Ladies and gentlemen I am delighted to launch the William Burgess Bursary today.
I am heartened to see that this important bursary will constantly remind us of a man who provided a unique sense of perspective and direction during his time as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Digital Hub Development Agency.
I know that the educational and social aspects of the Agency’s work were particularly close to his heart.
This bursary will provide financial support to talented and highly motivated students who want to take up an under graduate or post graduate study and research in digital media.
A fund of €100,000, which includes a generous contribution from William’s family, is committed to this bursary over a three year period.
This will eliminate any barriers created by the costs associated with students continuing their studies.
The students will begin their studies in digital media this September. The courses will be at Diploma, Certificate, Degree and Masters levels.
They are linked into the Digital Hub learning programmes, which inform the third level sector of the needs of the industry.
I believe that it will provide a unique channel between the companies in The Digital hub and third level institutions.
By having close links with the relevant industry sectors, the courses and academic programmes become more relevant. The students can identify where the opportunities are in the technology sector in the future including computer games, e-learning, animation, healthcare and websites.
And the industry has access to highly motivated well trained graduates.
This Government has delivered in terms of job creation, economic growth and national prosperity.
We have achieved this because my colleagues and I have always been committed to implementing practical and achievable policies in a coordinated way.
The coming together of education and industry clearly demonstrates this Government’s approach to building for the future.
And the bursary we are launching this evening ensures that access to the jobs within the digital industry will be open to everyone.
I thank all of you from education, industry and the Digital HUB for setting up a practical way to help young people into the industry and build the nation’s skill levels in technology.
And on behalf of all of us working in this area I extend my gratitude to the Burgess family for allowing us to remember him in this way and for financially supporting the bursary.
William Burgess made a great contribution to the Digital Hub and this, in turn, has enhanced the development of the technology industry in Ireland.
The William Burgess Bursary will ensure that his achievements will continue through highly trained students and that his name will rightly be associated with the industry for many years to come. I have no doubt that he would have been as proud of this bursary being called after him. I know we are.
Thank you.
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