Issuu

CIT Students’ Union Magazine Volume Twenty Two, Issue 1

IN THIS ISSUE: • SU Officers - welcome Back to college • Leap Cards: all you need to know • Entrepreneurs of CIT • Great competitions - hard cash on offer! and all the CIT news...

VALID NORTH MAIN ST. STORE ONLY Sun (10am) - Thur (4am) before 30th Dec ‘20 Not valid bank holiday weekend.

Your Union Your Voice

NORTH MAIN STREET (Off Washington Street) PEMBROKE STREET (Opp The G.P.O.) OLIVER PLUNKETT STREET (Opp USIT)

Student Accommodation Short term options Cork City B&B’s Sheila’s Hostel, Wellington Road

021 4505562

information@sheilashostel.ie

Killarney House B&B, Western Road

021 4270290

reception@killarneyhouse.com

Redclyffe B&B, Western Road

021 4273220

info@redclyffe.com

Anam Cara B&B, Western Road

085 8645216

anamcara2@ymail.com

Olde House B&B, Glasheen

021 6020886 denisleahy57@gmail.com

Cork City Hotels Metropole Hotel, McCurtain Street

021 4947541

phurley@trigonhotels.com

Ashley Hotel, Coburg Street

021 4501518

info@ashleyhotel.com

Clayton Hotel, South Mall

021 4224948 res.corkcity@claytonhotels.com

Maldron, Shandon

021 4529200 reservations.shandon@maldronhotels.com

River Lee, Western Road

021 4937713 www.doylecollection.com/cork

Jury’s Inn, Andersons Quay

021 4943000 www.jurysinns.com

Kingsley Hotel, Sunday’s Well

021 4800500 reservations@thekingsley.ie

Suburbs Oriel House, Ballincollig

021 4208400 reservations@orielhouse.ie

Cork International Hotel, Cork Airport 021 4947541 CIT Students’ Union, Bishopstown, Cork. Tel: 021 433 5274 Web: www.explicit.ie CITSU

CITSU

expliCIT Production, Design & Advertising Keith Brown, supublications@cit.ie CIT SU President Aisling O’Mahony supresident@cit.ie

phurley@trigonhotels.com

VP Education Zack Nutchanat sueducation@cit.ie VP Welfare Cian O’Driscoll suwelfare@cit.ie Projects Officer Stephen Foley dg_citsu@cit.ie Communications Officer Niamh Cronin supublications@cit.ie Entertainments Officer Laura Callaghan Event@cit.ie Entertainments Manager Mick O’Mahony Event@cit.ie

Advertising Opportunities

CIT has 17,000+ full and part-time students with over 1,500 staff. Why not use expliCIT to promote your business to this large audience? Our copy deadlines, advertising rates and technical specifications are available from our website www.citsu.ie and upon request from the Publications Office in hardcopy or via email. expliCIT magazine is published monthly by CIT Students’ Union. The views expressed in the magazine are those of their authors and are not necessarily those of CIT Students’ Union. All articles and pictures are the property of their respective owners and should not be reproduced without their permission.

CONTENTS

5 SU OFFICERS’ WELCOME ADDRESS 7 STUDENT LEAP CARDS 8 WELCOME FROM USI

12 THE CIT ALUMNI AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME 13 STUDENT INC ENTREPRENEURS 14 FLYNNERS FLYING COLUMN

9 EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

16 COMPETITIONS

10 WELCOME TO CIT

Enter online...WIN hard cash...simple!

Message from A Good Start team

Cover pic: CIT President Barry O’Connor Main corridor, Bishopstown campus

Where Students Come First

Coronavirus COVID-19 HELP PREVENT CORONAVIRUS

Wash your hands

Please note to protect the health and wellbeing of students, access to the Student Centre offices is limited

To book an appointment or avail of a service, please visit the Student Support Service Desks in the Nexus (Ground Floor, Student Centre)

Cover mouth if coughing or sneezing

Opening times Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm

Avoid touching your face

Accommodation Office accommodation@cit.ie 021-4335750

Keep surfaces clean

Alternatively contact the services by emailing or phoning the following:

