CIT Guidance Counsellor Day 2017 Presentation regarding STEM courses on offer by the Faculty of Science and Engineering

1. http://www.cit.ie
CIT STEM
An overview of recent developments
Michael Loftus
Head of Faculty of Engineering & Science
7-Dec-2017

2. The Faculty of Engineering & Science - I
SIRG: Sustainable Infrastructure Research Group. NIMBUS: Networked & Embedded Systems Research Group. MEDIC: Medical Engineering Design
and Innovation Centre. CAMMS: Centre For Advanced Manufacturing and Management Systems. CleanTech: Clean Technology Centre. CREATE:
Centre for Research in Advanced Therapeutic Engineering. CAPPA: Centre for Advanced Photonics and Process Analysis. BCO: Blackrock Castle
Observatory. SIGMA: Software Research Group.
NOTE: NATIONAL MARITIME COLLEGE OF IRELAND HAS ALSO JUST JOINED FES, SEE NEXT SLIDE FOR DETAILS

3. The Faculty of Engineering & Science - II

4. Key Statistics
 Faculty (including NMCI)
 4,250 full-time students
 2,200 part-time students
 700 students with non-Irish nationalities from approx. 65 countries
 370 members of academic staff (full-time and part-time)
 €14M in annual research income
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5. Key Challenge
 Demand for STEM graduates is outstripping supply
 How do we produce more STEM graduates?
 With over 91% of CIT graduates finding paid employment or
entering further study within 9 months of graduating, and a
further 4% of graduates travelling, volunteering or otherwise
occupied, 19 out of 20 graduates are actively developing their
careers and following their interests within a short time of
finishing their studies.
 The vast majority of these graduates work in Ireland in areas of
direct relevance to their academic qualifications.
 STEM graduates feature at the top of the earnings list, with many
STEM graduates securing employment long before completing
their final examinations.
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6. STEM Graduate Salaries I

7. STEM Graduate Salaries II

8. STEM Graduate Employment Locations

10. STEM Graduate Employment Locations

11. Industry Engagement
 Industry is no longer content to simply recruit from the
general graduate pool at the end of each academic year
 Industry is now engaging strategically with CIT to:
 Influence course design
 Provide financial supports for STEM students
 Attract significant numbers of female and male students to enrol in
and graduate from STEM courses
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12. Scholarship Opportunities
http://www.cit.ie/scholarships
 CIT - DePuy Synthes Biomedical Engineering Scholarship - Application for this scholarship is open to any student
who has applied through the CAO to study the Honours Degree in Biomedical Engineering (CR520) at CIT.
 CIT - Janssen Mechanical Engineering Scholarship - Application for this scholarship is now open to any student
who has applied through the CAO to study the Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering (CR108) at CIT.
 CIT - Abbott Vascular Mechanical Engineering Scholarship - A funding contribution by Abbott towards a
student's education for year 2, 3 and 4 of the Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering (CR108) at CIT.
 CIT - ARUP Structural Engineering Scholarship - Application for this scholarship is now open to any student who
has applied through the CAO to study the Honours Degree in Structural Engineering (CR109) at CIT.
 CIT - Intel Security "Alejandro de la Flor" Memorial Scholarship for Department of Computer Science - Intel
Security are funding this perpetual scholarship in memory of Alejandro de la Flor who passed away in 2008.
 CIT - Esentire "Yves Beretta" Memorial Scholarship for Department of Computer Science - Perpetual Scholarship
to be awarded to a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in IT Management student who is specifically pursuing a
security forensics course.
 CIT - "Cliona Magner" Scholarship - open to final year students in the Departments of Process, Energy and
Transport Engineering and Mechanical, Biomedical and Manufacturing Engineering
 CIT Rísam PhD Scholarship - The Rísam Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and research proposals
must be aligned with CIT’s Research Prioritisation Thematic areas
 Research Scholarships - There are a number of funding schemes for postgraduate students. The majority of
these are external schemes and the competition is open to both the Institutes of Technology and the
Universities.
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13. STEM Programme Features
 CIT courses are co-designed with industry to ensure that the graduates are immediately
productive in the workplace and ready to become the next generation of industry leaders
 Students spend extensive periods of time in laboratories, studios and workshops, perfecting the
professional expertise they will require upon graduating
 Work placement is a major feature of many CIT courses and provides students with the
experience so essential to their professional development
 Small class sizes provide lecturers with the opportunity to maximise support for students in an
environment where student achievement is valued above all else
 Widespread professional recognition of CIT courses has been achieved with organisations such as
Engineers Ireland, the Institution of Chemical Engineers (who recognise CIT’s Chemical &
Biopharmaceutical Engineering degree as a Masters’ level qualification), the Energy Institute, the
Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine, and the Society of Chartered Surveyors
Ireland
 The provision of a comprehensive range of pathways, up to and including PhD level, across an
integrated portfolio of courses provides a wealth of opportunities for full-time students as well as
for those who have already entered the workforce and who wish to advance their careers even
further
 Opportunities to participate in national and international competitions for multidisciplinary
teams, as well as the opportunities to avail of opportunities to refine their skills in
entrepreneurship and innovation, are readily available
 The increasing proportion of female students who are now enrolled on STEM courses in CIT and
who are in the process of becoming the role models for the future is an encouraging development
which has been promoted strongly by CIT
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14. Engagement with Schools
 CIT Engineering, Science & Technology Roadshows 2017-2018
 Millstreet Community School – 2-Oct-2017
 Skibbereen Community School – 9-Oct-2017
 Pobalscoil na Trionóide – 23-Oct-2017
 Bishopstown Campus, CIT - 15-Jan-2018
 I WISH campus programme for TY girls – 15-19 Jan-2018
 Booked out in less than 10 minutes
 SciFest, Annual Engineering Exhibition, Engineering Your Future,
Science4Life
 School visits, open days, careers fairs, award presentation nights,
individual queries etc.
 Open to explore all options – please contact Norma Welch,
Faculty Administrator, at Eng.Admin@cit.ie
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15. STEM Roadshow Photographs
(https://www.facebook.com/CITFES/)

