DIT Foundation Donor Report 2017

Investing
in the future of
DIT
DIT Foundation
Impact Report 2017

Dear alumni and friends,
I would like to thank you most sincerely for your engagement and support
over the past year. Together we continue to empower our students to reach
for their dreams and to achieve their full potential as engaged global citizens,
ready to meet the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Your donations enables DIT to continue to realise our mission as a
comprehensive higher education institution, delivering academic
programmes - from apprenticeships to PhD - across a wide range of disciplines
for our students of all ages and backgrounds. The support of our alumni and
friends increases our capacity to produce cutting-edge research and deliver
much needed community related projects. Now, in partnership with our
sister Institutes of Technology in Tallaght and Blanchardstown, we are close
to achieving our goal of creating a Technological University that will serve
not only the greater Dublin Region but will be a beacon for higher education
nationally and internationally.
We are also succeeding in our ambition to develop an amazing 21st century
learning environment on our Grangegorman Campus for all DIT students.
We are profoundly grateful to our donors, supporters and friends for their
support in delivering what will be 140,000m² of purpose-built space for
academic, cultural, social, recreational and sporting activities, as well as oncampus
student accommodation, in the heart of a European capital city. We
have commenced construction on the next two major academic quads this
Spring, which will provide state-of-the-art facilities for 10,000 students by
2020.
We are very proud to be a central part of such a nationally significant
regeneration project, which will support the development of the city,
enhance cultural life and bring additional creativity and innovation to our
local community.
Thank you for placing your trust in us and supporting our development at
such an exciting and transformative time.
Warm regards
Professor Brian Norton
President, Dublin Institute of Technology

29% 20%
Part-time learners
International students
from 60 countries
10%
Mature Students
44%
of students qualify for
financial support
8%
Disability
4%
DIT is ranked in the
top 4% of universities
internationally
DIT is the 2017 Sunday
Times “Institute of
Technology of the Year”
DIT has over 800
researchers addressing
21st century challenges

DIT Foundation
DIT Foundation encourages philanthropic support from DIT alumni, friends,
corporations, staff, charitable trusts and foundations.
We are committed to demonstrating the unique culture of DIT and
unlocking the power of philanthropic support to the Institute.
Our fundraising priorities reflect DIT’s strategic objectives:
Capital Development – DIT Foundation is committed to supporting
DIT’s historic campus development at Grangegorman, Dublin 7 which
is transforming the learning environment at DIT and driving urban
regeneration in Dublin.
Supporting Excellence in Teaching and Research – supporting DIT in its
mission to be a culturally diverse and stimulating learning and research
environment.
Enabling Participation at DIT – working with our donors to support access
to education, enabling students to achieve their dreams and deepening
community engagement.
Message from the Chairman
On behalf of my fellow Board members I would like to express our heartfelt
thanks for the generous support of all donors to DIT in 2017.
The impact of philanthropy at DIT is far reaching and throughout this report,
you will see how donations help complement and enhance our existing
work. Together with a growing number of private individuals, companies
and trusts, we are providing even more support to the many students at
DIT who struggle to make ends meet, delivering facilities that encourage
innovation and creativity and developing programmes that address real
societal challenges.
We are committed to developing a meaningful and valued partnership
with all our donors in order to advance our mission as a comprehensive
higher education institution. We are deeply grateful for our donors’ steadfast
dedication and we are excited about the future as we develop a state-ofthe-art
learning environment at Grangegorman.
Jim Gahan, Chair, DIT Foundation
DIT Surveying 1970

DIT Grangegorman
Grangegorman Campus:
Enhancing higher education and transforming the urban landscape
The creation of a 21st century higher education campus
in the centre of a European capital city is both ambitious
and exciting. For the first time in its more than 130 year
history, DIT will bring together its wide range of disciplines,
research and innovation activities, and civic engagement
in one city-centre location. Possibly the most significant
capital investment in higher education in Ireland’s history, it
is also a flagship project for the redevelopment of the inner
city of Dublin.
The development of the site has been approached
sympathetically, with its eleven protected structures
painstakingly restored and repurposed. New state-of-theart
academic facilities are about to be constructed as well
as dedicated spaces for public exhibitions, performances
and lectures. The beautifully landscaped grounds provide
a publicly accessible green lung in a dense urban setting,
with walking routes linking neighbourhoods and local
communities, a children’s playground and playing fields
for soccer, rugby and GAA that are extensively used by DIT
students and local clubs alike.
Education, and Criminology – are also located on campus in
the restored listed buildings.
The Greenway Hub
The Greenway Hub was officially opened by Minister Richard
Bruton on 01 March 2017. The first new DIT building on
campus, it hosts some 90 researchers in the Environmental
Sustainability and Health Institute (ESHI) who are working in
laboratories using the latest equipment to investigate issues
relating to the effects of the environment on our food, water,
air quality, and health. It is also home to entrepreneurs and
high potential start-up companies, mentored and supported
by the tech transfer team in DIT Hothouse.
Funded by DIT, Enterprise Ireland and PRTLI the Greenway Hub
places research, commercialisation and business incubation in
a strategic location at the heart of the new campus.
In 2014, the first 1200 students and 200 staff members
moved to the campus. These include students of the
Dublin School of Creative Arts – including Fine Art, Visual
Communications, Furniture and Interior Design and Visual
Merchandising – and students of Photography, who are
currently based in the studios in the North House. Students
of Social Science – including Social Care, Early Childhood
Impact report, DIT Hothouse Incubator