Access Office emily.clifford@cit.ie 021-4335138 Careers Service careers@cit.ie 021-4336232 Chaplaincy edel.kelly@cit.ie 021-4335756 Counselling Service counselling.admin@cit.ie 021-4335772

Don’t shake hands or hug Keep a safe distance Like us:

Medical Centre 021-4335780 SportsClubs and Societies fintan.oleary@cit.ie 021-4335767 Student Assistance Fund student.assistance@cit.ie 021-4335750 / 021-4335138 Students’ Union fiona.leddy@cit.ie 021-4335270

facebook.com/citsu Follow us:

Instagram:

cit_su Snapchat:

cit_su

twitter.com/citsu www.citsu.ie 3

Students’ Union

OFFICERS xx

2020-21

Cian O’Driscoll VP Welfare

• Well Being Campaigns • Financial Issues • General Student Support • Accommodation • Safety • Equality

Aisling O’Mahony President

• Representation • Organisation • Press & Media • Chief Spokesperson • Campaigns • National Issues • Facilities & Services

Zack Nutchanat VP Education

• Academic Issues • Grants Information

• Education Campaigns • Grinds List Management • Class Rep Organisation

SABBATICAL

Tel: 021 433 5270 Web: www.citsu.ie citsu

cit_su

Your Union Your Voice

STUDENTS’ UNION OFFICERS ADDRESS

elcome to CIT to all of you who are just beginning first year and we also welcome back all of those students who are back with us during these unprecedented times for another year. We thank you for bearing with us. We look forward to working with you and will ensure the best possible student experience both for online and blended learning for the year ahead. We hope you enjoyed your summer and your families stayed safe and well! We here have been busy the last few months doing a lot of planning for the year ahead!

UPCOMING ACADEMIC YEAR 20/21 ... A WHIRLWIND OF CHANGE

So, in the past few months, you, the classes of 2020, have seen cancelled final year balls, race days and other pinnacle events on the college social calendar. You have experienced placements either postponed or cancelled. Erasmus students returning home. You sat and watched your lectures unfold across zoom. You showed utter patience and respect to lecturers trying their best, learning how to get their content and classes online. You had to adapt to a completely changing environment and sit exams in a way you never had to before. Most of you did this while serving the country in part time jobs that became full time. Our social care students along with others continued to serve on the front line. You, the student population, have shown that you are resilient. Rest assured that your Students’ Union have been working flat to the mat all summer, alongside management to ensure your best interests are at the forefront of every single decision made. Some decisions included; waiving the repeat fees, removing capping of repeat exams and for those who wanted to repeat to improve in Autumn did so for free. The Academic Plan for 2020/2021 for all years can be found online at www.cit.ie under the academic delivery section. This should also offer clarity for students who are still uncertain whether or not to sign into accommodation contracts. We acknowledge that this took quite some time to plan, by all involved, who were waiting for government guidance. Your patience was greatly appreciated.

“ You, the student population, have shown that you are resilient. ”

STUDENT ACCOMODATION REFUND EFFORT

In March 2020, many of you had no choice but to leave your student accommodation complexes to return home amidst a pandemic. You returned to your hometowns where your work hours more than likely increased to cater for the demand in local grocery stores and other essential retail outlets and care homes. The student population stepped up to the plate to keep the cogs of our country moving. I fought long and hard for weeks to get your rent refunded with numerous accomodation providers. Many private landlords took the humane approach and accommodated their student tenants. However, after lengthy discussions and negotiations with particular Accomodation providers, and many many meetings, we didn’t get far with this argument as landlords were not obliged by law to refund any rent if the student left out of their own free will. Your Students’ Union was utterly disappointed with this excuse and are currently lobbying the government alongside USI to put a policy in place to protect our students from this happening again.

