One last graduation handshake for president of Limerick university

PROFESSOR Vincent Cunnane has conferred his final student as President of Technological University of the Shannon (TUS), bringing to an estimated 35,000 the number of graduates he has personally conferred during his years at the helm of three higher education institutions.

The founding President of TUS admitted he was feeling emotional as he presided over his final conferring ceremony in Limerick on Friday, October 30.

Fittingly for an academic whose own career began in scientific research, the final student to cross the stage was James Ryan, from Mungret, Limerick, who was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy for research into how advanced technology can make workplaces safer.

Professor Cunnane, who will retire at the end of January, said graduation ceremonies had been among the most rewarding experiences of his presidency.

He said: “Graduations are where it all comes together, where all those stories culminate in success.

“And they walk across the stage as equals, as professionals, as people with a future.

“And for me, that's just the magic of being in this role. And I'm going to miss it terribly.”

In his final conferring address, Professor Cunnane reflected on the extraordinary technological change experienced by the Class of 2026, including the rise of Artificial Intelligence.

“Think about that – you began your degree in one world, and you are finishing it in another,” he told graduates.

As AI becomes increasingly capable of writing, coding, designing and analysing, he said human judgement and critical thinking would become more, rather than less, valuable.

“A machine can give you an answer, and a very convincing one. But it can't tell whether the question was the right one, whether the answer is true, or what it has left out.”

Professor Cunnane will be succeeded as President of TUS by Professor Paul Connolly, who will take up the role in spring 2027.