Cross-City Luas
DIT Broombridge
Artist render of the East Quad at DIT Grangegorman
Dublin Bikes
DIT Hothouse is the award-winning Innovation and Knowledge
Transfer Office at DIT, responsible for the commercialisation
of intellectual property arising from DIT research
The next stage
In December 2017 the Head of the European Investment
Bank (EIB) visited the DIT campus and reconfirmed support
for the project. The construction of the East and Central
Quads have been guaranteed the financial support required
and DIT can prepare to move 10,000 students to the new
campus by early 2020.
Work has begun on the construction of the Central Quad
which will be the focal point on the campus for the sciences
and health, tourism and hospitality, culinary arts and food
technology. Built around a central courtyard, the 30,000m²
building will include lecture theatres, laboratories, kitchens,
and other facilities. A teaching restaurant, supported by
philanthropy from Musgrave Marketplace, as part of their
commitment to education and the future of the Irish food
sector, will be at its heart.
December 2017 also marked the arrival of the Cross-City
Luas, providing a major public transport link right to the
campus entrance. The Broadstone DIT stop will provide
direct access to the East Quad which will incorporate
a range of performance and exhibition spaces for use
by students and by visiting performers throughout the
year. As a Cultural Hub, the East Quad will bring together
over 200 arts practitioners from the creative, performing
and media arts, creating a year-round programme and
attracting audiences from around the city.
From the DIT campus, the Cross-City Luas proceeds to its
terminus at Broombridge – just two stops further – thereby
serving the DIT Sports facilities that have been developed
in a former industrial site where the mainline rail coincides
with the Luas. A full size all-weather GAA pitch, which can
also be used for two soccer or rugby pitches, has been
developed on the site, with associated changing facilities.
Creating Ireland’s first
Technological University
In March 2018 The Technological University Alliance for
Dublin welcomed the signing into law by President Michael
D. Higgins of the Technological Universities Act. The Alliance,
which includes DIT, IT Blanchardstown and IT Tallaght,
said the ambition now is to bring the TU4Dublin project
to fruition and create the first technological university in
Dublin. The new, enlarged institution will have more than
28,000 students based on three campuses – Grangegorman,
Blanchardstown and Tallaght – linked by a common
platform of online learning and services. It will offer a wide
portfolio of career-focused and practice based programmes,
supporting students at every stage of their lives and careers.

DIT and TOPCON on mission to fight blindness
Professor Brian Norton & Dr. Ray O’Connor
DIT’s School of Physics & Clinical & Optometric Sciences
has been educating students for over 50 years and enjoys
an international reputation for excellence. The National
Optometry Centre (NOC), situated within the School, supports
the delivery of the only undergraduate degree in the Republic
of Ireland through the provision of clinical training facilities.
In addition, The Centre for Eye Research Ireland (CERI), a
dedicated ophthalmic research facility resides in the School of
Physics & Clinical & Optometric Sciences.
CERI is one of the first research centres to locate to the
Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute on DIT’s
new campus in Grangegorman. CERI has a unique research
portfolio that aims to eliminate avoidable blindness and
vision impairment, improve quality of life and create
sustainable societal impact.
The DIT Centre for Eye Research Ireland (CERI), led by
Professor James Loughman, is observing a very significant
increase in eye disease globally. This is due to a range of
factors such as the world’s growing population, longer
lifespans and inadequate access to healthcare resources.
Our rapidly evolving lifestyle including changes to our
diet, exercise habits and potentially even the technological
revolution that society has experienced are also
contributory factors.
Topcon was founded in 1932 with a focus on developing and
manufacturing surveying instruments. Following World War
II Topcon introduced ophthalmic and medical equipment
to the market and is now a recognised market leader in
eye health and innovation. In the domains of healthcare,
agriculture, and infrastructure Topcon is dedicated to
providing solutions to these societal challenges.
Her Excellency Ambassador Myoshi of Japan & Dr. Ray O’Connor
Topcon has been a longstanding supporter of DIT,
providing much needed surveying equipment to the
College of Engineering and Built Environment and
ophthalmic equipment to the National Optometry
Centre. Topcon, a global leader in ophthalmic precision
instruments, has pledged €250,000 to support the Centre
for Eye Research Ireland. The Topcon Vision Science
Lab in DIT Grangegorman will facilitate significant eye
health research and the fight against blindness. Dr. Ray
O’Connor of Topcon travelled from California for the
launch in November 2016, which was also attended by Her
Excellency Ambassador Myoshi of Japan.
DIT Graduate Dr. Ray O’Connor, Senior Managing Executive
of Topcon, said the company was delighted to work with
DIT colleagues and to support what is vital health research.
“The research taking place in these cutting-edge labs on
the Grangegorman campus will be crucial in developing