COVID CRAIC (THE ULTIMATE PARTY POOPER

College management, lecturing and support staff alongside the Students’ Union spent the summer months planning for your arrival back to CIT. Trying to make the transition into this new environment as smooth as possible. Your health and safety on campus is our number one priority and measures have been put in place to ensure that you are safe and looked after. This year is a little different to others and the college campus had to adapt to some physical changes too. Unfortunately the common room will not open until safe to do so. Please try your best to be mindful of arrows and the general flow of open spaces. There will soon come a day where we will return to normal but for now we all have to learn to adapt to a new system. Our partying will return but for now hold tough on the sessions, mind your buddies by keeping your distance and staying apart (we just don’t know who might be vulnerable or have family that they’re going home to at the weekends who might be at risk).

YOU’RE ALL A BUNCH OF LEDGEBAGS!

A special thank you to the entire student population for their patience during a time of complete change, to all staff working hard behind the scenes to keep CIT moving. Your hard work does not go unnoticed. I have every faith that the strong and resilient CIT community will pull through this time of uncertainty. Please don’t hesitate to contact myself (Aisling President), Cian (VP Welfare) or Zack (VP Education) with any queries big or small. We are still here working for you and because of you.

STUDENTS RETURNING TO CAMPUS

Please follow all the new markings of one way systems and as always obey the 2 metre social distancing, wash hands and wear a mask while indoors!

BE SAFE DAY

There will be a virtual Be Safe Campaign this year on the 6th October where information will be available on the following: • Consent, Contraception and Sexual Health. • Narcotics and Alcohol Information. • Personal Safety. • COVID-19.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE FUND/ LAPTOP SCHEME

Student Assistance Fund Application is available to download online.

Please note that the SAF Application Form is only available online this academic year. No paper application forms are available due to COVID-19. Should you have any specific questions regarding a section of the form prior to submitting an application please email: student.assistance@cit.ie Applications also now open for the Government Laptop Scheme to assist with online learning and can be made online through the Student Assistance Fund.

CLASS REP. ELECTION WE’RE RECRUITING YOU!

In order that the right decisions are made, to benefit all, we need the voices of our students to be heard in the boardrooms! Class Reps are an integral element in the decisionmaking process of the college and

http://www.mycit.ie/access_disability/student-assistance-fund Applications will be accepted between the following dates: Semester 1: 28 Sept – 4 Dec

we here at the Students’ Union want to ensure that our students are the forefront of any decision made. Elections will take place for 2nd, 3rd

and 4th year from 28th September 2020 to 2nd October 2020 and elections will take place for 1st year from 9th to 16th October 2020. Due to an unprecedented year the Students’ Union is asking course coordinators and other academic staff to facilitate Class Rep elections. The Students’ Union needs Class Reps to act as the chief spokesperson for their class. One of the main duties of a Class Rep is to liaise with academic staff and report back to the SU Executive at Union Council Meeting regarding any issues, concerns or ideas that their class might have. It is an absolute privilege to be a Class Rep and there are many benefits such as standing out in future job interviews, enhancements of CV’s and learning new skills such as management, negotiations and so much more. Class Reps training has been organised this year on a digital platform, where we have wonderful line up of very useful digital engagements. We are all very excited about working with you all throughout the coming year. Yours sincerely, AISLING, CIAN & ZACK, YOUR SU EXECUTIVE

Products available from the Students’ Union at the Student Support Service Desk

We kindly ask you to pay using your Student ID Card where possible

4 1 € s t a Lab Co

Project Books €4.50

Goggles €2

WE’RE HERE FOR YOU

If you would like to arrange to speak to or meet with an Officer, please contact the Students’ Union staff member at the Student Support Service Desk or email: fiona.leddy@cit.ie 6

HOW TO GET YOUR

STUDENT LEAP CARD

Student Leap Card (SLC) offer students discounted travel on public transport services along with additional benefits. To find out if the card will be of benefit to you read more on www.studentleapcard.ie CIT students wishing to purchase a SLC must apply for the SLC online via mobile phone at:

www.studentleapcard.ie/applybymobile

Input your details, take your own photo, make the declaration, and agree to the privacy statement and terms & conditions. Once an application is made, you will receive a short code via email.

