NCI Blog

This article continues our International Women’s Day series. In Part Two, NCI’s PR & Events Executive, Kate O’Brien shifts the focus from history to the present day, and to what access, leadership, and opportunity look like for women now and into the future.

Editor's note: As part of International Women’s Day and National College of Ireland’s 75th anniversary, this two-part series reflects on how access to education for women has evolved in Ireland and the role NCI has played in that journey since its foundation in 1951.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Ray McAdam, was welcomed to National College of Ireland on 20th November, to award the winning teams from Dublin Mission Control, whose projects now go forward to compete globally at this year’s NASA Space Apps Challenge, and to congratulate the Community Choice winners, voted by their peers.

At National College of Ireland, many courses are designed to inspire students throughout their studies. A blend of theoretical and practical learning will help you feel at ease and confident that your CAO choice is the right one for you. Ronan Oduntan is about to graduate. Below he shares how the BA (Honours) in Marketing Practice helped him expand his knowledge, and feel certain in his decision after being unsure about what he wanted to study.

At National College of Ireland, many courses are designed to give students practical experiences alongside classroom learning so that they feel confident stepping into working life after graduation. Conor Rooney Law is about to graduate, and below he shares how the BA (Honours) in Marketing Practice helped him to broaden his skills and prepare him for working life.

Pablo Periañez Cabrero completed his bachelor’s degree in software engineering at the University of Seville, and then continued to study, pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Science at University College Dublin. In September 2025, after completing his master’s degree, Pablo began working as a Technology Consultant at one of the Big 4, as part of the Systems Engineering team. The team is responsible for building, managing, and maintaining mission-critical applications. These transformations are normally meant to increase productivity in different areas of the business.

When it comes to choosing the right CAO course for you, it is important to consider what you are passionate about studying. Your values will inform the qualifications you wish to pursue, and the career you wish to work towards. At National College of Ireland, our practical courses are designed to give students the qualifications they need to pursue their passions professionally. Ava is one of our students who felt that she was able to follow her passions by choosing the BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care. Ava shares her experiences and insights into her CAO choices and study journey below.

Rabin William is currently the Accelerometer product lead at Innalabs, an inertial sensor manufacturer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physics and a master’s degree in Space Science and Technology.

Maximilian Schöll is currently completing his master's degree in Computer Science in Dublin at UCD. Max previously studied in Germany, he holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science with a focus on IT Security. Currently, Max works as a Data Scientist for a Swiss-based clinical research department.

Deirdre Monks is a business woman, a busy working mother, and she is a proud advocate for returning to education and encouraging others to pursue their ambitions. In this blog post, Deirdre shares the story of how she made the decision to study the Higher Diploma in Science in Data Analytics under the Springboard+ initiative ten years ago, and why it was one of the best decisions she has ever made.