31 October 2006: The Dean of Engineering at NUI Galway, Professor Pádraic O Donoghue, has predicted very high demand for engineering graduates in the coming years. However, he cautioned that there will be major problems ahead for the Irish economy if there is a shortage of graduates to support the vital high technology industrial sector.

Professor O'Donoghue made his comments during a week in which NUI Galway conferred accredited engineering degrees on 240 graduates. In addition, a further 40 postgraduates were also conferred. He pointed to the attractiveness of engineering as a career given the exciting technical challenges that now exist in addition to the fact that remuneration has increased significantly in recent years.

The Professor commented, "A report published by Forfás earlier this year indicated that starting salaries for engineering graduates are already amongst the highest of all professions. Engineering and Information Technology students who graduate in the next few years can expect to be in very high demand and consequently will receive very attractive salary packages."

According to statistics recently published by Engineers Ireland, engineering salaries in some disciplines have climbed by almost a third in just two years and that the starting salaries are currently on par with those for dentists and doctors.

NUI Galway has been very proactive in delivering the good news message on engineering directly to second level students. The Faculty of Engineering has an extensive school visit programme and places strong emphasis in engaging with these students. The Faculty feels that this is a very important activity and the faculty members will be on the road again over the next few weeks to make these connections. Schools are invited to contact the Faculty at 091 492101 to arrange such a visit.