered to
students as a double degree
masters programme with
Brest Business School. In this
way,studentscanleveragethe
learningandskillsacquiredon
the programme to help them
successfullytransitionintothe
workplace upon graduation
from WIT.”
For further information, vis-
it www.wit.ie or contact MBS
programme directors Dr Sheila
O’Donohoe (sodonohoe@wit.ie)
orDrPaulMorrissey(pmorrissey@
wit.ie).MBSIprogrammedirector
DeclanCahillcanbecontactedat
dcahill@wit.ie.
MargoO’Dowd,graduatebusi-
nessadministrator,iscontactable
at mmodowd@wit.ie
Newworkplaceinnovationsfor
WITpostgradbusinessstudents
WIT postgraduate MBS students and faculty members on a study visit to the Irish Institute in Leuven. This year, the students will also
participate in a workplace research project with a company. Further details on the MBS and MBS Internationalisation programmes
are available at www.wit.ie
C
IThasseenasteady
growthinthenum-
bers applying for
its postgraduate
programmes over
recent years.
“Whether pursuing a re-
search or taught programme,
at CIT students can expect
to work on solving complex
problems in cutting-edge
research and innovation that
is linked directly to Ireland’s
smarteconomyinareassuch
as business, bioinformatics,
optoelectronics, medical
devices, sustainable energy,
healthcare,media,electronics
andinformationtechnology,”
saidDrStephenCassidy,acting
dean of graduate studies.
Thecareer-focused,profes-
sional nature of CIT’s post-
graduate offerings resonates
strongly with those looking
to continue their studies in
theinterestofimprovingtheir
employmentandcareerpros-
pects.
As Cassidy explained, CIT
currently has over 40 taught
postgraduate programmes
across Art, Business, Engi-
neering, Science and Music.
“As an Institute, we see an
increasing requirement that
ourpostgraduateprogrammes
meet the educational stand-
ards of relevant profession-
al bodies, are delivered in a
flexiblemannerandoftenre-
quiredtobemultidisciplinary
innaturereflectingtheworld
of work.
“Therefore CIT postgradu-
ateofferingsareprofessionally
accredited, ensuring that the
qualifications of graduates
from these programmes are
internationally recognised.
“CIT is committed to the
flexible delivery of postgrad-
uatecoursesandwehavede-
veloped specialised teaching
spaces and supports to facil-
itate the online delivery of
programmessuchastheMSc
in Cloud Computing and the
MAinE-LearningDesignand
Development, thus allowing
students to undertake their
studies at a time and place of
their choosing.”
CIT is known for its com-
mitment to innovation, and
programmes like the MSc in
Music and Technology, MSc
inComputationalBiologyand
a proposed MBus in Digital
Marketing reflect the move
towards integrating different
discipline areas to meet the
requirements of emerging
industries.
“Research expenditure
in CIT now stands at €20m
annually, with over 200 re-
searchpostgraduatestudents
and 100 contract researchers
employed, and two new re-
search buildings added, all of
whichdrivesresearchandin-
novationacrossandbetween
disciplines,” said Cassidy.
Over the decades, CIT has
built a strong rapport and
enduring partnerships with
business and industry.
“Each year, CIT completes
research contracts with over
120 companies. Research
masters and PhD students at
CIT are supported by the ex-
perience of working within a
dynamicenvironmentalong-
sidenationalandinternation-
al researchers. They develop
leading-edgeknowledgeand
skillswhilstbeingsupervised
to the highest level.” In line
withinternationalbest-prac-
tice, CIT research students
enroll in structured masters
anddoctoralprogrammes:on
these, students are provided
withasuiteofsupports,from
supervision and mentoring
to developing a personalised
career development plan in-
tegrated into their research.
“Students have the oppor-
tunity to take expert level
modules which will not only
enhance their research, but
will also allow them to de-
velopskillsandcompetencies
outsidetheirresearchdomain.
“An example of this type
of module is the Innovation
andEntrepreneurshipmodule
offered to research students
who are considering com-
mercialising their research
or simply developing their
entrepreneurial knowledge
and skills for future career
opportunities,” said Cassidy.
CIT offers a number of re-
search scholarships annually
under its Rísam Programme.
TheIrishwordRísam,mean-
ing “to strive or achieve”,
underlines the purpose of
this scholarship programme
whichistopromotehigh-end
researchdirectedtowardsthe
generationofnewknowledge
ororiginalapplicationsofex-
isting knowledge.
The Rísam Scholarships
areawardedonacompetitive
basis and research proposals
mustbealignedwithCIT’sRe-
searchPrioritisationThematic
areas of:
★ Information & Commu-
nications Technology
★ Maritime, Energy & Sus-
tainable Environment
★LifeSciences&Wellbeing
★ Health & Exercise
★ Photonics
★ Business
★ Creative Arts and Mul-
timedia
Forfurtherinformationvisit
cit.ie
CITlinks
postgradstudies
toIreland’s
smarteconomy
EXECUTIVE MBA
ENQUIRIES TO:
091 495 066
mba@nuigalway.ie
www.cairnes.nuigalway.ie/mba
J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics
Accelerate Your Leadership Potential
ACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS
NOW
INFORMATION EVENINGS
Venue: Sligo (Clarion Hotel)
Date: Monday, 14th March, 5.30pm
Venue: NUI Galway (Business School)
Date: Tuesday, 15th March, 5.30pm
Venue: Shannon College of Hotel Management
(A College of NUI Galway)
Date: Monday, 4th April, 5.30pm
• MSc in Business Management • MSc in IT Enabled Innovation
• MSc in Strategy & Innovation
Features include:
• Working with a client company on a live business problem
• Blended learning approach: individual, team and block day in-class learning
• Multiple entry routes: open to business & non-business graduates; for those without a
prior third level qualification significant relevant work experience may also qualify for entry
• Transferring business concepts into practice
• 2 days in class per fortnight (full-time); 2 days a month (part-time); Strategy 5 blocks, 4 days each.
Business and Management: provides grounding in all major business functions;
for non-business graduates
IT Enabled Innovation: developed in with industry partners, provides tools & concepts to
manage the ITfunction building a bridge between ITand value creation
in firms; for business & non-business graduates
Strategy and Innovation: enhancing managerial decision-making and leadership capabilities;
transformation of organisations through innovation of business
processes, services & products; for business graduates
Maynooth University
School of Business
Masters Degree
Your proven route to success
Further details on all Business programmes are
available at:
https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/school-business
Or phone: 01 708 6520
MSc Business Management Graduates, Class of 2015 Picture: Kathryn Walsh
Research
mastersand
PhDstudents
atCITare
supportedby
theexperience
ofworking
withina
dynamic
environment
alongside
ateamof
nationaland
international
researchers
Bob Savage, Head of Governing Body CIT, and President of CIT Dr Brendan Murphy with Rísam
Scholarship Recipients Colin Levis, Bantry; David Lynch, Cork City; Lisa Bolger, Wexford; Kate
Hayes, Blackrock; Ciara Kenny, Meath; Shauna Keane, Clonmel; Sharon Butler, Kilkenny; Dylan
Smyth, Carrigtwohill; Marta Carracedo, Spain, and Ken Graham, Carrigaline, at the Rísam
Scholarship Presentation in the Bishopstown Campus, CIT