2012 press releases
Posted 6 February 2012
Taoiseach Opens €36m New Engineering Building at AIT
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny has today officially opened the new Engineering and Informatics Building at Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT).
The 11,000 square metre facility represents an investment of €36 million. Faculty, students and researchers in mechanical, renewable and sustainable engineering; electronics and software engineering; polymer engineering, as well as civil and construction engineering use the building.
President of AIT, Professor Ciarán Ó Catháin, said the building is “a landmark on campus, not just in terms of its physical presence, the technology it embodies, but the partnerships it is helping to build and develop. Having a state-of-the-art facility such as this is greatly aiding our ambition to be a college of choice for Irish and international students. Significantly, it positions the School of Engineering to the forefront of engineering education in Ireland.”
Engineering education is “written into the DNA of this institute; it’s part of the source code”, he said. “Since the foundation of the college, there has been a commitment in Athlone to the education and training of engineers. While the initial vision was for the training of technicians, today’s engineering students also have the opportunity of undertaking a PhD and post-doctoral work on campus.”
He continued: “What is of critical concern for us, in the formation of engineering graduates and, indeed, all learners, is that they have an adaptable skillset to ensure career success. That comes from providing them with a deep understanding of their field of study and excellent technical skills. Such an approach enables people to foresee problems, to identify solutions and transform for the better their workplace and society.”
The relationship between AIT, employers and industry is key, he stated. “As an academic community, we listen closely to what they are saying about their needs, responding to the requirements for particular skills, such as the need for graduates in cloud computing and network management, for polymer technologists for the medical device industry, for environmental engineering scientists, for green technologists. The fruits of this deep and sustained conversation is an industry-academy engagement that produces real world-informed teaching and learning, and top calibre graduates.”
More than 1,000 engineering students are registered at AIT, undertaking programmes ranging from apprenticeships and higher certificate through to PhD and post-doctoral research.
Amongst those at the opening were former Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, who laid the foundation stone for the building in 2008; Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Ireland, Abdulaziz Aldriss; and John Hennessy from the Higher Education Authority.
Designed by McCullough Mulvin architects, the Engineering and Informatics Building claimed the prize for best educational building at the Irish Architecture Awards 2010. The building was funded by the Department of Education and Skills.
