College awards first online masters degree

Hibernia College in Dublin today awarded the world’s first online masters degrees to science graduates from 11 different countries.

Hibernia College, which specialises in web-based learning, held a ceremony for the 27 students at the Royal College of Physicians.

The MSc in Pharmaceutical Medicine is a collaboration between Hibernia and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and run in conjunction with faculties from the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) and Harvard University, Boston, in the US.

The study from home programme attracted two graduates from the UK and 16 from the US while others came from countries across Europe and as far afield as Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, India, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Only 16 of the 27 graduates were able to attend the ceremony.

Dr Sean Rowland, president of Hibernia College, said programmes such as the masters are critical in enabling Ireland move towards a knowledge-based economy.

“Such initiatives promote Ireland as a leading location for scientific research. Today marks the culmination of two years of hard work by both the students and the faculty involved and clearly establishes Hibernia as a global player in e-Learning.

“It also further underlines Ireland’s international reputation as a provider of high-quality, innovative education.”

The masters is widely seen as a unique e-learning programme which removes the main barrier in attracting leading figures in research and development to Ireland.

Mobility has been highlighted as an issue in the Government’s strategy document for the knowledge economy and again in the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in relation to attracting world class researchers.

Pfizer management also praised the students for their work and country manager David Gallagher said they had played a major part in pioneering new forms of higher education.