8 September 2017
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
The future is bright for 500 students of CSN – one of Ireland’s most renowned colleges of further education – as the class of 2017 celebrate their graduation today. Each emerging graduate will receive QQI awards from one and two-year courses, including art, design, sports, business, music, digital media, social studies, cultural and heritage studies, information technology, dance, science and horticulture.
CSN prides itself on providing potential students with an integral stepping stone to their dream career and with over 35 courses to choose from across a variety of disciplines, the sky really is the limit at this reputable college.
Bhooshita Soyjaudah from Clonakilty and Greg Faulkenberg from Leap graduating from Cultural & Heritage Studies who are continuing their studies at UCC.
Pic: Diane Cusack
Ciara Houstoun from Bandon graduating from Coaching & Physical Education who is going on to study P.E. at UCC.
Pic: Diane Cusack
Paul Browne, St. Luke’s, and Micheal Spillane, Whitechurch, graduating from Horticulture. Each emerging graduate received QQI awards from one or two-year courses, including art, design, sports, business, music, digital media, social studies, cultural and heritage studies, information technology, dance, science and horticulture.
Pic: Diane Cusack
Veronika Deeny, Rochestown, Rachel Chesby Douglas, and Una Samuels, Gardiner’s Hill, graduating from Leisure and Recreation Studies. Each emerging graduate received QQI awards from one or two-year courses, including art, design, sports, business, music, digital media, social studies, cultural and heritage studies, information technology, dance, science and horticulture.
Pic: Diane Cusack
Colin McCarthy, Ballyvolane, and Chris Gormley, Cobh, graduating from Computer and Network Systems who are both going on to further studies at CIT. Each emerging graduate received QQI awards from one or two-year courses, including art, design, sports, business, music, digital media, social studies, cultural and heritage studies, information technology, dance, science and horticulture.
Pic: Diane Cusack
One student in particular who is testament to CSN’s many merits is Dion O’Sullivan, who was a student of Digital Media 2 at the college. Following graduation from CSN, Dion will progress to a one-year BA top-up in Digital Media Design, which he will study at Sussex College in the UK. The young student is just one of many CSN graduates who have gone on to study for one year in the UK in order to achieve a BA degree; a rare opportunity that is made possible by the receipt of the BTEC HND award.
Commenting on how the college has changed the course of his future, Dion said: “I was so excited to hear about Digital Media at CSN. I accepted my place on the course last September and have not looked back. I am so thrilled to discover that Digital Media is something I can turn into a career and this is my plan. I find the concept of putting together an entire interactive website or fully-functioning application game still utterly fascinating. Seeing the finished product is even better.”
He added: “When I learned I could do a top-up course in the UK, I applied immediately and was accepted. Going abroad to study for a year is both one of the most exciting and daunting things I’ve ever had the opportunity to do and honestly I cannot wait.”
Rachel Murphy, a graduate of the Sports & Exercise Performance course at CSN, is another example of the positive impact the college can have on career possibilities and future job opportunities. Rachel, who is now studying Sport Science and Health in DCU, revealed that her studies at CSN have ensured she is more than prepared for the next step on the further education ladder.
“It’s such a relief knowing that I’ve already covered many of the modules that I will be studying in my course,” she said. “Having a bit of a head start makes the experience less daunting and more exciting.”
The students of the Cultural & Heritage Studies course at CSN have also had great success in securing further opportunities following graduation, with 15 individuals progressing on to the Bachelor of Arts Degree Course in UCC and one student, Conor Fanning, going on to study Anthropology in Maynooth University.
Speaking ahead of the college’s graduation day, Vivienne MacSweeney, Principal of CSN, said: “CSN further education courses are designed to support students to discover their potential, through programmes with links to third level and work experience in relevant industries. The diverse range of courses offered at CSN gives students a real opportunity to achieve and pursue their chosen option. Just one year with CSN can help our students to find the right path towards reaching their goals and realising their dreams.
“For over 30 years CSN has been producing high calibre graduates who have gone on to achieve great success in their chosen fields and the class of 2017 are no different. We are proud to celebrate with graduates and their families as they take the next step to higher education and employment.”
For further course information and for a college prospectus see www.csn.ie
