Widespread publicity about quality failures in such areas as banking, health care, the food sector, and the automobile industry is fuelling demand for graduates who specialize in quality, according to one expert.
“Every time there is publicity about a product being recalled or a ‘systems failure’ it raises public awareness of quality”, said Dr Bob Kennedy, from IT Sligo’s School of Engineering, which is introducing a new postgraduate course in quality this September.
Possibly because of increased awareness by industry, as well as by the public, demand for graduates who specialize in quality has never been greater.
“The careers office at IT Sligo has found that demand by employers for graduates from quality programmes is consistently high,” said Dr Kennedy.
He and colleagues at the Institute are currently putting the finishing touches to a new full-time one year, Level 9, Postgraduate Diploma in Quality which is scheduled to begin in September.
Graduates with a level 8 (honours) degree in engineering, science or business will be eligible and the course is being tailored to provide them with expertise in quality which will make them more attractive to employers.
Dr Kennedy pointed out that IT Sligo has been producing graduates from its existing quality programmes for 25 years and as a result the college has established close ties with many industries. “This is a qualification which will be invaluable across many sectors but our experience has been that demand is greatest in the medical devices and pharmaceutical sectors, but we are seeing growing interest in service areas” the lecturer explained.
Against the backdrop of rising unemployment in other fields, this demand is expected to make the new course very attractive for graduates. “Every week we at IT Sligo are approached by employers looking for people who specialize in the quality area. This course will give graduates a valuable qualification which will travel throughout the EU as well as Australia and the US,” added Dr Kennedy.
The new course will focus on the practical as well as on theory so that graduates will enter the jobs market with the competence and confidence demanded of a professional in quality.
In addition, it is hoped to host regional and national conferences in the area of quality at IT Sligo
and to include guest speakers, who are experts in their area, in the delivery of various modules.
Visits to industries that are regarded as exponents of best quality practice, will also be arranged for students and course accreditation from appropriate professional bodies will be pursued.
If you are interested in studying quality at Level 9 you can get more details here http://courses.itsligo.ie/engineering-courses/postgraduate-diploma-in-quality-management/. It is recommended that you also register your interest with admissions early, as places will be limited and offered to qualified applicants on a first come, first served basis.
For more information contact Dr Bob Kennedy, Lecturer in Quality Management at: kennedy.bob@nullitsligo.ie or 071 9155317