Email the code to: mella.leonard@cit.ie

You will then receive a response email informing you when your card is ready for collection. You can collect the card from Students' Union staff member at the Student Support Service Desk in the Student Centre (open from 10am 4pm, Monday to Friday). The card costs â‚Ź10. (Service only available to CIT Students)

https://usi.ie/

WHY EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE SO IMPORTANT IN COLLEGE By Finbarr O Donovan (BA, H. Dip. Comp Sci., H. Dip. HRM, Msc ILS)

ollege is an exciting time for students but with so much emphasis on getting good grades and academia one aspect of college life can be overlooked, that is Extra Curricular Activities. When I was in college the amount of extra curricular activities to get involved in was great it was so great in fact that I found it hard to decide which activities to make time for. I realised that I couldn’t do everything so I decided to focus on one or two activities that I was most interested in and good at. They would help me develop in college and later when I would go and try and get a fulltime job and start a career, but also would help me develop as an older adult. So what are extra curricular activities? In general they are activities that lie outside the scope of your studies. They require some sort of time commitment like for example doing an online course or being on a basketball team. Shooting some hoops with your friends although can be enjoyable would not be considered an extra curricular activity. Extra curricular activities normally take place on college campus and are optional and can include sports teams, social clubs, volunteering, student government and internship. At first I thought getting involved with extra curricular activities in college would interfere with my studies and have a negative effect on my college grades but I soon learnt that they were in fact having a positive effect on me academically, professionally and personally. Taking part in activities I cared about helped me concentrate and manage my time better which is important when trying to achieve higher marks in assignments and exams. Some activities like endurance sports can help you focus and build stamina when faced with great difficulty. All this is very important when studying and doing exams. Studies show that students who get involved in extra curricular activities in college have a better outlook on college, have higher marks and better academic aspirations. By participating in a few extra curricular activities in college

I got the chance to explore other interests and broaden my world view. I knew when I would start working that I may not have the time to pursue these other interests so I decided to take advantage of this while I was able in college. Extra curricular activities also gave me a chance to expand my social network and make some new friends. Making new contacts helped me later on in my career when I was looking for a new job and making new friends also made me get more involved in the activity. The more I got involved in those extra curricular activities the more I achieved within them which helped boost my self confidence. Learning new skills and working hard allowed me to achieve without the pressure of getting good marks. Extra curricular activities also gave me a break from studying and gave me something fun to do. It also gave me skills I could take into the workplace and life skills for example Team work, time management, goal setting, problem solving, leadership and analytical thinking. When preparing my cv extra curricular activities gave me much to focus on and discuss. An employer was able to assess my work ethic and ability. Along with good grades it showed I had good time management skills and it showed I achieved inside and outside the lecture theatre. It set me aside from other cv’s that only listed academic achievements. It showed a future employer who I was and what I cared about. It also improved my application for jobs as I was able to give lots of practical examples of skills that I obtained and learned from been involved in extra curricular activities. Extra curricular activities showed that I went above and beyond my studies and that I achieved in my chosen field. It is very hard to get into overseas universities like the US or UK without extra curricular activities. What I learnt from extra curricular activities helped me with getting a job to just everyday living. They helped me learn about myself and use and develop new skills and knowledge in different ways, which helped me grow as a student and later as an older adult.

Get more information on CIT’s extracurricular activities at: http://societies.cit.ie and www.mycit.ie/sport

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN CAREERS?

CIT Virtual Careers Fair, 15th October 2020, 10am-5pm

Get ready for this year’s totally Virtual Careers Fair, on the platform graduateland, and glad to say that it’s not complicated to use. Get your CV ready using the Careers CV course on Canvas and then have it checked by a Careers Advisor, email it to: careers@Cit.ie Wednesday Webinars: in line with all things virtual, you can attend careers related webinars in the coming weeks to help you with your career planning and decision making, kicking off on 30th September with guest speaker, Grainne Bagnell on: ‘Prepare for your career in the new normal’ on 30th September, email careers@cit.ie to book your place. Employer Events: Want to be first to know when top employers are doing events for CIT students? Follow @ CITCareers on Insta and Facebook to get regular updates. Careers programmes starting soon: Ready Steady Work in partnership with DELL Technologies is for students in 2nd , 3rd or 4th year + registered with the DSS. Email: Emily.clifford@cit.ie to book your place, a great opportunity to meet DELL employees and find out about working there. Building Forward is a new careers programme for first year mature students in CIT, just 3 sessions each semester on career-related topics that will make a positive difference, email: Caitriona.horgan@cit.ie to find out more. Careers team is working remotely and looks forward to working with you this semester, you can do it!

