Demand for engineers in some sectors may have declined in recent years due to the slow down in the construction industry, but experts have warned that the increased focus on water and energy is leading to a shortage of environmental engineers.
IT Sligo has over 30 years experience in delivering courses in the water engineering and environmental areas and is perfectly poised to meet the growing needs of industry in this area. The Institute has just unveiled details of a new three year Ordinary Bachelor of Engineering degree programme in Environmental Engineering .
The programme has been developed in response to the demand from both industry and from students for a level 7 qualification in Environmental Engineering tailored to suit this growing sector.
It is anticipated that significant spending will occur in the area of water and wastewater in the coming years in Ireland, with the introduction of a single national body for the management of our water supplies, and the introduction of water charges to individual users.
Mr PJ Rudden, President of Engineers Ireland, recently indicated that a shortage of qualified Environmental Engineers in the country has meant that Environmental Science graduates are being recruited to fill jobs in the Waste Management, Energy and Environmental areas.
Trevor McSharry Head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at IT Sligo has pointed out that graduates of the new programme will be qualified for a range of jobs with local authorities, government agencies, engineering contractors, environmental consultants, Environmental Contractors and Environmental Operators both in Ireland and abroad.
“Students entering college have a huge desire to undergo studies in areas with good jobs potential,” he pointed out. “The most recent Forfas guide on current and future skills needs in Ireland, as well as recent comments made by the president of Engineers Ireland has confirmed that there is a shortfall of Environmental Engineering graduates. “.
The School of Engineering and the department of Environmental Science in IT Sligo had collaborated to create this new programme, a Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degree in Environmental Engineering starting this September 2012 (CAO code SG335).
“This new and innovative programme is unique in that it provides a strong foundation in the principles of Civil Engineering in the first two years and specialises in the Environmental Engineering and Science areas in the third year”, Mr McSharry stressed.
He said that the programme was attracting a lot of interest due to the growing focus on the development of effective water provision, environmental protection and sustainable development in Ireland. “On completion of the course graduates will have a range of options for further studies at IT Sligo in the areas of environmental science, construction project management and civil engineering,” Mr McSharry added
Students of the new programme will be introduced during the first two years to civil and environmental engineering areas of structural, hydraulic, geotechnical and highway engineering as well as project and site management. In the third year significantly more emphasis will be placed on environmental matters.
It is hoped that the course will be recognised as meeting the educational standard required for Associate Engineer Membership of Engineers Ireland in due course. This would meant that the IT Sligo qualification will be recognised in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States, thus offering exciting opportunities for work and travel abroad.
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