My Smurfit Masters

	Tobias  Marmann MSc in International Management / CEMS MIM 2008
	Position: Online Media Associate - Graduate Trainee Programme
	Company: Google

"The Smurfit School offers a unique environment consisting of a highly diverse student body, modern classroom installations as well as a rich choice of academic resources. I found lecturers to be very approachable and enthusiastic at sharing their academic knowledge and working life experiences alike.
The CEMS programme at UCD has provided me with the unique opportunity to obtain two academic degrees within just one year. Moreover, CEMS involved an exchange abroad as well as an internship, which has eventually led to my first job at Google. Throughout the CEMS year I have significantly increased my knowledge in areas such as international finance and business all while improving intercultural awareness through work in various multinational project groups. This has proven very beneficial in my current workplace where I interact with a number of different nationalities on a daily basis. Additionally, so-called skills-seminars offered by well-known corporate partners or CEMS events organized on a pan-European basis allowed me to build a network of both friends and professional contacts that covers not just Ireland, but spans across Europe and beyond.
For me, the CEMS programme has been extremely rewarding both on a personal and a professional level. Therefore, I can highly recommend it to any student who is ready for a year full of challenging learning experiences, international friendships and exciting job opportunities. ."

 

	Enrico Fontana MSc in International Management / CEMS MIM 2008
	Position: Area Manager, International Marketing Divison
	Company: MaxMara Fashion Group, Italy

"By entering the CEMS world at UCD Smurfit School I accessed a unique and stimulating environment I never faced before. I built a solid and reliable european network of peers and friends, I learnt how to better co-operate and work with my colleagues, I focused on highly interesting business topics, and most importantly, I developed an international attitude that is now part of my personality."

 

	Catherine Fitzgerald, MBS Strategic Management & Planning, 2003
	Position: Commercial Director
	Company: Titan Outdoor Ltd.

" The world of business is in a constant evolution and in order to keep up to date with new thinking and fresh ideas the MBS programme provides students with a fast, interesting and comprehensive learning experience. I chose the MBS SMP stream on a part time basis whilst working full time. I found it hugely informative with a great team of lecturers both from the academic and consulting fields. The team work involved provided insights into lots of different knowledge backgrounds also. I work in the advertising and media arena where strategy planning plays a key role in every discipline. The refreshing on theory and best practice that the course provided was a great support as I advanced in my field. Plus the added bonus of a great campus!"

	Louise Foody MSc in Marketing Practice 2004
	Position: Marketing Manager
	Company: Kingspan North America

"The MScMP prepared me for fast progression in a marketing career, currently starting my fourth role within Kingspan in less than two years of graduation. I developed a professional and structured approach to my work, the ability to successfully manage project and course work whilst gaining exposure to the commercial world working on various projects from market research to event management.
A unique opportunity presented on this course is learning the science of understanding people, most importantly oneself. This is achieved through the style in which the course operates, the management and consultants, course modules and working with fellow marketing advisors as well as professional clients.   The course is much more than a stepping stone from university to the working world it is a great platform for building a young career”.

"Focusing on corporate finance and the investment market, the MBS (Specialising in Finance) was particularly suited to my business background, having previously studied Business and Legal (BBLS) in the Quinn School of Business. Emphasis on investment banking, fund management and related financial services areas gave me an advantage in seeking an apprenticeship as a trainee solicitor in A&L Goodbody, a large commercial firm. A business education is about learning and experiencing how business operates in the real world. At UCD Smurfit School of Business, I discovered how teamwork and independence combine with the use of technology to give a real insight into the business world."

	Patrick Fenton, Msc in Business Analytics 2006
	Position: Analyst
	Company: Accenture

"I found the content of the Master of Management Science to be both challenging and worthwhile. I feel I have picked up invaluable technical and personal skills, which will no doubt be of benefit to my career development. Having previously completed a degree in Computer Science in at Trinity College, I felt well suited to the course as it is particularly geared toward students with a technical background. The atmosphere in the Smurfit School is very much career orientated, and I would recommend the MMS as an extremely worthwhile course for anyone wishing to improve on their technical, management and inter-personal skills.”

	Phillip Shah, MSc in International Management / CEMS MIM 2007
	Position: Business Graduate Programme
	Company: Reuters

"It has been most interesting and challenging to become a member of the CEMS community in one of the newest schools. 2006 became a year in which CEMS life in Dublin began to develop rapidly, and along with this came plenty of opportunities for students to involve themselves in CEMS activities and to contribute to creating CEMS spirit within the school. Students are also able to involve themselves at a European level and contribute to the contribution of the program and raise awareness. Being able to organise and attend local and European events with students from other elite European management schools, top global companies and a widely experienced alumni network sets it out from the crowd. CEMS provides so much more than high quality education; it really is the best route to international success and development."

