The course is designed in partnership with major technology companies.
16 graduating students form the first cohort of University of Limerick’s (UL) master’s degree in immersive software engineering (ISE), with many stepping into highly sought-after roles at companies including Stripe, Salesforce-owned Fin, Analog Devices and Amazon Web Services, the third-level institute said.
Launched in 2022, the master’s course in ISE prioritises practical, on-the-job experience over lectures and theoritcal studies, UL said. Since its launch, its intake has grown to around 60 students a year.
The degree is backed by leading tech firms, including of OpenAI, Qualcomm, Susquehanna, Eli Lilly and Deloitte, as well as big Irish names such as Manna, Provizio, Tines and Protex AI, allowing students to undertake five long-term paid residencies with the participating businesses.
Students also have a chance to build their own companies in partnership with Dogpatch Labs, the institute said.
“We launched the ISE programme with an ambition. We wanted to prove that a radically different model of software engineering education built on real-world complexity rather than the traditional lecture hall would produce graduates able to operate at the highest level of the software industry,” said Prof Stephen Kinsella, the co-director of UL’s ISE programme.
“Today, we’re seeing the results of that ambition realised. Our students are stepping into roles with some of the country’s most innovative companies. We’re excited for, and proud of, each of them and can’t wait to see how they progress as the future of Ireland’s tech ecosystem.”
In total, students spend around half of the course in the workplace and are given the opportunity to work on real-world problems and products, UL said. Today’s graduating cohort of master’s students have also won multiple prestigious awards and scholarships, including from Naughton and Google.
Fintech giant Stripe (which also runs the prestigious Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition) has worked to help develop the ISE programme, co-building the curriculum and the residency placement process as a founding partner.
“The incredible students graduating today took a bet on a different kind of degree when they signed up to ISE,” said Alison Ahern, the head of education partnerships at Stripe
“I’m delighted to see that faith being repaid as they leave for exciting careers and bright futures. ISE is made possible by deep collaboration between academia and industry leaders, and Stripe is proud to support a truly world-class programme. We’ve also enjoyed the partnership immensely, and we look forward to continuing to work with ISE.”
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