“The research taking place in these cutting-edge labs on the
Grangegorman campus will be crucial in developing preventative
measures that enhance our health prognosis. Protecting and
prolonging the gift of sight is a great contribution to long-term wellbeing
in our population. This is an example of industry and academia
collaborating for a common good and my colleagues and I in Topcon
are glad to be working with DIT on this.”
preventative measures that enhance our health prognosis.
Protecting and prolonging the gift of sight is a great
contribution to long-term well-being in our population.
This is an example of industry and academia collaborating
for a common good and my colleagues and I in Topcon are
glad to be working with DIT on this.”
conducting two ground-breaking clinical trials: one
exploring nutritional interventions for glaucoma and the
other investigating myopia control in children.
Professor Brian Norton, President of DIT, said,
“The Topcon Vision Science Lab here in the Greenway Hub –
which is our centre for research and innovation in the heart
of our new campus in Grangegorman – will support research
that will no doubt play an important part in improving health
outcomes internationally but also here in Ireland.”
The Topcon Vision Science Lab provides researchers in CERI
with the latest in technology and equipment to pioneer
advances in eye health. The team at CERI is currently
Her Excellency Ambassador Myoshi of Japan & Dr. Ray O’Connor

Basis.point Junior Cycle Workshop Programme
The DIT Access & Civic Engagement Office provides a
broad range of supports to ensure that students from
communities and backgrounds where there is little tradition
of participation in higher education succeed in accessing
and graduating from third level education
Basis.point, a registered charity, represents the Irish Fund
Industry’s initiative to come together to help make a
difference to those in need. The Irish Fund Industry avoided
the worst of the recession that has caused considerable
hardship for many people in Ireland. Recognising this, a
group of individuals considered how the industry could
make a difference.
Basis.point’s aim is to help make a sustainable and tangible
difference to the lives of those living in poverty, particularly
young people, by supporting charities, which focus on
education. Basis.point does this by providing grants to charities
to fund programmes and initiatives that focus on education.
When DIT moved to Grangegorman in 2013 it engaged in
a consultation process with local schools and identified
a need to provide opportunities to engage local school
children with DIT, in order to promote higher education
opportunities. This led to the establishment of the junior
cycle workshop programme, which engages schoolchildren
from 1st – 3rd year. This programme promotes higher
education as a realistic and achievable ambition for
students from DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in
Schools) schools in inner city Dublin and has been running
for 2 years in the 4 neighbouring schools close to DIT’s new
campus in Grangegorman.
The Junior Cycle Workshop Programme marks the start
of a long term relationship with participants and schools
which spans the 3 years of the junior cycle. With support
from basis.point we will expand our existing programme
from four DEIS schools to the fourteen DIT partner DEIS
Students from St. Pauls CBS Secondary School
learning crime scene investigation skills with Garda

Students from Mount Carmel Secondary
School working on a renewable energy project
“In basis.point we have a partner who shares our ambitions to instil
confidence in these students and to sow the seed that higher education is a
realistic and viable option for them when they leave secondary school.”
schools in inner city Dublin on a phased basis this has the
potential to reach an additional 700 young people from
disadvantaged schools across Dublin’s inner city.
We aim to encourage a sense of belonging to the college
campus among the students and expose them to new areas
of potential interest such as design, science, engineering,
art and construction and the wide variety of career
opportunities made possible by higher education.
Dr Catherine Bates, Head of DIT Access & Civic Engagement
expressed her gratitude to basispoint.
“In basis.point we have a partner who shares our ambitions
to instil confidence in these students and to sow the seed that
higher education is a realistic and viable option for them when
they leave secondary school.”
Students from Stanhope St. Secondary
School taking part in a forensics workshop

