NUI Galway launches degree in energy systems engineering

Energy minister Eamon Ryan with NUI Galway president Dr James Browne

Energy minister Eamon Ryan launched the new BE (Bachelor of Engineering) program in energy systems engineering on Monday in NUI Galway.
 
The new course, which will be based in the new engineering building currently under construction on the campus, has been developed in partnership with members of the energy industry including ESB, GE Energy, Airtricity, Bord Gáis and Wavebob.
 
Speaking at the launch, Minister Ryan said: “The government has set out ambitious plans for energy, and particularly renewable energy over the next ten years. In order for these plans to come to fruition, we must seek to build on our technical expertise, and continue to add to the highly-skilled energy workforce in this country."
 
"These are the skills we need to move from our current level of 15% renewable electricity to 40% by 2020 and to develop this industry to its full potential. It is in developing a strong academic platform, with practical, on-site experience that our future successes will be guaranteed. I must commend NUI Galway and its industry partners for their foresight in developing this course, which I’m sure, will be in great demand."
 
The course will incorporate aspects of traditional civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, with emphasis on energy policy, economics and environmental issues.
 
Subjects on offer will also include "strong elements of civic engagement and service learning, with, for example, student volunteers traveling to India and Africa to install solar systems", according to NUI Galway. Students are also required to study a broad range of related subjects, including economics, sociology and politics, and law and science.
 
Graduates of the programme will "be multidisciplinary engineers equipped to solve problems across the whole spectrum of energy systems". The new degree programme can be applied for through the CAO as change of mind option. 


Dr James  Browne, president of NUI Galway, commented on the new course: “NUI Galway is well positioned to deliver such an engineering programme in energy, as it has a strong range of all relevant engineering disciplines within its College of Engineering and Informatics. The new engineering building on campus, due for completion next summer, incorporates many sustainable energy and environmentally friendly features. In itself, the building will provide a real-life experimental environment for students of the new program."