	Stephen Shallow, MSc in Marketing Practice 2007
	Position:
	Company:

"UCD Smurfit School is a fantastic launch pad for anyone interested in a career in business. I got the opportunity to obtain real life experience working on various commercial projects with a team of students from my programme. The contact with clients and events organised throughout the year allowed me the opportunity to network with senior business people and build relationships with them."

	Eamon Dillon, Master of Accounting 2003 (1st Place and the Ulster Society Diamond Jubilee Prize Winner – FAE 2005)
	Position: Manager
	Company: KPMG

"A major advantage of the MAcc is that it allows you to focus exclusively on developing your technical knowledge of accounting in a dedicated classroom setting, as opposed to trying to balance working during the day with studying and lectures in the evening. The result is better quality learning and a greater level of understanding. It also provides an excellent platform for beginning a career in accountancy as you are beginning your career with an already advanced technical knowledge. This immediately sets you apart from colleagues at the same level and allows you to focus more on learning the job."

	Gavin Boyle, Msc in Quantitative Finance 1999
	Position: CFA, Head of Quantitative Equity Research - Europe and Asia
	Company: Pioneer Investment Management Ltd.

"I have found that the Masters in Quantitative Finance at the UCD Smurfit School has had a huge positive impact on the direction of my career. It has afforded me the opportunity to work at the cutting edge of quantitative investments and is very highly regarded within the industry. Pioneer Investment Management Ltd. employs over 2,500 people globally and manages assets in excess of $300bn. Over the past three years, I have recruited three graduates from the M.Sc. in Quantitative Finance to strengthen the Quantitative Equity Research team at Pioneer as the course continues to produce top-tier talent in the area of quantitative investments and have given internships to over ten students over the past six years. Graduates of the M.Sc. have an excellent combination of computational and finance skills, balancing the theoretical with the practical, enabling them to hit the ground running and I see this as a key ingrediant in the success of the course."

	Dominic Greensmith, MSc in Project Management Practice 2006-2008
	Position: Chief Planner
	Company: Intel Corporation

"The course promised to be an integrated program with a broad focus on project management, capturing the right mix of theory and practice and the hard and soft skills. One year into the course and I can confirm that it delivers. I was very impressed with the lecture team, the course materials and its delivery. If you are looking for a course that will fast track your knowledge base and enhance your career prospects, I would strongly recommend this one."

	Alan Leddy, MSc in Technology Management 2002
	Position: Research Manager
	Company: IDA

"In 1998 I was employed as a system architect in Ericsson Systems Expertise Ltd, Clonskeagh, Dublin and was concerned about our subsidiary's ability to manage technology projects and my possible contribution to such an internal competitive innovation process. I undertook the MSc programme at the National Institute of Technology Management in UCD in order to help address this and give my career a further competitive advantage. The programme was totally appropriate to the range of management roles and technical responsibilities within a large multinational like Ericsson Systems Expertise Ltd, especially during the current difficult trading conditions, where dynamic technology strategies are required not just for mandate enhancement but for ultimate survival. Relevant topics of particular interest (excluding all obvious overlaps with typical MBA courses) are organisation & innovation, technology strategy and product development. As a large software design organisation, these modules are very useful in shaping how we can approach the acquirement, development, commercialisation and deployment of technology based products and services."

	Thomas McCarthy, MSc in Technology Management 2004
	Position: Test Group Manager
	Company: Microsoft

"I found that the content, class structure, teaching facilities and class participants were hugely beneficial to my personal and professional development. I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending anyone involved in product, service or market development to do this degree. From the initial foundation course of Organizational Behaviour to Portfolio Management, the course was as enjoyable as it was challenging."

	Pauline Phelan, Master in Business by Research 2007
	Position: HR/OD Consultant and Part-time lecturer
	Company:

"The Master in Business by research degree was an invaluable learning experience for me. Having lived and worked abroad for ten years, undertaking the particular research allowed me to gain an understanding of the Irish market place and the complex issues surrounding the areas of industrial relations and human resources between Irish subsidiaries and their US multinational headquarters over the past thirty years. Through working closely with my supervisor, which I believe to be a critical component of this type of masters, I had access to a massive wealth of knowledge and expertise in the area of study that would have been tremendously difficult to find through other means of study. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in lecturing, consultancy or research."

"A first-class experience. With a good degree of hard work, a year here will help polish ambitious and motivated students for a professional management career. A dedicated class of students, highly-qualified academic staff, and experienced senior industry practitioners guarantees the opportunity to gain rounded marketing and business knowledge. This experience allows students to develop key life skills in presentation, team-working, time-management and communication, skills imperative for a highly successful career. Visits and lectures from leading industry figures provide for endless networking opportunities. To top, a fun campus and an abundance of class comraderie makes Smurfit a great choice. Only for the skills and know-how the Smurfit experience instilled in me, would I have had the confidence to set such high career goals and be hired by such a great organisation."