WELCOME TO CIT

#GOODSTART2020

http://studentengagement.cit.ie/goodstart

CONGRATULATIONS,

To all of our new students star�ng out in CIT, we are delighted to have you here. This is where the real fun begins! To everyone returning to CIT a�er the summer break,

WELCOME BACK!

/citgoodstart

citgoodstart

h�p://studentengagement.cit.ie/goodstart

PREPARING FOR YOUR DAY BEHIND A SCREEN

Try not to worry too much if your laptop has a faulty mic, or the ba�ery dies faster than it charges. The Zoom & Canvas app works perfectly well on phones. Did you know that the Government has allocated over €500,000 to CIT as part of a laptop scheme to assist in remote learning? Find out if you qualify to apply for this scheme, which is run through CIT’s Student Assistance Fund, at www.mycit.ie/saf

#GoodStart2020 is here! Good Start helps our new first year students feel supported, informed and that they belong. We are this year's Good Start Ambassador team, to find out more about us check out the highlights on our Instagram! Sure, this year the Good Start campaign will look a li�le different and will be more online than ever before, but, our aim remains the same: to create a sense of belonging and connec�on among new students and let them know of the supports and services available in CIT. The Good Start campaign is co-created by students for students, this is because we, the students, are experts in what its like to be a student at CIT. It wasn’t too long ago that we, the Good Start Ambassadors, were in first year.

A RECIPE FOR A GOOD START

No ma�er what form your screen takes, how we prepare to sit facing the screen for a day of lectures should look the same. Firstly, try to set up your worksta�on in a place where there is a lot of light (but make sure the window isn't directly behind you, as you will look like a ghost). In an ideal world, you wouldn't work in your bedroom, to create some dis�nc�on between work and rest however, I'm a fellow inhabitant of the real world and have to work from my bedroom. I keep my desk in a corner of the room and reserve it for working/learning only. A fellow Good Start Ambassador spoke of ligh�ng incense or a candle with a certain scent when si�ng down to study. This triggers memory responses in the brain, which might make it easier for you to switch to 'work mode'.

We know star�ng out can be difficult, we’ve all been there! The bu�erflies, the semi awkward first conversa�ons, ge�ng lost… the list goes on but there is nothing to fear. Life would be boring if everything went perfectly. As you enter into a semester of blended learning we as a team have put together useful �ps and tricks for online learning that we found worked for us last semester!

AnSEO STUDENT ENGAGEMENT OFFICE

Good Start is a programme of AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office, Office of the Registrar and VP for Academic Affairs, CIT

cit_ie

@cit_ie

ETIQUETTE FOR ONLINE CLASSES

As you embark on your year at CIT, many of your classes may be held online. It’s important to be polite and appear professional online during these sessions. The following steps are a handy guide for you to follow as you begin your journey with virtual lectures. We believe that these steps can help you become an expert at online classes and mee�ngs! Turn your camera on! This is a great way to get familiar with your class group. It allows you to smile at others and them to smile back. It’s an easy way to build a friendly connec�on while being online. Mute your microphone. This is a handy �p to avoid several noises blocking out the lecturer/ host of the mee�ng. If you need to speak, simply unmute and chat away! Raise your hand or use the ‘reac�ons’. This is a great way to capture the hosts’ a�en�on and then you can unmute to ask the ques�on. Be aware of your study space and surroundings. If you have your camera on, which we encourage you to do, be conscious that others in the mee�ng can see your background. Get rid of any clu�er or items you don’t want to share online! This will prepare you and help to become more professional on Zoom/Canvas. Listen and be a�en�ve in mee�ngs. Everyone is trying their best and ge�ng used to the new way of learning and teaching so join lectures every day with a smile and keen interest to learn something new.

