DCU Business School is starting three new MSc programmes in September in cloud computing, digital marketing and strategy to help equip graduates with skills in high-growth areas and to help tackle Ireland’s ICT skills gap.

The programmes have been devised, based on the needs of industry. Microsoft, for instance, has been heavily involved in devising the new cloud computing MSc, in addition to the other two programmes.

According to the university, the MSc in management (cloud computing) has been designed to develop people's knowledge and expertise in the principles, technologies, services, applications, challenges and benefits of cloud computing. DCU said the master's is intended for graduates from a business background.

Moving on to the MSc in management (digital marketing), the university said this course has been designed to develop people's critical thinking and understanding of the digital ecosystem to give a logical approach to the constantly evolving digital marketing industry. This master's is open to graduates from a business or non-business background.

Finally, the MSc in management (strategy) will aim to enhance the knowledge and skills of graduates who already have an undergraduate degree in business, but who wish to develop a deeper understanding of the area.

Speaking about the cloud computing MSc, Microsoft Ireland managing director Paul Rellis said it was great news for the development of the cloud computing industry in Ireland. "We've been working closely with DCU to input into the content of these three courses and are happy that they are designed in a way that graduates will be job-ready once they've completed them. "There are jobs available today in this sector and it's important that this country continues to provide the educational opportunities needed to fill the skills gap and have graduates employable for the vacancies that are out there," he said.

DCU is a lead partner in a consortium of higher education institutions involved in a €1.2m Government-funded initial research programme in the Cloud Computing Technology Research Centre. The aim is to help make Ireland a world leader in the area. A Microsoft-commissioned report published by Goodbody Consultants in 2011 claimed that the cloud computing industry has the potential to create €9.5bn in annual sales per annum by 2014, providing 8,600 jobs.

Dr Anne Sinnott, executive dean at DCU Business School, said the three new programmes respond to industry needs. She said that over the past two years, 96pc of the 222 students tracked from the MSc suite of programmes have secured relevant, high-quality employment.

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