Five graduates from Mayo were among 46 participants of InterTradeIreland’s Acumen and Fusion graduate programmes honoured at the 2012 graduation ceremony which took place in the UCD Michael Smurfit School on Friday last. Eighty five per cent of graduates who have successfully completed the Fusion and Acumen programmes to date have received offers of a permanent management position within their placement firms, highlighting the business and economic contribution that graduates can make to SMEs.
Award winner Maria Heneghan from Hollymount was among the successful Mayo graduates who took part in the Fusion programme with her placement firm, Amideon. Ms Heneghan was working on a project to develop a wireless microwave fence that solves the ‘false alarm’ headache of perimeter security. It provides a real-time surveillance and protection system for airports and other high security environments.
Also celebrating on the day was Acumen graduate, Hazel Jordan, Claremorris, who works for Fast Engineering. Commenting on the programme she said: “As Fast Engineering is an SME, I have responsibility that is not often offered at graduate level. There is great support and guidance offered within the company and through the programme and my learning and development since starting has been invaluable.”
Other Mayo graduates receiving their post graduate diplomas were Claire Geraghty, Ballina who works with Uisce (Acumen ), Sinead Ruane, Foxford, who works with PT Technologies (Acumen ), and Ciaran Murphy, Castlebar, who works with Caragh Precision (FUSION )
With the emigration of young Irish people being at an all time high, InterTradeIreland’s Fusion and Acumen programmes offer some of Ireland’s graduates an opportunity to reverse the tide of emigration and to assist in national economic recovery.
InterTradeIreland has announced that there are still vacancies to be filled throughout 2012 on the Fusion and Acumen programmes. InterTradeIreland encourages any Mayo graduate with skills in sales and marketing, technology, science, and engineering to apply for the current placements on offer.
Potential applicants can go to www.footinthedoor.info, which offers the latest job details, videos from past graduates on their experiences, and a place to share knowledge and information with other graduates.