Scholarship Overview
An increasing number of students at DIT are seeking additional financial support to allow them to remain in full time
education. Scholarships at DIT award students for their hard work and dedication. They allow students the opportunity
to focus on achieving excellence in their field and also shows our donors commitment to supporting Ireland’s future
generation.
DIT Foundation administered 43 scholarships in 2017, with a total value of €150,000.
New to 2017
Sirus Scholarship
Schneider Electric Ireland Scholarship
The two talented students awarded the first Sirus Scholarship were Zoe
Elliott and Pauric O’Connell, both fourth year students of Bachelor of
Engineering (Hons) in Building Services Engineering.
DIT and Sirus introduced the Sirus Scholarship for Building
Engineering in 2017.
The Scholarship was an initiative created with DIT Graduate
James Byrne(CEO) and Frank Caul (Managing Director),
who together set up the very successful Irish engineering
company Sirus Group.
“Sirus are always looking for good people, we prefer to employ
the graduates from Building Engineering in DIT as they are
able to hit the ground running and contribute to the company
quickly; this also means that these graduates climb the career
ladder very quickly.” Sirus Manging Director Frank Caul
Mark Keogh, VP for Partner & Industry Business with awardee Meda Sigekina
Meda Sigekina, a second year student of Electrical Services
& Energy Management in Kevin St was awarded the first
Schneider Scholarship in October 2017. This Scholarship
was created with Mark Keogh, a DIT Engineering graduate
who is the VP for Partner & Industry Business at Schneider
Electric Ireland. The Scholarship was set up to complement
and enhance their current involvement with the DIT
ESTeEm project, by encouraging and supporting female
enrolment in engineering courses at DIT. Meda will
have the opportunity to complete a summer placement
with Schneider Electric Ireland at their headquarters in
Maynooth as part of her Scholarship.
Sirus also generously donated a state-of-the-art recirculating
air conditioning teaching system to the college which will be
put into use in time for the next academic year.
This piece of equipment will support the learning of undergraduate
students and apprentices
Leslie Shoemaker, Programme Facilitator with students
from the ESTeEm Project

Panelto Scholarships
Conor Martin, one of the awardees provided an insight to
their semester in at Purdue –
“The time at Purdue was life changing. I think I can speak for
all the students and say if there was another chance to do it
all over again we would. With the scholarship were able to
fully immerse ourselves in the “American college lifestyle”.
The opportunities of studying other topics in college such as
psychology were extremely valuable in our development in
hospitality learning about the early stages of the way people
act/react and why.”
Brian Guerin with awardees Kate McLoughlin and Shane Monaghan and
Dr. Frank Cullen, Head of School of Culinary Arts & Food Technology
Ocean Edge Resort Scholarships
DIT and Panelto introduced the Panelto Scholarship in
Culinary Arts & Food Technology and Mechanical & Design
Engineering in 2017.
Three exceptional students from Baking & Pastry Arts
Management and from Mechanical and Design Engineering
were awarded the Panelto Scholarship by Brian Guerin,
General Manager of Panelto Foods.
As part of the Panelto Scholarship, the 3rd year students
will complete an internship and will have the opportunity
to complete a summer placement with Panelto at their
plant in Longford.
Marriott Scholarship
The DIT School of Hospitality Management and Tourism
was delighted to announce the new Ocean Edge Resort
and Golf Club scholarships in 2017. These scholarships
were awarded to two students of proven engagement and
academic excellence in the second year of the Hospitality
Management and two students in the third year of
International Hospitality Management.
In addition, the recipients will be offered a highly attractive
6 month internship with Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club
in Cape Cod starting in March 2018.
Aine Morris, Emilia Howarth, Niamh McAnana, Conor Martin & Jiawei
Sun at Purdue University
In March 2017, students from the Hospitality Management
Programme in Cathal Brugha Street were awarded the first
Marriot Scholars. This scholarship provided five students
with a grant to support a semester of study at the Marriott
Hall, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management,
Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA.
Robert Newman, the CEO of Corcoran Jennison Hospitality
and General Manager of Ocean Edge Resort and Golf
Club established this scholarship programme. Robert is a
graduate of Hotel Catering Management from DIT Cathal
Brugha Street.

