Inaugural class of the Post Graduate Certificate in Brewing and Distilling awards ceremony
Post Graduate Certificate in Brewing and Distilling inaugural graduates receive awards
The Post Graduate Diploma in Brewing and Distilling graduation and awards ceremony took place in TU Dublin's City Campus on Thursday 16th November 2023. Opening the awards ceremony, Prof. Christine O'Connor, Head of Environmental Health and Safety Management, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, TU Dublin welcomed the inaugural class of the Post Graduate Certificate in Brewing and Distilling, the first programme of its kind in Ireland. Prof. O'Connor commended the 14 graduates on their dedication, high standard of excellence and for championing the programme within the industry.
Prof. O'Connor congratulated the School of Food Science and Environmental Health teaching and learning staff who supported the first cohort through the programme. She acknowledged the early stage development work of Dr. Ciara Walsh from TU Dublin's Enterprise Academy who's fellowship research led to the design and implementation of the Post Graduate Certificate in Brewing and Distilling programme. The programme was designed and developed by Dr. Walsh as part of a Convene Fellowship offered by the TU Dublin Enterprise Academy, as an opportunity for motivated staff to contribute to transforming TU Dublin's relationship with enterprise.
14 Students graduated at the awards ceremony. Pictured: Dr Gemma Kinsella, Head of Food Science and Industrial Biotechnology with graduates John Montgomery, Stuart McNamara and Paul MacGabhann
Dr Gemma Kinsella, Head of Food Science and Industrial Biotechnology awarded certificates to those in attendance. She outlined the programme, its core modules and details of the project work graduates undertook and presented as part of their final assessment.
Access to world class industry partners
Dr Kinsella commented on the high level of expertise and industry engagement built into the programme. Learners had the opportunity to grow their industry network and gain from the experience of a wide variety of industry experts and practitioners. During 2022-2023 programme students took part in a series of lectures from indigenous and international Industry leaders and practitioners including:
- Joe Sheehy, ex Global Quality Director, Diageo
- Mark McLaughlin, Head of Whiskey Education, The Dead Rabbit
- Steve Gilsenan, Guinness Global Quality Director, Diageo
- Breda Tanner McKenna, Independent Packaging and Risk Management Consultant
- Nick Curtis Davis, Marketing and Innovation Director, Bord Bia
- Mirco Wolf Wierget, Founder, Fritz Kola
- Emma Fowler, Independent Hop and Grain Procurement Specialist
- Dr. Yoginee Budhkar, Cofounder of Cerana Meads
Micro-brewery/distillery at TU Dublin
The Postgraduate Certificate includes modules on the technical aspects of brewing and distilling, and the opportunity to acquire hands-on practical experience in these disciplines, in our new micro-brewery/distillery at TU Dublin Grangegorman. Students learn the process of product development and sensory analysis and will make their own bespoke beverage (concept through to final product). In our Micro-brewery/distillery students have access to a 95 litre Totem Colum Still, one-step, enriching towered distiller, with double-walled water-jacketed cauldron with which a high-percentage distillate can be obtained in one operation. This state-of-the-art equipment was purchased for the TU Dublin micro-brewery/distillery by the Enterprise Academy.
This Postgraduate Certificate currently on offer at TU Dublin may serve as the basis for further postgraduate research in the area of brewing and distilling in TU Dublin.
For more on the Postgraduate Certificate in Brewing and Distilling programme.
