Liam Ryan

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Liam is a graduate of University of Limerick with a BA in History and Politics and during his studies had the opportunity to Study Abroad in SUNY New Paltz. This, combined with paid work experience in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, has given Liam a lifelong appreciation of the value of International Education.

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favourite travel memory is from a recent trip where I traveled to South Africa for two weeks solo. I had such a busy itinerary where I surfed, hiked, swam with Great White sharks and explored the wine region of South Africa. I would highly recommend solo travel and getting outside one's comfort zone. My Study Abroad experience was amazing and was really made by a chance encounter with the Rugby team in SUNY New Paltz. I ended up playing for the team for the semester and I ended up making lifelong US friends.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Working for UL, after studying here, has given me a renewed appreciation of the quality of education, the opportunities and supports on offer within the University. I have seen shy and quiet students come to reception in week one and witnessed the transformation in them by the end of the first semester. It really shows the benefit of being independent and having to work things out in a new and challenging environment.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I have a friend who studied abroad in UL in 2007 for a semester as part of his degree at the University of South Carolina. He enjoyed the semester so much that he transferred to UL to continue his studies. During his time completing his Bachelor's Degree, he met his now wife (a Study Abroad student from Pittsburgh) in UL. They moved back to the States after graduation but have always harbored a desire to return to Ireland.

Last month, they announced that they had gotten jobs in Ireland with Google and are moving back permanently. Amazing journey!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would love to do our Business Summer School as it packs a huge amount of relevant academic information into 3 short weeks while also giving time for exploring the wonders of Irelands Wild Atlantic Way. There are some amazing modules on Business Analytics that I would really use in my professional life.

The Summer School cohorts also seem to network with each other really well and build a strong relationship with each other very quickly.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

The University of Limerick prides itself on two things in particular. First and foremost is Student Experience. This is ensuring that students that come to UL have a positive experience both inside and outside the classroom. We are ranked #2 in the World for International Student Experience, which is a testament to the great work done on that. The other aspect is Graduate Employability, ensuring that students that come to UL are equipped with the skills, experience, and ability to find their career niche as effectively as possible.

Also, we have an amazing American Football team on campus that I am proud to be a part of. It isn't quite at NCAA levels, but it is really enjoyable and fun to represent the University in American Football.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

The most important part of the University is its students and UL allows it's student body to be very active in defining strategic goals. A recent example of that is the student body campaigned for improved sports facilities and UL worked with the Student Union to design plans that fit the needs of the students and worked with the student body to build an amazing new facility. Treating students like adults and allowing them a voice is really important in third-level education.