Cait McCarthy, winner of the 2017 Wallace Family Scholarship Michelle Malone awarded the Mont Kavanagh Fine Art Scholarship in 2017
Wallace Family Scholarship
– Cait McCarthy
Cait McCarthy, a 3rd year student of Product Design was
awarded the 2017 Wallace Family Scholarship. During
Cait’s first year in DIT she aspired to give something back
and began in October 2015 by immersing herself in an
organisation for overseas voluntary work in Uganda where
she worked on a facility and programme for an IT Library
for aspiring students. Cait’s primary interest is in medical
device design and engineering; she has completed a level
5 Healthcare Assistant course to gain vital insight into this
industry.
Cait is also the head of ‘Women in design’ in the DIT design
society and is a mentor to those who have just recently
entered the course. Cait hopes to complete a Masters when
she has finished her degree in Product Design.
The Wallace Family Scholarship aims to support committed
students like Cait who have not only demonstrated
academic achievement but also engaged with the world of
engineering outside of the classroom.
The Wallace Family Fund for Engineering was established in
2016 by engineer Paul Wallace, a graduate of 1958 Bolton
Street. It was with the financial support of a generous donor
that Paul himself had the opportunity to study engineering
at DIT in 1958. He went on to have a long and fruitful career
as an engineer in both industry and academia. The fund is
supported by Paul’s family and friends.
Mont Kavanagh Scholarship
– Michelle Malone
“Being an Artist means surrendering my thoughts to endless
flights of fancy. It means letting your imagination run free
without binding it with conscious restrictions and blocks. It means
anything is possible. It means sleepless nights. It means having
an empty bank account. It means constantly challenging your
own process and development. It means buying materials instead
of socialising. It means striving to be unique and individual. It
means not being afraid to be honest and true to yourself. It means
wanting to cry because you are so happy with what you’ve made.”
Michelle Malone is a mature student studying Fine Art in
Grangegorman. Michelle was awarded the Mont Kavanagh
Fine Art Scholarship in 2017 for her outstanding portfolio,
academic excellence and successful interview. Michelle
spent eight years working in Visual Merchandising and
Display before beginning the Fine Art Programme in DIT.
She has built an excellent rapport with staff and students
alike, and was chosen as the class representative, working
hard to keep her fellow students motivated and organised.
In May 2017 Michelle assisted renowned artist Aoibheann
Greenan in teaching a children’s workshop in the Royal
Hibernian Academy School, an experience which encouraged
her to be more active both in college and externally.
Mont Kavanagh led Hardwicke Property Group for almost
twenty years, and was widely recognised as both an
industry leader and a pioneer in the development of
modern office accommodation in Dublin through the
1960s and 1970s. Following his untimely death, the Mont
Kavanagh Trust was established in his honour to seek
to promote through educational endeavour real estate
sciences, architecture and the visual arts.

New to 2018 - DIT Conservatory
of Music and Drama Scholarship
Programme
Keith Fahy at the peak of Mount Kilimajaro
DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama covers the broadest
range of performing arts disciplines in Ireland with degree
programmes in classical and Irish traditional music,
composition, musicology, music education, jazz, opera,
drama and (in association with partner colleges) rock and
pop music, and film scoring.
DIT Travel Scholarship in Renewable
Energy – Keith Fahy
Keith Fahy was awarded the 2018 Travel Scholarship with
Renewable World. Keith recently graduated with a Bachelor
of Engineering in Building Services Engineering, and in
2016 with a Master of Science in Energy Management
from DIT Kevin Street. He also holds a Bachelor of
Engineering in Civil Engineering from CIT and completed
an apprenticeship in refrigeration and air-conditioning.
He is currently a lead engineer, responsible for energy
management in a pharmaceutical company in Athlone, Co.
Westmeath.
Keith reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro and also
trekked the Great Wall of China and climbed Mt Elbrus in
Russia. In 2018 he will take part in the Marathon des Sables
in Morocco.
Keith’s main interests are in geothermal systems and
pumping systems, carbon dioxide cooling systems and
absorption refrigeration systems, which made him the
perfect candidate for a placement with Renewable World.
Keith will travel to Kenya in June 2018 to design and install
a solar powered ice making system and to assist with work
on a solar micro grid.
The DIT Travel Scholarship in Renewable Energy is an
annual scholarship which provides an opportunity for a
high-achieving DIT graduate with a Masters Degree or PhD
to pursue a practical work assignment in a developing
country in the area of renewable energy. The recipient will
work for a period of up to 3 months on a project managed
by the international charity Renewable World.
Scholarship funding is a key part of performing arts
education around the world. In 2017 DIT ‘s Conservatory of
Music and Drama launched a new scholarship programme
to attract the best artistic talent and to provide motivation
and inspiration to current and future students. This
competitive scholarship programme can offer the most
talented young performers the financial support needed to
reach their full potential and achieve their dreams.
This scholarship programme was launched at the ‘Past
and Present’ DIT Conservatory Gala Concert at the
National Concert Hall in November 2017. This concert
celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Bachelor of Music
in Performance degree.
2017 Scholarships
DIT Foundation would like to thank all of the donors
who contributed to Scholarships in 2017:
• Marriott Foundation Scholarships in Hospitality
Management & Tourism
• Mont Kavanagh Scholarships & Awards in Fine Art,
Architecture & Architectural Technology
• Morrison Scholarship in Architecture & Architectural Technology
• Musgrave Scholarship in Culinary Arts & Culinary
Entrepreneurship
• Ocean Edge Scholarships for Hospitality Management & Tourism
• Panelto Scholarships for the School of Mechanical & Design
Engineering and Culinary Arts & Food Technology
• Wallace Family Scholarships for Mechanical, Manufacturing
& Design, Product Design or Building Services Engineering
• Schneider Scholarships for Female students of Electrical
Engineering & Energy Management
• Sirus Scholarships for Building Services Engineering
• Travel Scholarship in Renewable Energy

