South East Technological University (SETU) successfully hosted its annual Computing Expo at the Tourism and Leisure building on the Cork Road Campus in Waterford, bringing together students, graduates, academics, and industry leaders for a vibrant showcase of innovation and talent.
Sponsored by Kargo, the event featured groundbreaking final-year projects from more than 100 undergraduate and postgraduate computing students. Attendees had the opportunity to explore a wide range of innovative technologies and solutions developed across areas such as software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and emerging digital technologies.
The expo also included a strong industry presence, with leading ICT companies from across the south east engaging directly with students, discussing current trends within the tech sector, and exploring future collaboration and recruitment opportunities.
A highlight of the event was the opportunity for students to network with industry representatives and graduates, gaining valuable insight into career pathways and the evolving demands of the technology sector. Discussions throughout the day reflected the growing impact of AI and digital transformation across industry and society.
The event concluded with a student awards ceremony recognising excellence, creativity, and innovation across a number of project categories.
Speaking afterwards, organisers praised the exceptionally high standard of projects on display and highlighted the importance of initiatives like the Computing Expo in strengthening connections between education and industry.
Amanda Freeman Gater, Assistant Head of Computing and Mathematics Department at SETU said, “The Computing Expo continues to be one of the highlights of the academic year, giving our students the opportunity to showcase not only their technical abilities, but also their creativity, problem-solving skills, and professionalism. It was fantastic to see such strong engagement from industry partners and to witness the high calibre of work being produced across the department.”
Ms Freeman Gater added, “The annual expo continues to demonstrate SETU’s commitment to developing highly skilled graduates equipped to meet the needs of Ireland’s growing technology sector.”
Mick O’Brien, Senior Director of Engineering at Kargo said, “We’ve been sponsoring the Computer Expo at SETU for several years now, because we believe in it so much. The students that graduate from courses here are of such high calibre that we want to be able to support them in showcasing their work.”
“The expo is also an opportunity to invite industry partners to the University so they can see the students’ projects, which in turn allows students to engage with industry and get jobs. Overall, our relationship with SETU has been mutually beneficial, not just for us at Kargo but for other tech companies too,” Mr O’Brien added.