PREVENTING SCREEN FATIGUE

Preven�ng eye-strain or “screen fa�gue” isn’t something most people think about, but it can be something that can seriously affect you in the long run. You might think that that’s nonsense; that you look at your phone all day, everyday anyway, so a laptop or computer won’t be much different. Well, your laptop is probably about 3 �mes the size of your phone, so it’s going to be beaming just over 3 �mes the amount of light into your eyes, which is a very different story. The simplest way to combat this is the 20/20/20 rule. This refreshes your eyes and forces them to have to work a li�le. The process of doing it is pre�y simple. Every 20 minutes look at something 20� away for 20 seconds. Instead of staring at a screen four feet in front of your face for hours on end, this gives your eyes the chance to reset and focus on something different. It’s the eye-equivalent of ge�ng up and stretching your legs every now and then. You’d honestly be surprised how something as small as this can impact your eyes for the be�er throughout the day.

BALANCING LIFE ONLINE WITH REAL LIFE

Some of you may have experienced online lectures already, some of you not. Either way, it doesn’t have to be miserable! Yep, you heard me, NOT miserable! The most important thing to remember when working remotely (and working in general), is that you need to strike a balance between your

studies, work and down�me. With that in mind, here are our top �ps for balancing the world of online and real life. FOR WHEN YOU’RE IN CLASS/STUDYING: When you are supposed to be working, WORK goddamnit! If you have an hour of work to do, do an hour's work. Stretching it throughout the day will leave you feeling like you’ve been working all day, and yet very li�le has been accomplished. Push yourself to s�ck to your �metable If you are learning online - whether on zoom or on canvas - put the phone away. Having a box, separate room, or even a person to hold onto it for you will help you to focus on the task at hand, and to not feel plagued with various distrac�ons Take regular breaks. Working on a screen all day has its challenges, and it can be even more difficult to stay focused than usual. For self-directed work, make sure you are giving yourself breaks every 45 minutes or so to make the most produc�ve use of your �me. With online classes, if your lecturers aren't giving you any breaks in long lectures, don't be afraid to bring it up with them! I'm sure they'll be delighted to see you engaging and offering your opinion! WHEN NOT IN CLASS/IN YOUR FREE TIME: Give yourself a break! Make yourself a pamper rou�ne (men, ye are included in this too!). For example, making yourself a cup of tea, throwing on some fluffy socks, listening to some music, taking a shower or bath - anything you want that will help you unplug and rejuvenate yourself. Make �me to be completely off screen, whether it be for 2 hours or 20 minutes. This is so, so important, especially if you are working remotely. Be strict with yourself, and put the phone away for a set amount of �me Go for walks and get some exercise in - need I explain the importance of this one? Get outside - even if just for a brief stroll, ge�ng outside and reconnec�ng with the world is crucial when we have been on screens all day. It's easy to burn out if you're working yourself to the bone, and you'll only make yourself miserable! Likewise, if you don't put in the work, you'll end up with more stress further down the line. It's all about Balance baby!

WHEN IN DOUBT, JUST ASK!

Just Ask! returns this year with the Good Start Ambassadors answering students’ ques�ons through @citgoodstart on Instagram and Facebook. There is no ques�on too big or small for our team, we have been trained to help you. However, if you ask us a new ques�on and we don't know the answer we will ﬁnd out for you. Ques�ons have already been ﬁltering in online and there will be lots of opportuni�es to win some great prizes in the next few weeks. Have you followed us online yet?

/citgoodstart

citgoodstart

h�p://studentengagement.cit.ie/goodstart http://studentengagement.cit.ie/goodstart

CIT STUDENT ALUMNI AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME PROVIDING YOU WITH MEANINGFUL LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

WHAT IS THE CIT ALUMNI AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME? The CIT Student Alumni Ambassador Programme is prestigious initiative that brings together a select, diverse group of current students from all different areas, disciplines and backgrounds to engage with alumni, prospective students, CIT officials and, most importantly, fellow students. Student Alumni Ambassadors encourage the current student population to see themselves as future alumni (graduates) and valuable members of the CIT community as well as providing invaluable insight and feedback on student interests and trends. You will be part of exciting activities designed to connect students with alumni, help students as they begin to think about their careers and celebrate what it means to be a CIT alumnus (graduate).