eir
DIT Disability Support Service is committed to helping
students with disabilities achieve their academic goals.
We ensure that all 1,400 students registered with our
service are able to fully participate in, and benefit from, all
educational opportunities at DIT.
DIT Disability Support Service is delighted to partner
with eir on a ground-breaking assistive technologies pilot
project called Appventure, which focuses on the use of
technology tools to promote greater academic success and
enhance the student’s learning experience.
eir is the principal provider of fixed-line and mobile
telecommunications services in Ireland with approximately
2 million customers.
eir provided support through their corporate social
responsibility investment programme, the eir Fund –
Connecting Communities. In partnership with eir, DIT
Disability Support Service will identify and train Technology
Mentors from the student body. These mentors promote the
use of technology apps to fellow students primarily through
workshops. In year 1 this pilot programme will assist
approximately 500 newly registered disability students as
well as students already registered with the service.
The Technology Mentors will run15 workshops throughout
the academic year using different apps for mobile and
chrome browsers, such as speech to text and text to speech
tools.
Michelle Toner, Head of
CSR with eir: “We were very
impressed by the innovative
use of technology to create
a learning website, bringing
together all the information
needed to navigate life in
DIT. We have to commend
the work of Carissa and the
students who spent their
summer months researching
and working on this
programme. Well done to DIT
Disability Support Service for
continually working to ensure
students enjoy an inclusive academic experience during their
time with DIT. eir is proud to have been able to provide support
for this programme.”
The “eir Disability Champion Award” recognises the
leadership role of an outstanding Technology Mentor in
developing and delivering these workshops and has been
awarded to Carissa Smith. Carissa is a third year student
in Computer Science in DIT Kevin Street. In accepting the
award Carissa said
“Disability rights have always been very close to my
heart and I feel very honoured to receive the eir Disability
Champion Award”
Carissa is a passionate advocate for students with
disabilities and intends pursuing a career as an Assistive
Technology Officer once her studies are completed.
Appventure, an online tool for students aims to help students enhance their
learning through technology.

School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology
‘Re-Inspired Programme’
DIT’s School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology
has an international reputation for the excellence of its
graduates. It is the leading provider of education, training
and research for the culinary and food-related industries
in Ireland. The School’s mission is to position itself as the
benchmark for culinary arts & food technology education
in Ireland, embracing gastronomy, baking technology, bar
studies, meat technology, cuisine, entrepreneurship, food
product development and culinary science.
In 2014 the School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology
launched the Innovative Supporters of Professional
Industry, Research, Education Development (INSPIRED)
friends of Culinary Arts. INSPIRED is a voluntary group
with CEO members drawn from across the food and
culinary/hospitality sectors and underpins the School’s
connectivity with the industry.
This highly successful initiative entered a new phase
in September 2017 with the launch of the ‘Re-Inspired’
programme. In co-operation with Merchants Quay
Ireland, Homeless and Drug Services, Teach Mhuire,
Homeless Services & Rehab Treatment Centres and the
UN Refugee Agency, DIT is providing culinary training
for a 12 homeless people, and working with industry
to deliver employment opportunities in the food and
hospitality sector on graduation.
This ground breaking programme seeks to make a
sustainable difference to the lives of homeless people and
refugees. Under the watchful eye of James Rock, Lecturer
in Culinary Arts, this group develops and enhances
culinary skills, which will empower them to work as
professional chefs in the food and hospitality sectors.
We extend our thanks to Larry Murrin, CEO Dawn Foods/
With Taste and Vincent Carlton, Managing Director, Manor
Farm for their support of the Re-Inspired programme.
We are also very grateful to Mary Coppinger Uniforms
Ltd for supplying the uniforms to the participants on this
programme.

