Most in-demand courses in Ireland for international students By Piyush Kumar Ireland stands out as an emerging destination when it comes to higher education for international students. It not only offers a rich academic experience but also promises an unforgettable cultural journey. According to the Embassy of Ireland, in 2022, more than 6,000 Indian students chose Ireland as their study-abroad destination at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Besides the world-class university experience, Ireland also offers excellent opportunities for IT professionals. Known as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of Europe, Ireland has garnered massive interest in Computer Science and Information Technology courses. A significant influx of students comes from India, China, and Malaysia. Also, Ireland offers an excellent opportunity for post-study career options. In the first seven months of 2023, Ireland granted 6,868 employment permits to Indian nationals across diverse fields such as healthcare, communications, and finance. Additionally, recent adjustments made by the Irish government to the Atypical Working Scheme, including salary threshold modifications and reduced waiting periods, have bolstered Ireland’s status as a preferred destination for both education and employment. Here are some of the courses that have garnered widespread recognition and appeal. Ireland has world-renowned IT colleges and universities offering a comprehensive education in computer science. After completing a computer science program in Ireland, graduates can pursue roles such as Software Developer, Database Administrator, Computer Hardware Engineer, Computer System Analyst, Web Developer, Information Security Analyst, and IT Project Manager. Ireland’s seven most well-known universities are among the world’s top 500 engineering and technology institutes. The presence of major IT and corporate giants like Apple Ireland, Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle in the country ensures that engineering students receive valuable industrial training from some of the world’s best industries. Studying finance in Ireland has gained popularity due to its high employability in accountancy, investment banking, commercial banking, funds administration, financial technology (FinTech), taxation, audit, forensic accounting, investment banking, tax advisory, and more. Top finance graduates find placements in major multinational corporations and big four accounting firms like Ernst & Young and Deloitte. Students can pursue degrees such as MSc in Finance, MSc in Accounting, MA in Accounting, or professional qualifications like ACA, ACCA, CPA, or CIMA. Ireland is renowned as a destination for pursuing degrees in data science, with ample opportunities in this field. Data experts can explore various career paths, including roles as statisticians, data science analysts, data analytics consultants, big data engineers, database administrators, and big data architects. Some prominent companies like Intel, Cisco, Apple, Bank of America, IBM, Accenture, and others actively hire data science graduates. Ireland experiences a substantial need for cybersecurity experts as companies seek to safeguard their extensive databases. Upon completing this course, graduates can explore various career paths, including roles such as Cybersecurity Analyst, IT Security Incident Manager, IT Security Consultant, Cybersecurity Support Engineer, Security Systems Administrator, IT Security Engineer, Penetration Tester, Compliance and Auditing Specialist, Forensics Analyst, and Chief Information Security Officer, among others. Ireland’s exceptional education system, numerous career opportunities, strong support networks, and a hospitable environment render it the premier choice for those pursuing higher education. It is an excellent country for students searching for academic distinction and a stable way of life. (Author is Regional Director- South Asia and Mauritius, IDP Education)
Services miss estimates; Software better than expected: Services business grew 0.6% q-o-q cc and missed HCLT’s Q3FY23 guidance, mainly due to a 3.8% q-o-q cc decline in the ER&D segment. Growth in the IT&BS segment moderated slightly to 1.6% q-o-qcc but was in line with estimates. BFSI and Life Sciences were the key growth drivers, while communications were the drag among verticals. Growth was led by the Americas region, while Europe and ROW posted declines.
Decline in bookings reflects delays in decision-making: HCLT won 10 large deals in services and three large deals in Software with net-new deal TCV of $2.1bn, down 8% y-o-y. Deal wins were driven by the services portfolio, were centered on cost optimisation and vendor consolidation and came mainly from BFSI, manufacturing and Life Sciences verticals. Management highlighted a ramp-down in discretionary spending in Hitech and communications verticals but pointed to a strong deal pipeline.
FY24 guidance in line with expectations: HCLT has guided for 6-8% y-o-y growth for overall business and 6.5-8.5% y-o-y cc growth in services segment and 18-19% margins in FY24—all in line with our assumptions. We maintain our FY24-25 cc revenue growth and margin estimates and expect HCLT to deliver 6.5% cc revenue growth and 18.4% margins in FY24. However, we lower our earnings forecasts by 2% to factor the higher tax rate indicated by the management.
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Raise PT: HCLT has fared better in Q4, particularly in North America and BFSI, unlike its peers. However, rising demand uncertainty as a US recession nears remains a concern. HCLT’s stock at CMP trades at 17x PE and offers a 5% yield, which in our view should limit downsides and derating. Hence, we raise our target PE to 17x (16x earlier) and raise our PT to Rs 1,125, offering 8% potential upside.