When asked what his motivation was for choosing to study the online Master of Arts in UX Design and Applied Innovation, Joe Dunleavy says “after a move to Letterkenny, I wanted to continue to grow my skills and career, so doing a masters course locally in ATU Donegal was something I was delighted to have the option of doing. I loved my experience studying at ATU over the many years.”
As Global SVP, Head of AI Pod at Endava, Joe has a truly inspiring learning journey, highlighting how education can be a powerful catalyst for career growth. His path, marked by dedication and continuous learning, offers an insight into how transformative further education can be.
Joe’s academic journey began at ATU Sligo, where he studied a BSc in Computer Science. “I loved playing with computers when I was younger and was also a gamer, so tech was always something I had an interest in. Studying computer science and coding just made sense for me to pursue a career in tech,” Joe explained.
Joe then went on to study a part-time Master of Business in Innovation and Leadership followed by the Master of Arts in UX Design and Applied Innovation at ATU Donegal. As Joe progressed through his studies and qualifications, he also progressed in his career.
Joe is now Global SVP, Head of AI Pod at Endava, a global digital company with 13,000 employees. “I help drive innovation inside Endava with our staff and work with clients across various technologies and industries,” Joe described.
The skills and knowledge Joe gained were directly applicable to his role at Endava.
“The course was very much focused on tools and techniques that are used in a commercial technology business like Endava,” Joe added, highlighting the practical relevance of his studies.
Studying an online programme did have its challenges for Joe, but he quickly adapted. “I was nervous at first as to how studying a Master’s fully online would work out, but in the end, it was a great experience. We used tech such as MS Office, Teams, Miro, and Figma, which really helped when delivering on course materials and working with other students from across the country,” Joe noted.
Balancing full-time work with part-time learning required some time management from Joe. “It was hard at times, but it just took commitment to blocking out time in my calendar to study and do the coursework. Work was also very supportive of me doing the course, and they were flexible when I needed some time for assignments,” Joe explained.
Joe’s flexible learning journey truly shows the value of upskilling through online learning and his advice for anyone thinking of taking on a part-time course is “do not overthink it. You will love it! ATU courses are very well designed for online delivery and will be so beneficial for you and your career.”
Apply now for the MA in UX Design & Innovation at ATU Donegal.
Applications are closing soon for part-time and online courses at ATU Donegal with a September 2024 start. Our application closing date is Friday 16th August 2024. For further information on this course, visit Online, Flexible & Professional Development at ATU Donegal