Intel supporting discovery & innovation at DIT
Photo - DIT President, Professor Brian Norton and DIT graduate Eamonn
Sinnott, Vice President and General Manager at Intel Ireland pictured at
the launch of a new strategic partnership between DIT and Intel.
In 2017 Intel Ireland signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership
that will undertake a varied programme of activity in a
number of key areas of mutual interest such as education,
outreach, research and innovation. The programme
will also include projects aimed at developing
and encouraging future talent and increasing the
representation of women in STEM professions.
Philanthropy is playing a role in DIT’s strategic partnership
with Intel who supported the establishment of the Intel
Internet of Things Lab at DIT Kevin Street in 2017.
DIT Engineering student
Claragh Patton Kelly
Claragh Patton Kelly is
an engineering student
working in the Intel Internet
of Things Lab. Claragh’s
project is to create a STEM
learning platform that works
with students to monitor
their local environment,
relay the data to a central
store and perform some
data analysis. This project is
aimed at primary students
and will be trialled in
schools surrounding DIT
Grangegorman and Kevin
Street in conjunction
with the Access and Civic
Engagement Office.
Recipient of Intel Ireland’s Women in
Technology Scholarship in 2017 DIT
Engineering student, Annie Dobbyn
(left) with PhD student Rachel Harding
PhD candidate Rachel
Harding is supported by
Intel in her research “An
Examination of the Gender
Differences in Spatial
Visualisation Skills and
their Impact on Success
and Engagement in STEM
Education.” As part of
Rachel’s research over 7,000
secondary school students
in 42 schools have taken a
spatial reasoning test and
work is underway to extend
testing to primary schools.
The Intel IoT laboratory compliments the development
of a new Internet of Things module within the School
of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. So far over 60
students have benefitted from the facilities supported
by Intel and the module is over-subscribed.
The Internet of Things is a
rapidly evolving area and the
support of Intel has allowed
DIT to keep at pace with
developments in tools, devices
and technologies so that our
students have the best of
facilities at their fingertips.
“Intel first made the decision to invest
in Ireland back in 1989 and what has
followed since has been a remarkable
journey that has seen Ireland become
home to one of the most advanced technology centres
in the world. This new memorandum which we embark
upon today with DIT represents an exciting new chapter
between our two organisations and I look forward to
exploring a number of ways in which we can collaborate
together into the future.”
General Manager at Intel Ireland and DIT Kevin Street
graduate Eamonn Sinnott

Access Fund
DIT has a long tradition of
supporting access to education
and we continue to strive to ensure
that students from disadvantaged
backgrounds and marginalised
communities are given every
opportunity to access the
education they deserve at DIT.
Our programmes and supports
have a wide impact working with
undergraduate students, schools
and our local communities to help
break the cycle of disadvantage
and open the opportunity of
education to all.
Donors to the Access Fund support
this work by providing financial
support for students in financial
need and for outreach activities
within our community right across
Dublin’s inner-city and beyond.
Adam Betts is a third year Business and Management student at DIT and is the DIT Access Student
Coordinator. He lives in Ringsend with his mother. He also landed his dream internship with one of the
worlds big consultantcy firms
CLiCnews.ie is a restricted
access website developed
by the DIT Access and
Civic Engagement Team to
support schools to deliver
literacy programmes to
young children. It currently
supports 2,000 students in
50 schools nationwide.
A Bake Off takes
place at St. Paul’s “The
Brunner” near DIT
Grangegorman and
Bolton Street as part of
DIT’s Transition Year
Skills Challenge for
local schools

DIT Graduate Network
International
DIT is committed to increasing its engagement with international
alumni. Having established an annual event in the calendar for our
alumni in London, this year we took it to Rich Mix art space in East
London and were joined by Professor Brian Norton, DIT President,
and staff from the Dublin School of Creative Arts and DIT Bolton
Street. 80 alumni attended from all schools, including pianist Adam
McDonagh (BMus ’15), currently studying for his MA in music at
University of Cambridge.
The Irish Embassy in Brussels hosted an event for our alumni in the
Belgian capital where we were joined by Irish alumni living in Brussels and
Belgian alumni who attended DIT as part of the Erasmus programme.
1
3
At home the Graduate Network attended 18 graduation ceremonies in
2017 signing new graduates onto the network. 4000 students graduate
from DIT each year. The ceremonies held at the historic St. Patrick’s
Cathedral in spring and autumn are a very proud day for alumni, their
families and DIT staff.
Continued Interest in Grangegorman Campus
DIT Grangegorman saw several alumni gatherings throughout the
year. MSc in Spatial Planning graduates were invited for a reunion
and tour of the new Campus with a reception at St. Laurence’s, one
of the two historic churches on the Grangegorman campus. The
event was hosted by the Spatial Planning Graduate Network and DIT
Graduate Network.
A large group of alumni from all Schools gathered for tours of the new
campus with guides joining us from the Campus Planning and Campus
Life teams. Four groups visited buildings including North House, St.
Laurence’s, the Clock Tower and The Greenway Hub.
School Reunions
DIT Conservatory of Music & Drama celebrated three decades of the
Bachelor of Music in Performance degree with an Alumni Gala Concert
‘Past and Present’ at the National Concert Hall featuring graduates of
the programme, including internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano
Paula Murrihy, along with 200 Conservatory staff and students. The
concert celebrated the contribution graduates of the BMus have made
to Irish and international music.
4 5
9
Image panel: 1. DIT Brussels Alumni Reunion, Embassy of Ireland
2. BSc Marketing 1987 3. Product Design Celebrates 10 Years of Alumni 4.
DIT London Alumni Celebration 2017 5. Grangegorman Tours for Alumni
6. International Business & Languages Class of 1997 Reunion
4,600
Graduates in 2017
143,200+
e-mail communications to alumni
Guests enjoyed performances by some of the many stars - and rising
stars - in Irish classical and traditional music who have emerged

