Welcome to PAT Business School’s latest newsletter edition. Keep reading to see what the team has been up to throughout the month of November and what we have coming.
Postgraduate Diploma Formal Launch
We’re proud to announce the formal launch of Europe’s first Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma Dual Award, delivered in collaboration between TU Dublin, ACCA, and PAT Business School.
This pioneering qualification represents a landmark partnership between academia and professional accountancy — blending the academic rigour of TU Dublin, the global professional standards of ACCA, and the innovative learning model of PAT Business School.
Designed to empower the next generation of finance professionals, this dual award provides graduates with both a TU Dublin-accredited Level 9 Postgraduate Diploma in conjunction with the ACCA qualification, combining higher education and professional accreditation into one powerful pathway.
We’re immensely proud of the shared vision that brought this to life — and of the teams across all three institutions who worked tirelessly to make it happen. The next intake is now open, marking an exciting new chapter in European professional accountancy education.
Graduations 2025
It was great to see our Diploma in Fintech Risk & Compliance students, and our Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Accountancy students at the recent graduation ceremonies.
ACCA New Members Ceremony
PAT Business School was delighted to attend the ACCA New Members Ceremony at Trinity College Dublin, celebrating the achievements of so many newly qualified accountants.
It was a real pleasure to meet and reconnect with our former students — now officially ACCA members — and to see their dedication and hard work recognised on such a special occasion. In addition it was wonderful to meet and catch up with the legendary Ronnie Patton.
Maynooth University School of Business
Academic Excellence Awards Ceremony 2025
We were delighted to attend the Maynooth University School of Business Academic Excellence Awards ceremony – where we acknowledged the great achievement of Ian Geoghegan – as first placed accounting student in his final year of the BBS Business & Accounting degree.
ACCA Global Council Elections
To all ACCA members – thank you for your support and your votes for Anne Keogh and Cathal Cusack in the ACCA Global Council elections.
We are delighted for their well-deserved success, recognising their longstanding commitment to the accounting profession, their leadership, and their tireless advocacy for continuous professional development.
Their election to the ACCA Global Council will be a proud moment for the entire community — and a testament to the trust and confidence that members have placed in their vision for the future of the profession.
Turning ambition into achievement – the PAT way
We were delighted to visit Technological University Dublin (Aungier St Campus) to speak with Accounting undergraduate and postgraduate students about all things ACCA – and how we can support them as they prepare to graduate and embark on their professional journey.
We were joined by Jacqueline O’Donnell at this session, which was facilitated by John Brennan.
SETU Faculty of Business Awards
We were delighted to attend the SETU Faculty of Business 23rd Annual Recognition of Awards and Dean’s List – where we acknowledged the great achievements of Ms. Amy Costello, Bachelor of Business (Hons) and Ms. Ciara Cowman, BA (Hons) in Accounting as distinguished award winners.
Fingal Skills Summit:
‘Unlocking Skills for Tomorrow’s Workforce’
We were delighted to recently attend the inaugural Fingal Skills Summit: ‘Unlocking Skills for Tomorrow’s Workforce’
Developed in collaboration with Solas, the Department of Social Protection, Department of Further, and Higher Education Research Innovation & Science, Dublin Regional Skills Forum, and Skillnet Ireland, the Summit provided data driven strategic insights into
- Emerging employment skills trends
- 63% of the 2.8m labour force are in occupations exposed to AI
- 75% of employment is in roles with at least some levels of green intensity levels
- The top 15 skills mentioned in online job ads
- The supports available to businesses for the recruitment of new talent.
PAT Business School is delighted to welcome
Patrick Kiernan to our Fintech Faculty
At PAT Business School, we are committed to ensuring that our learners benefit from a faculty with rich practitioner experience — professionals who bring real-world insight, industry relevance, and practical application to the rigor of a university-validated programme.
Patrick joins us with a distinguished background and currently serves as Head of Technology Oversight for Barclays Europe’s Corporate and Private Bank. He is a senior technology leader with deep expertise in fintech operations, governance, and large-scale IT service delivery, bringing real-world experience from complex, highly regulated environments in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. His strong knowledge of DORA compliance and technology governance will significantly enrich the learning experience for our fintech students.
We are thrilled to have Patrick on board as we continue to build Europe’s most advanced Fintech, RegTech, AML and DORA learning ecosystem.
Good luck to our ACCA and Fintech students as they start preparing for their forthcoming exams.
As we head into December, we wish everyone a relaxed and balanced finish to the year. Take a breath, look after yourself, and remember—progress is still progress, even at a slower pace.
See you next month😊