Ciarán Fogarty announced as the 2023 Breakthrough Scholarship Winner
Today sees the announcement of the 2023 Breakthrough Scholarship winner in association with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), Yugo and THINKHOUSE.
The scholarship provides the awarded candidate with a fee-free Masters, accommodation for the academic year and a competitive graduate wage at a leading independent marketing agency. This is a unique, tri-party scholarship designed specifically to help overcome barriers faced by young, marginalised students living in Ireland and has the potential to completely transform someone's life and change their future trajectory.
Ciarán Fogarty is the Breakthrough Scholar for 2023. He achieved a Higher Certificate in Marketing and a BSc in Marketing from the Faculty of Business at TU Dublin. As an ambitious and driven student, the Breakthrough Scholarship aligns with Ciarán's academic goals and will hugely benefit him and his future career path. Without the opportunity of the Breakthrough Scholarship and the support of accommodation from Yugo, Ciarán's dream of a Master's would not have been feasible.
Most recent data from the IAPI 2022 census shows that 95% of the marketing industry is from affluent classes, with people born outside Ireland making up just 15% of the industry and only 2% of the workforce being people with a disability. TU Dublin, Yugo and THINKHOUSE want to drive a more diverse marketing industry, and the scholarship is a tangible way to make this change in the industry.
Valued at €28,000, Ciarán will receive a career-changing opportunity that includes:
- Funding for a full-time Masters in Digital Marketing & Content Creation at TU Dublin.
- Comprehensive and immersive paid-for experience with leading marketing agency, THINKHOUSE, for the academic year.
- Student Accommodation in central Dublin with Yugo for the entire academic year.
Speaking about the scholarship, Ciarán said; “Without this scholarship, I don’t think I would have been able to continue my education and go on to do a master's which was always my dream, so to take that on at TU Dublin will be amazing. Being able to live close to college in the Yugo accommodation will make a massive difference to my quality of life. I’m used to a long daily commute, so living near college will give me an amazing student experience. I also look forward to gaining experience in THINKHOUSE, a leading marketing agency whose work I’ve long admired. I’m so excited to be given this opportunity, and I can't wait to get started.”
Speaking of the 2023 Breakthrough Scholarship, the collaborating organisations had this to say:
Dr. Etain Kidney, Head of the School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), said, “The Breakthrough Scholarship has removed the financial and social barriers that often stifle young careers, empowering another remarkable student to break into the industry. We’re proud to provide this opportunity for a third year and remain steadfast in our commitment to diversity. This further supports our strong history as home to a diverse student population and as a beacon for inclusivity in education.”
Kieran O’Donovan, Head of Client Service, THINKHOUSE, said, “As a marketing company, we’re proud of our heritage in being an advocate and voice for young people and their values. Diversity is important to us in THINKHOUSE – both in our agency and in our industry. This scholarship is one tangible way THINKHOUSE is fuelling this diversity and combating the inequality in education, through action and real support. The most wonderful part of the scholarship is that we get to experience and work with these amazing students first-hand and witness and be a partner in their personal and professional growth and development. Being an advocate for equality and diversity also enables us to deliver on our mission to be a business for good.”
Accommodation is the third crucial pillar of the programme. In order to make this opportunity feasible and accessible for all, Yugo has offered free accommodation to Ciarán in a residence near the TU Dublin Campus in Grangegorman, Dublin 7, for the entire academic year.
Speaking on the programme, Mahmoud Elzaki, Residence Manager, at Ardcairn Yugo Student Residences, said, “Having easy access to classes, a space to study and a place you feel safe is a vital ingredient for a successful college career. As a global organisation, equality, diversity, and inclusion are central to our approach in all we do, so we are proud, once again, to be able to support this important, life-changing initiative with TU Dublin and THINKHOUSE.”