Engineers Ireland calls on industry in Tipperary to get involved in Engineers Week 2014

Week designed to highlight the opportunities a career in engineering can offer

Engineers Week, an annual campaign to promote engineering as a career and emphasise the importance of the profession to Ireland, is taking place from February 9 to 15, 2014. The next Engineers Week, themed ‘Engineers – at the heart of our community’, will highlight the vital role played by engineers in sustaining our people, towns and cities and the limitless possibilities a career in engineering can offer.

Engineers Ireland is calling on businesses and local authorities in Tipperary to get involved by hosting an engineering-related event or taking part in visits to local schools during the week. Engineers Ireland’s schools outreach programme, STEPS, will provide support for organisations interested in engaging directly with students to promote the significant contribution of engineers to their localities. Last year, over 33,000 participants took part in 497 events, with almost 160 organisations involved around the country. Organisers are planning for 2014 to be bigger and better.

John Power, Chartered Engineer and Director General at Engineers Ireland, today called on enterprise and academia to offer their full support by getting actively involved. “Engineers Week is about getting students interested and excited about engineering,” said Mr Power. “It is up to those of us working in the profession and educational institutes to reach out and help students to learn more about the impact our work has on the community.

“In keeping with the theme, Engineers Ireland is encouraging industry to help students realise the engineering pulse that beats throughout our communities – from the mobile and broadband networks we use to stay in touch and the ground-breaking medical devices keeping us alive, to the clean water supply we consume on a daily basis and the entertainment products we enjoy. Engineering is at the heart of our day-to-day lives.”

Mr Power added, “A career in engineering offers great diversity and a passport to work anywhere in the world. Now, more than ever, is an exciting time for young people to join the profession as Ireland becomes a leader in technology related industries like biomedical and computing, providing economic growth and opportunity.”

Those who wish to participate over the course of the week are invited to visit EngineersWeek.ie to upload their event or to learn more about the supports available.

Engineers Ireland is one of the largest representative bodies on the island of Ireland, with almost 24,000 engineers.  The membership incorporates all disciplines of the engineering profession in Ireland across industry, the public service, semi-state organisations and academic institutions.

Engineers Ireland’s STEPS programme is a strategic partner of Science Foundation Ireland’s (SFI) Discover Programme, which seeks to promote the awareness and engagement of the Irish public with science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).