UCD Talent Connection event highlights critical role of AI skills in Ireland’s economic future

Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to deliver a transformative boost to Ireland’s economy, opening doors to higher productivity, and global competitiveness. Yet, as highlighted at the recent University College Dublin (UCD) Talent Connection event, the nation’s ability to seize this opportunity hinges on bridging a critical skills gap. While demand for AI expertise is soaring, employers are not just seeking graduates with technical know-how - they need talent able to apply AI in real-world business contexts to solve complex challenges and drive innovation.

The event brought together around 60 students, together with industry leaders and technology experts to explore the transformative impact of AI on Ireland’s economy. It showcased how graduates equipped with AI skills are poised to drive innovation, support regulatory compliance, and help Irish businesses remain globally competitive. However, as vacancies for AI-related roles continue to outpace supply, the message is clear: technical skills are essential, but hands-on expertise and business understanding are what truly set candidates apart in today’s competitive job market.

According to the new Data & AI Impact Report by IDC, commissioned by SAS, Ireland stands out in Europe for its maturity in AI adoption and data infrastructure. The report reveals that:

• 28% of Irish organisations are at the most mature “transformative” stage of AI adoption (compared to just 10% globally), and 44% are at the next “integrated” stage.
• 20% of Irish organisations have fully optimised data infrastructure, double the global average, positioning Ireland as a leader in leveraging AI for business impact.

The event featured a keynote from SAS, the global leader in data and AI, and a special session by Allied Irish Bank (AIB), who demonstrated how AI and advanced analytics are reshaping the financial sector. Attendees learned how AI is not only revolutionising risk management and decision-making but also creating new career pathways for graduates.

AIB shared how graduates are central to building robust, compliant, and innovative risk models using SAS. The team outlined a comprehensive graduate training pathway, including:

• Structured SAS Essentials courses and advanced modules in data analysis, machine learning, and model governance.
• Hands-on project experience and mentorship, bridging academic knowledge with real-world application.
• Opportunities to contribute to enterprise-wide modelling, credit risk assessment, and the integration of open-source tools like Python and R.

Stephen Dicker, Risk Integration Manager at AIB, said: “We believe that graduates with strong analytical and AI skills are vital to our mission of building a sustainable, data-driven future. Through our comprehensive training pathways and hands-on project experience, we empower new talent to develop, validate, and deploy models that support strategic decision-making and regulatory compliance.

“It was great meeting graduates at the Talent Connection event and to witness their enthusiasm for embracing real-world applications of AI in areas like banking. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation, we ensure our graduates are ready to make a real impact from early on in their careers.”

Jean de Villiers, Head of Analytics at SAS Ireland, said: “There is a huge economic opportunity given Ireland’s AI maturity and data infrastructure, with AI and analytics skills in high demand across sectors, especially in finance, where they underpin risk management, regulatory reporting, and strategic growth. However, while there are exceptional opportunities for graduates to shape the future of business and society, there is a need for structured training and hands-on experience of real-world projects to accelerate career readiness and professional growth.”

Dr. Barry Twomey, Director of the Advance Centre at UCD, said: “The UCD Talent Connection event underscored the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. Graduates who master AI and analytics are uniquely positioned to help Irish organisations harness the full potential of data, drive innovation, and meet evolving regulatory standards. However, we need to continue to develop the connections with industry and the acquiring of industry-specific expertise so they can put their AI skills into practice.”