Professor Liam Maguire,(right) Head of the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems (SCIS) at University of Ulster's Magee campus (on right) and Professor Tom Fraser, Emeritus Professor and former Provost of the Magee Campus, (first on left) pictured with prizewinners and guests at the SCIS prizegiving at Magee.

OVER three quarters of recent graduates studying Science Technology Engineering and Maths at the University of Ulster’s Magee campus find employment in the north-west.

The successful links between students studying STEM subjects at Magee and the local business community were highlighted at the annual awards presentation for the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems.

Welcoming staff, students and industrialists to the event, Professor Liam Maguire, Head of the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems at Magee said the School’s STEM provision had enabled the development of strong links with major national and international industrialists.

“The awards were introduced as a way of establishing stronger working relationships with the business community. They not only recognise the academic achievement of students on our STEM courses but they also emphasise the willingness of companies to promote excellence in computing and electronics. 

 “We are witnessing a high demand for our best computing and engineering graduates. There are lots of opportunities both locally and nationally and I wish these students well in their future careers.”

Speaking at the presentation, Professor Tom Fraser, Emeritus Professor and former Provost of the Magee Campus pointed out that when Magee was founded, it focused on the Humanities and contrasted this with the current STEM provision of the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems which he says continues to go from strength to strength.

Ten undergraduate and two postgraduate prizes were awarded at the event. The undergraduate prizes presented were:

The Asidua Embedded Systems Prize was presented to Declan Walsh, a graduate from the BEng Hons Electronics and Computer Systems course in July 2009, by Angela Canavan from Asidua Ltd.  Declan, from Buncrana, Co. Donegal, received this award for his embedded systems final year project, Network-on-Chip Routing Schemes, in which he obtained 77%.

Declan Walsh was also awarded the Nallatech Student Prize presented to the top student in the BEng Hons Electronics and Computer systems course. Declan obtained an overall year average of 78% and obtained a first class honours. This prize was presented by Professor Liam Maguire on behalf of Nallatech.

Angela Canavan from Asidua also presented the Asidua Second Year Computer Science prize to the best overall student in year 2 of the BSc Hons Computer Science course to Declan Traynor from Londonderry who obtained a year average of 83%.

The Liberty IT prize was awarded to Sean Carlin from Londonderry who, with a year average of 80%, was the best first year student on the BSc Hons Computer Science course. Professor Liam Maguire presented the award on behalf of Liberty IT.

Marty McCay from Lucid Interactive presented the two Lucid Interactive Prizes for the best students in year 1 of the BSc Hons Computer Science and the BEng Hons Computer Games Development courses. Sean Carlin again scooped the Computer Science award, while Christopher Bryson from Eglinton received the Computer Games Development award. Their overall marks were 80% and 82% respectively.

Michael Dawson from Schrader Electronics presented Ayleen McCann from Londonderry with the Schrader Electronics First Year Prize. This was awarded for the best performance in year 1 on the BEng Hons Electronics and Computer Systems course. Ayleen’s average mark was 86%.

Michael Dawson also awarded the Schrader Electronics Second Year Prize to Michael Lafferty from Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, who was the best student in year 2 of the BEng Electronics and Computer Systems course. Michael’s average was 73%.

Brendan Murphy from Warrenpoint, a second year BSc Hons Computer Science student, is this year’s Microsoft Student Partner within the School of Computing and Intelligent Systems. Brendan was delighted to be asked by Microsoft Ireland to present the Microsoft Games prize to Aaron Ward from Bundoran, Co. Donegal, the best 2009 student graduate from the BEng Hons Computer Games Development course. Aaron’s year average was 72% and he obtained a first class honours.

The winner of the Kainos Prize for the final year BSc Hons Computer Science student whose project uses technology in the most innovative way and can be shown to be capable of working was Yu Ye from Fujian in China. Unfortunately Yu Ye could not be present at the awards ceremony.

Postgraduate prizes were presented by 8over8 and Fidessa. The 8over8 Prize was presented by Jon-Paul Harkin to Qiyi Wu, also from Fujian in China. Dr Tom Lunney, the postgraduate Course Director, received the prize on his behalf. This prize is for the best student on the MSc Computing with Specialisms course. Qiyi was enrolled on the MSc Computing and Creative Technologies.

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