Dundalk IT holds 'exceptionally successful' Engineering Futures Careers Fair

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) School of Engineering recently held what it calls "an exceptionally successful" Engineering Futures Careers Fair on campus for students and graduates of the Institute.

DkIT says its award-winning Careers and Employability Centre puts a tremendous focus on careers fairs such as this, in order to support students on their career paths and the Institute says it is delighted to report that 97% of its graduates are in employment or further education within six months of graduating. 

The School of Engineering in DkIT has a long and rich 50-year history of supplying top quality graduate engineers and many of the Institute’s students have gone on to change the face and landscape of the region and country.

The Institute says it pride itself in its close ties to the engineering industry and have long been a go to Institute to recruit the rising stars of Engineering of the future. DkIT says it was "absolutely delighted" to welcome its industry partners to the event, such as Moffett, Combilift, ESB, Mercury, Controlsoft, Elliott group, ABB, Walls, ASEE, Timoney, Atkins, Roco, Bam, Trilan, WuXi, SCSI & Omega Surveying Services to name but a few. It was an added bonus, it says, to see that many of the exhibiting companies were represented by DkIT Alumni.

The Careers fair kicked off with a welcome address by Dr Breda Brennan, Head of School of Engineering who greeted all participating employers and thanked them for their continued support and collaboration with the School of Engineering.

Dr Brennan was preceeded by a review of the Department of Engineering Trades and Civil Engineering which was facilitated by Head of Department Pat McCormick; the Department of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering offerings at the Institute were presented by Head of Department Paul MacArtain; and Noel McKenna took the attendees through an overview of the Department of the Built Environment. 

Dr Breda Brennan, Head of School of Engineering, said, “The future is bright for DkIT graduates of Engineering and never has recruitment for this industry been more in demand.

"We pride ourselves in the quality of graduates we produce and relish the feedback from employers on our student’s employability attributes. Our ongoing relationship with Industry is very important to us.  It was a heartening and proud moment for the School to see so many of our graduates attend the careers fair as now employers”.

Catherine Staunton, Head of Careers and Employability, said, “The theme of the event was DkIT Engineering Futures and this event encapsulated the optimism, diversity and innovation a career in Engineering can provide.

"I have to commend the exhibiting companies on the quality of their interactive displays and engagement of their teams with our students. It is an excellent example of how DkIT engage with industry in the region and directly connect our students and graduates directly with employers, maintaining our excellent employability track record.”

The School of Engineering at DkIT offers a large number of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a wide range of Engineering and related disciplines. The core areas offered at full-time degree level are Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Building Surveying, Architectural Technology and Construction Management. 

These are complemented by a suite of part-time programmes aimed at workplace upskilling, ranging from NFQ level 6 to Masters level. DkIT is also one of the largest centres in Ireland delivering trade apprenticeships in Carpentry and Joinery, Motor Mechanics, Electrical and Plumbing.

For the past two decades and particularly over the last decade DKIT has further developed its programmes and research into the existential societal challenges of climate change and sustainability. This includes both taught and research offerings to PhD and Masters Level with programmes which include Bio-energy, Marine Renewables, Solar energy and Wind energy.

See www.dkit.ie for more.