Students reviewing their CAO selection prior to the Monday, July 1 Change of Mind deadline are urged to consider the limitless opportunities a career in engineering offers and to check the Engineers Ireland database of accredited engineering programmes, which cover levels 6, 7, 8 and 9, to ensure their chosen engineering course at third-level meets the highest of international standards.
Engineers Ireland, the professional membership body for engineers in Ireland, accredits more than 100 CAO courses across the diverse disciplines of engineering within Ireland’s higher education institutes.
Engineers Ireland registrar Damien Owens said: “An engineering degree offers a passport to the world. Engineering courses that we accredit are internationally recognised, encouraging travel and the exchange of ideas and experience, enriching our profession.
'Meets highest of international standards'
“Each course that has been accredited is subjected to a rigorous process of evaluation. Ensuring that you have selected an accredited course means that your chosen engineering course at third level meets the highest of international standards.”
According to findings from Engineers Ireland’s Engineering 2019 report, almost all (94 per cent) engineering employers consider a shortage of experienced engineers to be a barrier to growth – and 48 per cent expect this situation to get worse in the year ahead.
The barometer report highlighted that in 2017, there were 3,865 graduates from Level 7 and Level 8 engineering courses in Ireland, representing a one per cent increase since 2016.
However, this also represents a 15 per cent decrease over the past five years. A particular cause of concern is the five-year trend in civil and building engineering, graduates of which have dropped from 1,494 in 2012 to 669 in 2017, down 55 per cent in five years.
“Ireland needs a steady supply of engineers, with the necessary skillset, to boost local economies, create new jobs, facilitate sustainable development and the meet Government ambitions, such as those outlined in the Climate Action Plan,” said Owens.
“However, the reality is that the number of students moving into third-level engineering and technology sectors needs to be much larger to meet employers’ future needs for graduates and meet the growing needs of society.”
To view the Engineers Ireland database of accredited CAO courses, visit:
http://engineersireland.ie/membership/cao-engineering-courses.aspx