2008 Press Releases
Eirgrid Prize presented to UCC Student
12.03.2008
UCC student, Beatrice Smyth was the recent winner of the Eirgrid Prize for Best Taught Masters in Sustainable Energy at UCC. Beatrice, a native of Donegal, is currently studying for a PhD in Engineering at UCC.
12.03.2008
UCC student, Beatrice Smyth was the recent winner of the Eirgrid Prize for Best Taught Masters in Sustainable Energy at UCC. Beatrice, a native of Donegal, is currently studying for a PhD in Engineering at UCC.
The Faculty of Engineering's taught Masters (MEngSc) Programme in Sustainable Energy is now in its third year and is attracting considerable interest, both from applicants wishing to participate and from employers looking for suitably trained staff. In December 2007, 15 students graduated with an MEngSc and in the current academic year there were 122 applicants for 25 places.
Some of the students are freshly graduated engineers who wish to specialise in sustainable energy, others have been working for a number of years and are seeking a change in career path or to provide additional training for their current position. Graduates have found gainful employment in wind energy (including Airtricity, and Scottish Power), solar energy (RVR), energy consultancy (Eirdata), energy regulation (Commission for Energy Regulation) and the electricity market (ESB). Employers such as Eirgrid, SWS Energy, Eirdata make regular inquiries with a view to recruitment. In addition, in recognition of their interest in the programme, Eirgrid sponsored a prize for the top student (see picture).
Three of the 15 graduates this year have also registered for PhDs, with funding support from Bord Gais Eireann, Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Higher Education Authority. The success to date reinforces the view that the core Programme team (Brian Ó Gallachóir, Eamon McKeogh, Jerry Murphy, Tony Lewis, Michael Egan, Gordon Lightbody, John Hayes and Alistair Allen) had said at the outset that the climate is right for such a programme. "It builds on and harnesses UCC's track record in research, applied research and demonstration projects in the field of sustainable energy for over 25 years. The taught Masters programme was developed in recognition of the growing international market for sustainable energy systems and the shortage of qualified engineers", said Dr Brian Ó Gallachóir.
Building on the success of this programme, the Faculty of Engineering has also launched an undergraduate level 8 degree in energy engineering, another first in Ireland for UCC. The first batch of students will register in September 2008 and significant levels of interest have been shown from school leavers, parents, career guidance teachers and industry.
Picture shows (L-R): Dermot Byrne, CEO Eirgrid, Beatrice Smyth, Winner of the Eirgrid Prize for Best Taught Masters in Sustainable Energy and Dr Brian Ó Gallachóir, Co-ordinator of Sustainable Energy MEngSc Programme, UCC.
668MMcS
Some of the students are freshly graduated engineers who wish to specialise in sustainable energy, others have been working for a number of years and are seeking a change in career path or to provide additional training for their current position. Graduates have found gainful employment in wind energy (including Airtricity, and Scottish Power), solar energy (RVR), energy consultancy (Eirdata), energy regulation (Commission for Energy Regulation) and the electricity market (ESB). Employers such as Eirgrid, SWS Energy, Eirdata make regular inquiries with a view to recruitment. In addition, in recognition of their interest in the programme, Eirgrid sponsored a prize for the top student (see picture).
Three of the 15 graduates this year have also registered for PhDs, with funding support from Bord Gais Eireann, Sustainable Energy Ireland and the Higher Education Authority. The success to date reinforces the view that the core Programme team (Brian Ó Gallachóir, Eamon McKeogh, Jerry Murphy, Tony Lewis, Michael Egan, Gordon Lightbody, John Hayes and Alistair Allen) had said at the outset that the climate is right for such a programme. "It builds on and harnesses UCC's track record in research, applied research and demonstration projects in the field of sustainable energy for over 25 years. The taught Masters programme was developed in recognition of the growing international market for sustainable energy systems and the shortage of qualified engineers", said Dr Brian Ó Gallachóir.
Building on the success of this programme, the Faculty of Engineering has also launched an undergraduate level 8 degree in energy engineering, another first in Ireland for UCC. The first batch of students will register in September 2008 and significant levels of interest have been shown from school leavers, parents, career guidance teachers and industry.
Picture shows (L-R): Dermot Byrne, CEO Eirgrid, Beatrice Smyth, Winner of the Eirgrid Prize for Best Taught Masters in Sustainable Energy and Dr Brian Ó Gallachóir, Co-ordinator of Sustainable Energy MEngSc Programme, UCC.
668MMcS