Message from the President, Dr. Oliver Murphy

Dear Graduate,

Welcome to the ITT Alumni website. We have provided this site so that we can keep in touch with you and let you know how we are growing and developing, and to give you the opportunity to contact us or to renew contact with friends. As a graduate of the Institute, you are automatically a member of the ITT community, wherever in the world you may be located.

Since the establishment of the college in 1977, the Institute has come a long way. The Institute of Technology, Tralee was originally expected to cater for 800 students from our original campus in Clash. We now have a population of over 3,500 students, two campuses and over 60 full-time programmes listed in our prospectus. We offer programmes at Higher Certificate, Ordinary Degree and Honours Degree levels. We also offer Postgraduate degree programmes, both taught and through research.  We continue to play a vital role in the economic development of the region and we are proud of our successes to date.

2004 was also a milestone for the Institute as HETAC conferred on ITT Delegation of Authority. This means that the Institute can now confer its own awards within a National Qualifications Framework and during our graduation ceremony in October over 1,300 students were conferred with ITT qualifications.

Over the past 5 years we have invested over €40 million in our North Campus which now has some of the best educational facilities for our students.  This development continues with the planned provision of sports facilities, a Library and Information Resources Centre, a Health & Leisure Multi-purpose Facility and additional student service facilities. Graduates are also invited to become involved in helping to charter the future of the Institute and support these exciting developments - be it through the Alumni Association or through assistance with our fundraising efforts, through the 'Friends of ITT Society'.

One of the greatest assets the Institute has is you - our graduates.  With your qualifications from ITT you act as an ambassador for the Institute in your daily life. The feedback we continue to receive from employers and industry shows that the calibre of our graduates is excellent. This makes us proud and is obviously testimony to your hard work, the quality of the programmes at the ITT and the expertise and professionalism of our staff.

In this era of lifelong learning, our quest for education continues. At the ITT we hope we can continue to play a role in your professional development. Perhaps you can influence family and friends to attend the ITT and study one of our many courses.

At the Institute we will continue to provide a centre of excellence for learning in the region.  We have finalised the Institute's Strategic Plan to 2013, and within this framework, I look forward to the growth of the Institute on many levels. I especially look forward to the development of a successful ITT Alumni Association and invite you to make contact with the Alumni Office where we would be delighted to hear your ideas and views.

Dr. Oliver Murphy, President