University of Galway - J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics

02/06/2026

🏅 Congratulations to MBA alumna Fiona Murtagh on another fantastic achievement representing Ireland on the international stage.

Fresh from a successful week competing in Seville, Fiona once again demonstrated the dedication, resilience and determination required to perform at the highest level of sport. Balancing elite athletic performance with professional and academic commitments is no small feat, and we are incredibly proud to see one of our alumni continuing to achieve success at the highest level.

At University of Galway - J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, we are always delighted to celebrate the achievements of our alumni, whether in business, leadership, research or sport, and Fiona's accomplishments are a wonderful example of the ambition and commitment that define our community.

Congratulations, Fiona, and best of luck as preparations continue for the next challenge ahead.

02/06/2026

DAY 5 The KPMG Summer School concluded with another engaging day of industry insights, real-world applications and future-focused thinking at J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics.

Students heard from Marie Joyce, CFO at Manchester Airports Group, whose session Making Data Fly: From Theory to the Tarmac explored the role of data and analytics in supporting decision-making in complex operational environments.

The afternoon continued with online sessions from Stephen Purcell, Director and Co-Head of KPMG Future Analytics, who shared insights into applied intelligence and analytics for regional and urban planning, followed by Hidde Siderius, Luke Finn and Ronan Daly from KPMG, who explored the growing role of data analytics and technology within audit.

Throughout the week, students engaged directly with leaders across industry, gaining valuable insight into the evolving world of finance, analytics, AI and digital transformation while developing practical skills and real-world perspectives that extend beyond the classroom.

A sincere thank you to Andrea Crean, KPMG and all speakers who shared their expertise and contributed to an engaging and insightful week for our students.

02/06/2026

Congratulations to Dr Shekhar Misra, Marketing Discipline, at University of Galway - J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics, on the publication of his latest research in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science , an FT50-ranked journal.

In the article, “CMOs’ Influence on Data Breach Prevention”, Dr Misra examines how marketing leadership can contribute to reducing organisational cybersecurity risks. Analysing data from 346 companies, the research finds that firms with a Chief Marketing Officer are significantly less likely to experience a data breach.

The study challenges the view that data protection is solely an IT responsibility and highlights the important role marketing leaders can play in fostering customer trust, championing privacy initiatives, and supporting cross-functional collaboration around data governance.

As organisations increasingly rely on AI, personalisation, and data-driven decision-making, this research offers valuable insights into the intersection of marketing, cybersecurity, and responsible business practice.

We congratulate Dr Misra on this significant achievement and on continuing to advance impactful research with important implications for both industry and society.

DigitalResponsibility ResearchExcellence | Karena JI YAN | University of Galway

30/05/2026

29/05/2026

28/05/2026

DAY 4 Technology, AI and practical industry application took centre stage on Day 4 of the KPMG Summer School at University of Galway - J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics.

Today focused on an interactive, highly practical session, where students took part in hands-on workshops focused on using Microsoft Excel to analyse and manage data in an audit environment.

Delivered by Keith Holland, Associate Director AI & Digital Learning, Fiona Farrell, Programme Lead at KPMG Business School, alongside Aoife Finnerty ACA and Seán Gilmore from KPMG, the session gave students direct exposure to tools and techniques used within industry today.

Experiences such as these provide students with opportunities to strengthen both technical and analytical skills while connecting classroom learning with professional practice.

28/05/2026

🇵🇹 Global perspectives, new experiences and unforgettable memories in Portugal for our MSc International Management students.

As part of a Seminar Week at Nova SBE in Portugal, students from our MSc International Management programme had the opportunity to immerse themselves in international learning experiences designed to broaden perspectives and connect academic theory with real-world practice. Facilitated by Vanessa Bretas, Assistant Professor in Management, the programme explored themes including internationalisation, sustainability and the economic dynamics of Portuguese-speaking markets through case studies and interactive discussions.

Reflecting on the experience, MSc International Management student Ll Wang shared:

*"Our Seminar Week at Nova SBE was an unforgettable experience. Academically, it gave us valuable insights into internationalisation, sustainability, and the economic dynamics of Portuguese-speaking markets through real-world case studies and discussions.*

*Beyond the classroom, the surfing lesson was definitely a highlight for many of us. It pushed us out of our comfort zones and created some of the most memorable moments of the trip.*

*What made the experience even more special was the support from our professors throughout the week. As international students, their care and guidance made us feel incredibly supported, and it reminded me how proud I am to be a student at the University of Galway.”*

A sincere thank you to Vanessa Bretas and all involved in facilitating the Seminar Week and creating an experience that brought together academic learning, international collaboration and experiences that students will carry with them long after the programme ends.

27/05/2026

🏆 We are delighted to share that University of Galway - J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics has been recognised at the Irish Accountancy Awards 2026, receiving the Excellence in Education Award for our submission 'University of Galway – Postgraduate Suite of Summer Schools'.

This recognition celebrates our continued commitment to creating innovative and impactful learning experiences that connect students with industry, provide practical real-world insight and extend learning beyond the classroom. Through our Summer School initiatives, students gain direct access to industry leaders, emerging topics, global perspectives and hands-on experiences that help prepare them for an evolving professional landscape.

We are particularly proud of the collaborative efforts behind this achievement. A special thank you to Professor Breda Sweeney and Andrea Crean for their work in supporting the submission and facilitating Summer School initiatives, alongside all colleagues across Accountancy and Finance whose dedication and contribution helped make this possible.

This award reflects the strength of industry engagement, innovation in teaching and the student-focused experiences that continue to shape learning at J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics. We thank our industry partners Laurence May KPMG Galway and Robert White EY Luxembourg for their valuable collaboration in delivering two of our summer schools.

University of Galway

27/05/2026

Our students making their mark both professionally and beyond the classroom. 🏆

A huge congratulations to Ruairí Myers, third-year Commerce (Accounting) student who completed his placement with EY Luxembourg, and Global Commerce student Peadar O'Keeffe on winning the Luxembourg GAA Gaelic football tournament earlier this year.

Experiences during university often extend far beyond lectures and placements. Whether through international opportunities, professional development or sport and community, it was fantastic to see students building friendships, connections and experiences while representing themselves and University of Galway abroad.

Well done, Ruairí and Peadar.

University of Galway Sport University of Galway

27/05/2026

DAY 3 🔐👩‍💻 | Critical thinking, cybersecurity and data-driven decision-making were the focus of Day 3 of the KPMG Summer School at J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics.

Students spent time preparing for group presentations before hearing from Mark Gantly, Adjunct Professor at University of Galway, on approaching data with a critical mindset and understanding the importance of informed decision-making.
The programme also explored the growing connection between technology and financial risk, with Sean Morris, Group CTO at OneTouch, sharing perspectives on cybersecurity and why understanding digital risk is becoming increasingly important for future finance leaders.

Again, the afternoon included more student presentations, exploring topics such as advanced data analytics, safeguarding financial integrity and AI and accounting, enabling students to share their insights.

By combining academic learning with industry perspectives, students continue to build practical skills and gain insight into the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping the business world.