14th May 2014
By Bryan T. Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Transition year students from Cork, Limerick and Galway are heading to Cork Institute of Technology to take part in the ‘Engineering Your Future’ Transition Year Programme. 72 secondary school students – 12 girls and 60 boys – will attend the programme at CIT starting on Monday, 19th May.
‘Engineering Your Future’, supported by Engineers Ireland’s STEPS programme, is a week-long, hands-on programme for Transition Year students, designed to introduce them to the exciting and diverse world of engineering.
It is hosted by six third-level institutes around Ireland and offers Transition Year students the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the skills required of engineers and the career opportunities available to qualified engineers. Students can learn about the disciplines and technologies making up the diverse world of engineering, meet engineers at various stages in their careers, and experience what engineers do on a daily basis through industry visits.
Michael Loftus, Head of Faculty of Engineering & Science in CIT, said: “This programme provides students with the opportunity to experience engineering innovation in operation in CIT and to see, at first hand, the environment which has produced European award-winning students for many years.
“Students are being given an opportunity to develop skills in areas such as critical thinking, problem solving and design, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition they get a chance to visit CIT and view the excellent facilities and courses that it has to offer. The programme encompasses a range of activities during the week, including industry visits, hands-on workshops, presentations and project work. Students also get the opportunity to meet with engineers, engineering graduates and staff members in the Faculty.
“Exposure to this type of experience helps to inform their decision-making in relation to course selection in higher education. Better informed students will make better informed course and career choices and this is an outcome that will be highly beneficial to them over time.”
In 2012 Engineers Ireland’s STEPS programme partnered with UCD to deliver a pilot placement week aimed at giving an insight into what is involved in engineering at college and in the workplace. The programme was expanded in 2013 and now six institutes around the country are hosting Engineering Your Future: CIT, Athlone IT, DIT, IT Carlow, IT Tallaght and UCD.
