SETU opens doors to future students at Spring Open Evening

The doors of South East Technological University’s (SETU) Cork Road campus opened to over 1,500 future students eager to find out what it will be like to study at the region’s first university.

Sixth years and their parents came from across the region and beyond to explore SETU’s Cork Road campus in Waterford at the Spring Open Evening held on Thursday, 18 April.

There was plenty to discover at the event aimed at those who have applied for an undergraduate course through the CAO, considering their next steps in education, or those considering postgraduate or part-time courses or professional development courses.

Students learned more about their chosen field of study, engaged with lecturers, and learned about fees, grants, and supports. They took tours of the campus and the facilities, heard firsthand from current students, and learned about university life at SETU.

The success of the event mirrors recent statistics for enrolment, which highlight the popularity of Waterford as a place to study.

Dr Richard Hayes, Vice President for Strategy & Institutional Transformation at SETU. “Nearly half of all students from here choose SETU in Waterford as a place to study. Figures also show high enrolment rates from Kilkenny and Wexford. Overall, SETU is the most popular place for students from the south east to study, with almost 40% of students choosing to study at one or other of our campuses.

“The south east, as we know, is a great place to live and Waterford city is an attractive place for students to work, live and study. The city offers great amenities in addition to a lively environment to learn and grow; it is a place where students can centre themselves for work in the future and not just their college years,” Dr Hayes adds. 

Dr Derek O’Byrne, Vice President Academic Affairs, Teaching & Learning at SETU, was delighted to welcome Leaving Cert students and parents/guardians to the Cork Road campus in Waterford.

Emphasising the importance of open or on-campus events, Dr O’Byrne explains it is where prospective students can engage with their future lecturers, familiarise themselves with the facilities, and envision themselves walking the university’s corridors for the next four years.  

“Events like our Spring Open Evening embodies our ‘right student, right programme’ ethos, and helps students to prioritise informed decision-making. We strive to ensure that every student accepting an offer at SETU has meticulously researched and asked the right questions, ensuring they select the right course based on their chosen career path, individual strengths, and interests,” he says.

Dr O'Byrne states that this approach empowers students to make choices in line with their future aspirations and personal growth, rather than following friends or fleeting trends. 

SETU offers over 140 CAO courses across a range of disciplines including business, engineering and architecture, sports and nursing, law, social sciences, arts and psychology, the creative and performing arts, languages, tourism and hospitality, science and computing. 

Thursday’s evening was geared towards CAO applicants who wanted to bring parents, guardians, friends or family along to help make the right choice.