Record graduate success for Dunboyne College OVER 900 students graduated this week from Dunboyne College in a unique graduation ceremony. The virtual online event took place as the record figures for graduate progression and employment were announced by the college. Dunboyne College Principal Denis Leonard revealed that CAO figures show over 90% of students who graduated from Dunboyne College and applied for third level places received at least one offer. Demand for places The Dunboyne Principal also announced that Dunboyne College is now among the top 5 largest colleges of further education in the country and the largest in the north east region. The demand for places at the college is out stripping supply. Over 2530 students applied for 1000 places for 2020 entry. This is expected to continue in 2021 as new courses in Occupational Therapy, Software Development and Games Design, Animal Science and PreApprenticeship Banking, Insurance and Financial Services were announced. The college has already accepted several hundred applicants for places in 2021. This figure is expected to grow with Virtual Open Evenings scheduled on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th January 2021 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 66 Education
Speaking in advance of the unique graduation ceremony Mr Leonard said that the college felt it was very important to celebrate the achievements of the graduates. “2020 was a very strange year for them, a graduating class always has reason to be proud. But this group of students have added reason. "They adapted very quickly to online learning and achieved great success despite the disruption to their studies. As a college we felt it was more important than ever to honour the graduates of 2020 and their resilience in finishing out their course and progressing to Universities and Institutes of Technology and employment in such great numbers.” Virtual ceremony Drawing on the skills of its Film and Media Production department the virtual ceremony was broadcast live to graduates and their families with an opening address by Mr Leonard, a summary of the student’s academic achievements and their journey thought the year from Deputy Principals Irene Togher and Emer Cloak as well as a special address from the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. In a series of three ceremonies the name of each graduating student was announced by the academic staff. Mr Leonard revealed that
Dunboyne College is represented in nearly every third level college in the country from Dublin to Dundalk, Athlone to Galway, Waterford to Cork to Tralee. In congratulating the graduating c l a s s o f 2 0 2 0 D e n i s L e o n a rd , Principal, Dunboyne College revealed the highest progression rates to universities and Institutes of Technology in the history of the Meath based college. “Three hundred and seventy-four (374) students received honours degree Level 8 offers and two hundred and forty-eight 248 received a Level 7 ordinary degree offers. These figures do not include the many mature students who received early offers and those who took up offers in the UK for nursing, law or sports degrees.
"They adapted very quickly to online learning and achieved great success despite the disruption to their studies. As a college we felt it was more important than ever to honour the graduates of 2020 and Strong progression their resilience "In addition to these students the in finishing out majority of the students who studied their course" on the vocational skills courses obtained employment, this is particular relevant in the service and leisure courses. The strong progression to direct employment must be noted too, as many students choose not to make a CAO application but to upskill with a chosen sector, thus enhancing their CV for future career opportunities.” “Distance proved no barrier to Dunboyne College students. From