16. Developments to be aware of
 Ongoing review of common entry engineering
 5-year MEng structure under review
 Common first year in Computer Science
 BSc (Hons) in Herbal Science to be discontinued
 Additional developments to be announced in due course
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17. Specifics I: Architectural Technology and
Interior Architecture
 Architectural Technology
 Architectural Technology is focused on solving the technical design challenges in Architecture. It is a
creative activity. It is about the "HOW" buildings are built.
 Tech Graphics and Construction Studies in the Leaving Cert may be helpful however they are NOT
REQUIRED. More important is to enjoy all forms of drawing and be interested in communicating through
drawing (hand sketching, technical drawing, computer software).
 Architectural Technology provides great career path options for females.
 Interior Architecture
 The CIT programme is Interior Architecture NOT Interior Design. It is a creative, problem solving discipline
which integrates imagination, design and technology.
 Art is not required in the Leaving Cert however it is important for prospective students to enjoy drawing as
it is the main communication tool in this career (hand sketching, technical drawing, computer software).
 Mathematics - there is only one 5-credit math module in the programme and that is in year 1. However
Math is applied throughout this discipline - dimensions, size, volume, scale, quantities, geometry.
 General
 Lecturers from the Department are available to visit schools and present and discuss the programmes with
students. Please contact Katherine.Keane@cit.ie, Head of Department, for more details.
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18. Specifics II: Physical Sciences
 Critical Shortage of Instrumentation/Automation specialists to support
BioPharma/BioTech and development of “smart factories”
 Increasing demand for highly skilled Analytical Chemists and Quality
Assurance/Validation specialists for the BioPharma/BioTech
 Increasing demand for Environmental Monitoring Specialists to meet
EU regulatory requirements on air/water quality and environmental
footprint
 New Joint degree: Industrial Physics (UCC/CIT)...preparing for Industry
4.0
 Lecturers from the Department are available to visit schools and
present and discuss the programmes with students. Please contact
Donagh.OMahony@cit.ie, Head of Department, for more details.
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19. Specifics III: Computer Science
 Two programme streams:
 Software Development
 Information Technology
 Software Development Stream
 BSc (Hons) Software Development
Flagship and highly rated Software Development programme
 BSc (Hons) Web Development
Focus on web development, there is a growing need for this skillset.
 BSc (Hons) Computer Systems
Focus on Internet of Things (IoT), the next big thing. Highly employable
graduates.
 BSc Software Development (Level 7)
Replaces the BSc in Computing with progression path to Level 8
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20. Specifics IV: Computer Science ctd.
 Information Technology Stream
 BSc (Hons) IT Management
Strong focus on Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Networking, Storage, Virtualistion and IT
Management. Cork fast becoming Cybersecurity capital of Ireland and as a result graduates are in
high demand.
 BSc Information Technology (Level 7)
Similar to previous degree without Management track. Has a clear progression path to Level 8
 Work Placement
 All programmes now have paid work placement which lasts for up to 9 months
 Common 1st Year
 Allows students to change programmes after year 1. Please see flowchart printed at the back of the
brochure.
 Computer Science Brochure
 New for 2017 – please take as many as you can carry! Available at entrance.
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21. Summary
 Demand for STEM graduates is outstripping supply
 Excellent salaries on offer
 Excellent prospects for work in Ireland or further afield
 High relevance of qualification to career choice
 Increasing number of female students and graduates
 Excellent industry engagement
 Excellent engagement with guidance counsellors – thank
you!
 Roll on 2018!
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22. http://www.cit.ie
Michael.Loftus@cit.ie
7-Dec-2017
Thank you