GMIT Mayo hosts public seminar on Digital Media trends and how businesses can stay competitive

Emerging trends and careers in Digital Media and how companies can stay competitive will be the focus of a public seminar in GMIT Mayo on Tuesday 30 January, delivered by leading professionals and academics in digital media, marketing and technology.

Organised by the Mayo campus academic staff in collaboration with the Innovation Hub, the “Digital West” event www.digitalwest.biz will include topics on Digital Media Strategies, Bots & Automation, Google Analytics, Automation of Digital Media, Blockchain, and more.

The event kicks off in the Mayo campus Foyer at 9.15am followed by a welcome address by the President of GMIT, Dr Fergal Barry, and talks/presentations by professionals, academics and current students in Digital Media including  Louise McDonnell, Gerard Conway, Ina O’Murchu, Barry Hand, Sarah Mulroe, Noreen Henry, Shaun Barrett and others (details and titles below).

GMIT IHub event co-ordinator Turlough Rafferty says the event will be of huge interest and benefit to businesses in the region seeking guidance and advice: “As the digital media landscape rapidly evolves with the introduction of new technologies such as AI, analytics, automation and high definition video communications, companies are finding it increasingly hard to attract and maintain talent”.

“Advice and expertise will be shared by our speakers from leading companies such as Onlim (Vienna, Austria) Vodafone, Google Partners and consultants. In addition, staff and students on the GMIT Mayo Digital Media & Society and IT courses will share their experiences from course work and internships.  They will also offer advice and tips on what to expect and how to remain competitive. “

“Digital West is open to industry, the general public, educational institutes and secondary school leaving certificate as well as transition year students. This is the first event of its kind in the West and it is just one in a number of initiatives planned as part of the creation and rollout of a digital strategy for Mayo” adds Mr Rafferty.

Noreen Henry, Chair of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Digital Media & Society in GMIT, says:  “We welcome the recent announcement by Minister Bruton that Computer Science is being introduced as a Leaving Certificate subject.  This educational advancement reflects the way that the digital revolution is transforming our daily lives.  The “Digital West” event is an opportunity for us all to share our knowledge, experiences in the digital media field and express our expectations for the future in relation to career opportunities and skill requirements.  As well as the speakers there will be exhibitions by Digital Media providers in the West.  Hopefully it will become an annual event on the GMIT Mayo campus.”
Speakers:

The first presentation will be delivered by GMIT academic Noreen Henry, Chair of the Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Digital Media & Society, in association with current students and recent graduates.  They will speak about the skills that graduates need to have for the newer career paths available today and into the future and how companies can attract digital media talent.

Louise McDonnell, online and social media marketing expert who delivers Facebook, SEO and Website Marketing training and coaching, will talk about Facebook Marketing. She has coached and trained in excess of 2,000 businesses since 2009 and launched her Facebook Marketing Book (published by Liffey Press) in October 2017. She was voted one of the top worldwide 50 Facebook Marketing Bloggers by Feedspot.

Gerard Conway, Senior International Enterprise Leader at Vodafone, will give a presentation on Product In-Life Development, Release & Operations. His core focus is the delivery of technology that works seamlessly, exceeds customers’ expectations and enables cost neutral growth.  Gerard is a past student of GMIT and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Engineering in Digital and Software Systems. 

Ina O’Murchu, described as a Digital Transformer through Social Media Technologies, is a self-styled Crypto Anarchist and a blockchain believer. She has worked for numerous startups and is currently working as a digital evangelist for Onlim, an Austrian company that specializes in Automated Customer Communication via Social Media, Chatbots and Artificial Assistants. She will talk on the automation of digital media.

Barry Hand is a Data & Analytics Expert who helps businesses measure their marketing activity, determine where the growth opportunities are and then implement a gameplan to make it happen. Barry has been responsible for exceptional growth, multi-million euro budgets and high performance strategies in a wide range of businesses. Barry is an expert trainer, who coaches hundreds of people a year to make better decisions with data.

Fergal O’Connor, MD and founder of buymedia.ie, will talk about his companies’ innovation journey from traditional to automated marketing and the opportunities available for businesses to innovate through digital marketing. A marketing graduate with 25 years’ commercial experience in media, marketing and advertising, he has worked at all levels within the media industry including newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, online and social. He founded and managed two successful media businesses in the 1990s and currently runs Buymedia.ie, - advertising made easy through planning & procurement technology powered by intelligence and data analytics. This full service marketing company specialises in content marketing and media buying.

Sarah Mulroe just graduated in 2017 with a first class honours degree in Digital Media & Society from GMIT Mayo Campus, the first of its kind course in Ireland that is spectacularly relevant in today’s online society. “I have already gained vast knowledge in the sector due to work experience all throughout third year work placement and more recently by carrying our two large campaigns for two high profile events in Mayo.  Not having a social media presence is like being ex-directory.”  

Shaun Barrett, intern with Pencilmation, a YouTube channel founded by Ross Bollinger with over 1.4m subscribers.  Shaun is currently in his third year studying the Digital Media & Society degree in GMIT Mayo.  Shaun will provide insight into his animation work.

GMIT Mayo offers a number of courses for those wishing to pursue a career in Business, Digital Media and ICT. They are as follows:

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Digital Media & Society (CAO code - GA884)
http://www.gmit.ie/computing/bachelor-science-honours-digital-media-society

• Higher Certificate in Science in Information Technology Support - direct application through http://www.gmit.ie/apply-gmit  (January start date 2018)

• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Administration - direct application through http://www.gmit.ie/apply-gmit

• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Information Technology Services Management - direct application through http://www.gmit.ie/apply-gmit

• Bachelor of Business (Honours) (CAO code GA886)
https://www.gmit.ie/business/bachelor-business-honours-mayo

• Bachelor of Arts in Accounting & Financial Management apply (CAO code GA878)
https://www.gmit.ie/business/bachelor-arts-accounting-and-financial-management-mayo

• Higher Certificate in Business with Administration and ICT Skills (CAO code GA869)
https://www.gmit.ie/business/higher-certificate-business-administration-and-ict-skills-mayo

For more information, to book a place to attend this free and open event or to obtain a link to watch the event online, visit www.digitalwest.biz  

Companies with a focus on Digital Media are welcome to exhibit on the day (limited numbers) and can also book a stand via the website before 23 January.