	Sandra O’Farrell,  MBS Marketing 2007
	Position: Marketing Executive
	Company: Enterprise Ireland

"Before embarking on the MBS in Marketing I had worked for two years.  As part of the MBS our class travelled to Venice to learn about luxury branding of companies such as Ferrari and Dolce & Gabana. We also got the opportunity to meet with several Marketing Professionals to benefit from their experience over the course of the year. I was a Class Representative, which meant I helped out at a lot of event organisation throughout the year. The time I spent at UCD Smurfit School was without doubt some of the happiest and most challenging days of my life, the support and encouragement I received from the all staff helped me to realise my potential and provide me with an ideal springboard to launch myself into a successful career.  The Major Project undertaken by the MBS Marketing class really gives you a feel for the “real world” of Marketing. Graduates from my class have secured roles as Marketing Executives, Account Executives, Assistant Brand Managers and some are on graduate programmes in the UK & beyond.  The Smurfit Experience was not all work and no play, because I can sum up my experience by saying that I have made lifelong friends. ."

	Sara Cummins, MSc in Finance 2007
	Position: Tax Assistant
	Company: Ernst and Young

"I wanted to study Finance in Smurfit, because I found this area to be interesting throughout my degree and wanted to expand my knowledge in the arena. I found the programme to be very exciting, more literature based than mathematically based and so everyone was able to understand, not only the financial theory but also the motivation behind the finance. The people are what make the Smurfit experience so great, everyone becomes very close, so quickly because of group work, and the sheer intensity of the work load. It sounds tough, but its great fun because everyone doing the MBS wants to be there, and all have high standards, which can make working together very interesting. My classmates were a group of diverse, interesting and exciting people. The lecturers were brilliant; they were readily available to answer any queries, however great or small. I personally believe that the MBS (Finance) is a challenging, rewarding programme and is definitely worth considering if you are interested in the theory of finance. I found that having a Masters, especially in Finance, made it easier to get a job."

	Louise McKeever, 2008
	Position: Senior Systems Analyst
	Company: Department of Social and Famiy Affairs

"I chose the MBS Information Systems programme because I felt the course focused on the impact Information Technology has on organisations, and also could give me a better understanding of how to harness this asset to gain competitive advantage. What I particularly like is the way each module is taught. The learning experience is built on both individual and group projects, and lecturers focus on developing students through open discussion and encouraging students to engage in extra activities to further develop themselves. I was involved in two such activities. I participated in the Oracle eMarketplace simulations across European universities as part of the Ecommerce Infrastructure & Systems Development module. As a result of this experience I was afforded the opportunity to present my findings at the Bled eConference in Slovenia. I also participated in the Beijing Summer School as a representative of the Smurfit School of Business. I spent four weeks at Tsinghua University focusing on learning about business opportunities in China. The programme focuses on cross cultural open mindedness and gives students the unique opportunity to discover another life and a different way of thinking. The MBS programme has helped me to develop a wider knowledge of information systems and aided me in becoming a more agile developer. I am currently engaged in a high profile project that utilises modern technologies and is a key development as part of the Governments modernisation programme."

	Patrick Barry, MBS in eBusiness 2007
	Position:  Graduate Consultant
	Company:Accenture

"Having come from a technical background as a Java Developer, I enrolled in the MBS eBusiness course with the goal of obtaining a more client-facing role in the workplace.  The MBS helped me achieve this.  By choice, the eBusiness course can be technical or non-technical.  I decided not to focus on the technical subjects and instead focused on areas such as project management and business process redesign.  These were the type of modules that improved my business skills and which also complimented my technical attributes.  As a result my CV was better prepared when it came to applying for jobs. As well as the educational aspect, the social life in Smurfit was great. ."

"The MSc in Marketing Practice provides an excellent platform from which graduates can decide on and pursue their careers. Based on the limited practical experience I gained from my degree, I decided to apply for the programme which offered exposure to a number of different industries as well as a ‘safe environment’ to explore the skills I needed to develop. From my year on the course my most indispensable learning came from the mentoring programme and ‘learning set’ which I still make use of today. I would highly recommend this programme not only to gain practical experience but to gain industry knowledge, long-term friendships, networking opportunities and great social activities”.

"The MSB in Project Management equipped me with the necessary skills and toolsets that allow me to work effectively at what I do. I felt the course was completely invaluable to my learning and development to the role I am now in. I work for Procter and Gamble, the worlds’ largest manufacturer of consumer goods, an organisation with over 138,000 employees and work for a department called Information and Decision Solutions. Project management is a core competency for the range of work we are doing at any given time and is a key business driver. The business impact and responsibility for the results I have to achieve from day one is great and I utilise skills from each and every class, from PM Tools and Techniques to Managing and Leading Teams. I have been able to put into use a huge amount of my learning and this is down to not only the structure of the course material but the way in which you have to look at working – in teams, collaboratively and effectively, overcoming conflict and diversity. What better a way to prepare you for the real world than to give you an insight on a daily basis as to how to grow your personal skill set to enable you to succeed at what you do and I am testament to that in what I do each and every day."