HOW THE PROGRAMME WORKS? CIT Student Alumni Ambassadors donate 10 hours of their time throughout the academic year to support the activities of the Alumni Office and in return receive various up-skilling and training, an opportunity to meet the President of the Institute, a LinkedIn recommendation and a certificate of completion. It is a volunteer position.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

• Develop leadership and communication skills • Network with alumni and staff of the Institute • Opportunity to participate in various training and attend up-skilling events

• Invitation to participate Alumni Office meetings • Branded apparel ABOUT CIT ALUMNI OFFICE The CIT Alumni Office develops and supports alumni relations at CIT through several programmes and initiatives. The office encourages links between CIT and its graduates for the benefit of students and the Institute.

EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST TO BECOME A CIT STUDENT ALUMNI AMBASSADOR DURING 2020-2021 AT WWW.CIT.IE/ALUMNI OR EMAIL: ALUMNI@CIT.IE ON OR BEFORE FRIDAY 2ND OCTOBER 2020.

OF CIT On August 26th, 29 young entrepreneurs were congratulated on successfully completing the Student Inc. Accelerator Programme at Cork Institute of Technology, University College Cork and Institute of Technology Tralee. The Accelerator Programme runs from June to August and is set up to encourage students to develop and grow their innovative ideas and start their own business. Students receive â‚Ź4,000 in funding (purchase equipment and a wage to offset a summer job), expert training, mentoring, office space and the opportunity to learn from and pitch to entrepreneurs. Here are four examples of the CIT Student Entrepreneurs...

CIT Course: Biomedical Engineering

CIT Course: Creative Digital Media

CIT Course: Biological Sciences

Year of study: 3rd year

Year of study: 4th year

Year of study: 2nd year

Business name: Komforoo

Business name: Backstab

Business name: Prolete

Sector: Medical Device

Sector: Boardgame

Sector: Sports Nutrition

Business idea: Product to replicate kangaroo care for babies in neonatal units during times when they cannot receive it from their parents.

Business idea: Backstab is a digital, boardgame hybrid. The board game pieces and playing cards are embedded with RFID tags, these tags allow players to control a video game story by playing a traditional boardgame.

Business idea: DigestiveFriendly Whey Protein Powder Fortified with Probiotics

Shauna was awarded winning pitch which was selected by an online voting system through Zoom.

CIT Course: Culinary Arts Year of study: 3rd year Business name: MELT Sector: Food Production Business idea: Hot chocolate ganache designed to be stirred into any hot milk of your choosing. This is a vegan friendly product!

