I was a student at UL from 1988 to 1992 where I went through the business studies stream, specialising in marketing. I am Limerick-born so it wasn't a long trek out to the university.

However, deciding on UL as my university of choice went beyond the convenience of location. Then, as now, UL had an outstanding reputation for its business studies graduates. Exemplary academic standards were coupled with six-month work placements. This was a key attraction and these experiences provided the foundation upon which I chose my current career.

In my second work placement, I worked in one of Dublin's top advertising agencies. This offered me the chance to forge relationships and gain insights. The experience stood to me upon graduation.

My time at UL holds many fond memories, including a soccer intervarsity career. We had great ambition, great coaches (Al Finucane and Dave Mahedy) and a talented team - but, alas, the Collingwood Cup eluded us. I recently returned to UL for a 10-year class reunion and was taken aback at developments on campus - especially the sports and leisure facilities.

Hopefully, these facilities - together with a sporting alliance between UL's soccer team and a local football club (Aisling Annacotty) - will put the Collingwood Cup within our grasp. In the meantime, I can be satisfied in the knowledge that UL is the reigning Universities League champion.

Another highlight of my reunion visit was to see that certain faculty and staff are still the young legends they were in my time! People like Jim Deegan, Professor Paddy Gunnigle and Dr Eoin Reeves not only still run the academic world but they have maintained their devotion to life on the soccer pitch. To me UL provides what all good universities should, a solid basis for life in academia, sport, professional and social development. Its success and development are a credit to the foundations laid by Ed Walsh (UL's first president) and the energy and enthusiasm now manifested by the university's second president, Roger Downer.

Brian Swords is deputy managing director of Cawley Nea\TBWA, a Dublin-based advertising agency.