UL to Confer 80 of its first students from the class of 1972 with Honorary Masters of Philosophy

The University of Limerick will honour its ‘early pioneering students’ as it marks the 40th anniversary of the first intake of students on 27th September 1972.  80 members of the original class of 1972 will be conferred with honorary Masters of Philosophy degrees on Saturday 29th September at UL as part of the Official Launch of the UL40 Year.  The full academic year will be marked with a series of events and initiatives involving staff, students, alumni and the many friends, supporters and members of the wider community who have been part of the UL story over the past four decades.
The Official Launch of the UL40 year will take place on campus from Friday 28th – Sunday 30th September and members of the public are being encouraged to visit the campus and enjoy a huge array of free activities and events that will be taking place. (Details are available at www.ul.ie/ul40 )

Speaking at the launch event, UL President, Professor Don Barry said: “Almost 65,000 students have graduated from UL in the past 40 years and it all began with 113 pioneering students who took a chance on a new and very different third level institution in 1972.  From its inception the University of Limerick broke the mould of third level education in Ireland under the inspirational leadership of Ed Walsh and this year we are marking 40 years of innovation - innovative programmes, innovative research, innovative staff, students and graduates who all encapsulate the ‘UL Spirit’.”
The University of Limerick has achieved many ‘firsts’ over the past 40 years.  UL pioneered Cooperative Education in Ireland and established the first medical school to be established in the State in over 150 years.  In addition to a wide range of unique academic programmes across a broad spectrum of disciplines, the University is also home to the country’s only virtual financial services trading floor, the first Olympic standard swimming pool in Ireland, the longest pedestrian bridge in Ireland and pioneered many educational innovations and community engagement initiatives. UL researchers continue to make significant contributions to society, addressing such pressing challenges as childhood obesity, maths and science teaching, Alzheimer’s screening, cancer, climate change, sports performance, alternative energy and Ireland’s economic recovery.

“The ‘UL spirit’ has stood the test of time and has been evident in all UL’s accomplishments over the last 40 years.  Our first priority has always been to provide third-level students with an outstanding education and demand for admission to our many academic programmes over the years has shown how valuable a UL education is and how highly-prized our graduates are in the workplace.  Indeed, UL graduates currently enjoy a 16% advantage over graduates from other Irish universities in the very competitive job market of today” concluded President Barry.