from the DIT Conservatory over the last three decades. Introduced
by eminent Conservatory graduate, Liz Nolan from RTÉ Lyric FM,
the programme included vocalists, instrumentalists and orchestra,
performing both classics and exciting new compositions.
2
6
7 8
10
7. Chicago Alumnus Welcomed Back to Bolton Street 8. DIT Kevin Street
Celebrates Mathematics Alumni 9. DIT Conservatory of Music Celebrates
30 Years of the B Mus with a Gala Night at the National Concert Hall
10. DIT Bolton Street Class of 1957 Celebrates 60 Year ReunionEvent
6667
Friends on Facebook
15,786
members on LinkedIn
The School of Mathematical Sciences held an alumni reunion event
for all graduates of mathematics and statistics at the end of March,
uniting graduates from across many generations, giving an opportunity
to catch up, network and meet both current and retired staff from
the School. The event provided a platform for graduates to initiate
engagement with the School on research or industry collaboration
(including work placements and internships) and to contribute and
influence the development of its programmes and graduates.
The School of Mechanical & Design Engineering, the School of
Creative Arts and the School of Marketing welcomed alumni of the
BSc in Product Design to celebrate 10 years of graduates from the
programme at a reunion at the Product Design Students End of Year
Show in June.
The DIT MBA programme welcomed MBA alumni to the Baldonnel
Aerodrome in November. Hosted by MBA graduate Comdt Jay
O’Reilly it included a ‘knowledge exchange’ from DIT MBA faculty and
Air Corps personnel and a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the base.
The School of Surveying & Construction Management welcomed
back John O’Dwyer (Surveying ‘84) to give alumni and students
a talk on Valuation in America. John moved to the States shortly
after graduating from DIT Bolton Street and is now President of JSO
Valuation Group in Chicago, a commercial real estate appraisal firm
that works in 30 states in America. John reunited with DIT at the
alumni gathering in Chicago 2016.
Class Reunions
There were several Class Reunions throughout the year. Mechanical
Engineering Class of 1957 celebrated a 60 Year Reunion in April
with a dinner in Bolton Street. Present with the class were staff,
students from the DIT Engineers Society and members of the DIT
Beta Society, a group of engineers intent on philanthropic support
and promotion of the mechanical engineering degree at Bolton Street.
International Business & Languages class of 1997 celebrated its
20 Year Reunion at DIT Kevin Street in June. Classmates travelled from
around Ireland, Paris, Nantes, Tenerife and Dubai.
In September the BSc Marketing class of 1987 celebrated 30 years
at an event in Dublin city centre.

Thank You
We would like to thank all of our donors in 2017 for helping is to make such a great impact at DIT both in terms of
our capital development, delivering innovative programmes and supporting access to education.
Donations to DIT Foundation totalled €642,549 for 2017. A full set of DIT Foundation’s audited accounts are
available on dit.ie/foundation.
Trusts & Foundations
Corporates
Alumni & Friends
1%
Legacy
15%
26%
58%
DIT Foundation accounts are prepared in accordance with the charity SORP standard of accountability and transparency.
DIT Foundation is a registered charity with the Charities Regulator of Ireland. Registration number is 20045807.

Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about the work of DIT
Foundation and how you can get involved please contact
Julie Stafford
DIT Foundation
Grangegorman
Dublin 7
01 402 4137 | foundation@dit.ie | www.dit.ie/foundation
Directors:
Chairman – Jim Gahan, Mr. Peter Coyle, Mr. Sean
Dorgan, Mr. Jim Gahan, Professor Neville Hogan, Mr.
David Kennedy, Mr. Bobby Kerr, Ms. Anna Marie McHugh,
Professor Brian Norton, Dr. Noel O’Connor, Ms. Angela
Brady OBE, Mr. Ian O’Herlihy
Staff:
Anne-Marie Corry, Executive Director; Julie Stafford, Senior
Development Manager; Aisling Carr, Alumni Relations
Manager; Jill O’Lone, Administrator and Scholarships.

THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Donations to DIT support our mission to
provide an innovative, responsive and caring
learning environment for a diverse range and
level of programmes to students of all ages
and backgrounds.
DIT Foundation, The Clock Tower, Grangegorman, Dublin 7
Tel: 01 402 4137 Email: foundation@dit.ie Web: www.dit.ie/foundation