Is this something you are interested in? Keep an eye on The Student Inc

Twitter and

by pressing the icons or visit

Instagram @student_inc_ie www.studentInc.ie

Watch now to see the 2020 entrepreneurs in action! 13

Flights of Fancy…

Flynner’s Flying Column

THE STAY-CATION EXPERIENCE

on’t say it, DON’T SAY IT!.... COSTA DEL DINGLE! Well, that was the reality as Covid19, and the subsequent restrictions on travel to and from Ireland as Lockdown was slowly lifted left the majority of Irish people, not exactly out of their own choice, with the only real option of holidaying at home in order to give themselves the annual summer break that they needed. So what was it like? Was it all that Costa? Or more like as miserable and squalid as the caravan holiday in Father Ted? Well, since my schedule at the airport was, as a consequence, quiet, I decided to sample the staycation experience this summer and check out what The Emerald Isle had to offer. Thus myself and four friends made the arrangements, bookings and discussions. Then, on August 20th 2020, with my trusty Opel Insignia fuelled and loaded, I drove from Macroom, collected my pals in perfect showery morning weather in the city, and then hit the N20 to Limerick, then along the M19 to our first entry into adventure-athome… Thursday August 20th 2020 • After turning off from Ennis, Co. Clare, it was on to Corofin to The Burren and its lunar landscape. Makes for some surreal photography. Some episodes/scenes of Father Ted was shot there. • Then on the way to Craggy Island Parochial House. Closed due to the pandemic but that is not stopping the droves nationwide from making the mecca to have a photo outside the gates of that iconic house of Irish Drama and Comedy there! • Next it was off to Kilfernora. The majority of Father Ted episodes had scenes shot in that village, but there is also the Burren Centre where information on this part of Ireland can be obtained. Also an ancient cathedral is present. • After passing through Lisdoonvarna and Ennistymon, it was on the way to the iconic Cliffs of Moher. The weather was changing for the worse but it held out at the Cliffs long enough for a stunning evening sky and views to be enjoyed. • And it was settling down for the night in accommodation at nearby Lahinch I obtained via AirBnB, where I cooked my pals a pasta recipe, and we enjoyed our drinks late into the night. Was I tired after all that driving! Friday August 21st 2020 • On the road again. After we checked out, it was past Spanish Point (called due to the many warships of the 1588 Spanish Armada wrecked there), then to Doonbeg, where I attempted to have a looksie at Donald Trump’s Golf Course. Our boyo was nowhere to be seen though!! • Ah well. A bit of sea air cured our morning fatigue, and no other way was found than at Kilkee Beach, Co. Clare. A very pretty town, and the beach was stunning. • The on the way to the real end of the country; Loop Head, Co. Clare. A peninsula jutting out to the Atlantic with high cliffs and a lighthouse, you do realise the power of the Atlantic Ocean from there; Next Stop, NYC! • Back on the road and it was Killimer Port, where we hopped on the car ferry to Tarbert, Co. Kerry. • Now in the North Kingdom, it was to Ballybunion, where we met up with a few friends of mine from good places, and checked out the Castle and Beach.

• And finally we settled the night at a B+B in nearby Ballyduff. We were given a spacious, luxurious room at a discount and we were able to go to the local chipper. Them rural chippers will be much more generous with the portions you will order, so all the more reason to support your own. The food and bevvies put us to sleep! Saturday August 22nd 2020. • And after a generous breakfast where the proprietors did not hesitate to top us up, it was the road to Banna Strand. Then through Tralee and on the N86 through the Dingle Peninsula. • Through Anascaul, and we stopped for coffee at the South Pole Inn, where Tom Crean, the hardest man in history, opened his premises after setting his legendary precident as being the survivor of Captain Scott’s doomed Antarctic Expedition. • Passing Dingle for the moment, it was on the way to Dunquin Pier, Slea Head, the take-off point for the Blasket Islands. Dunquin Pier has a quirky design that causes many a foolish driver to get his/her car stuck attempting to negotiate the narrowing causeway. • Stopped at Dingle for provisions (Gawd, were the supermarkets busy or what)… • Then over the Conor Pass to Cloghane Village, under the summit of Mount Brandon. There myself and my pals had dinner and drinks at the Restaurant Bar and appreciated the old stylings of the premises…and we met friends there too! Sunday August 23rd 2020 • The morning sunrise at Cloghane Harbour was stunning as we had breakfast and checked out. Cloghane Village is a place that I will have to check out again! • Over the Conor Pass – the highest mountain pass in Ireland – where we stopped for photos. Absolutely stunning. • Then on the road to Killarney via Inch, Castlemaine and Kilorglin, then after we stopped at the Mills Inn, Ballyvourney, where the legendary proprietor and brewer, Don O’Leary, gave us a warm welcome and plenty of good food! • And afterwards, passed through Macroom, dropped my fulfilled crew back at Cork City before heading back home for relaxation after a wonderful trip! VERDICT? Very well worth it. But driving around that long will drain you, so try to share the steering wheel if possible. The weather is what you will make of it. And shop around for the best deals on www.booking.com and www.airbnb.com and choose wisely; as I discovered, you do not know what best-kept secrets you might find out there! Now when will it be feasible for me to hit the Costa Del Sol once again?

HAPPY DAYS DERE...

Fine Dining Al Fresco in Princes Street, Rooftop Dining atop Clancy’s Bar; let us hope th is becomes permanent when all this Covid-chaos comes to an end!

MEND YER WAYS DERE

... The wave of dognapping that have left owners traumatised; if you see a dog for sale and the offer feels funny – report it to the Gardai.

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