Green sector 'should boost engineering'

THE growing interest in green technology should prompt greater student interest in engineering and related courses, a professional body has claimed. Although most engineering degrees required less Leaving Certificate points this year because of a significant fall in demand for all courses linked to construction, some of those for which points rose are linked to other industries.

"While it is understandable that the demand for construction-related engineering courses such as civil engineering has diminished, it is encouraging that there is increased demand for certain courses in areas such as biopharmaceutical and environmental engineering," said Engineers Ireland director general John Power.

He said it indicated that students are starting to recognise the diverse nature of engineering and the fact that there are opportunities in new emerging sectors. Around 4,700 jobs in the green economy area have been announced in the last four months, according to Engineers Ireland.

The general drop in points for engineering is contrasted by the rise in demand and points requirements for science courses, with more than a dozen science degrees up 40 points or more for thousands of students offered places by the Central Applications Office (CAO) yesterday.

Despite recent figures suggesting more than one-in-five students on university science and engineering courses did not last until second year, one senior academic said the problem lies largely with students not knowing enough about degrees before applying.

"Many students start a course that is not their first choice and might end up dropping out, but the difficulties also has to do with how students are engaged when they start college," said Professor John O'Halloran, vice-head of University College Cork's college of science, engineering and food science.

Points for most of the college's courses are up this year and Prof O'Halloran said staff will be extending a mentoring system already in place for science students.

The increase in points for general arts degrees has been attributed to rising student demand for humanities and social science qualifications.

Agri Aware welcomed points rises for agriculture and food science courses as a reflection in interest in farming and related careers.