Will I get real work experience?

Students obtain professional experience in third year, through the so-called Professional Experience Programme (PEP). This involves a formal work placement, which extends over a five-month period from April to September. You will work alongside a Health & Safety professional, and in most cases be given real day-to-day responsibilities for aspects of your host organisation’s safety-related activities. Employers from all sectors of the economy participate in this activity: Construction Companies, Local Authorities, Manufacturing Companies, Telecom Service Providers, Health & Safety Consultants, Transport and Logistics Companies, etc. The NUI, Galway Placement Office assists students in finding appropriate workplaces, and students are paid by the employer.

Students generally leave a very positive impression on the host organisation. Some have been offered permanent employment by the host - to date, a small number have accepted such offers.

                                                              Some members of the BS Health & Safety Systems 4 ^th year group: 

Back Row l to r: Louise O’Connor, James Coughlan, Cavell O’Donnell, Darragh Moran, Eoin Burke, Gerard Mc Nulty, Peter Kelly,Simon Smith, Declan Keane, Sandra Mc Donnell, Clare King.

Seated l to r: Catriona Monaghan, Patricia Lennon, Gillian Drake, Emma Costello, Sinead Carroll, Stephainie Power, Maria Kelly, Grace Kelly, Natasha Clarke

So, what do students think of the PEP?

Here are a few comments from the BSc class of 2007/2008, shortly after returning from their placement:

"I carried out my Professional Experience Program in Perth, Western Australia, in 2007. As a whole, my placement was a major benefit, adding practicality to my academic knowledge." Declan Keane

"I completed my placement with John A. Wood Ltd., a quarry company, operating in 19 sites across Kerry, Waterford and Cork. Being a mature student, I had concerns regarding any personal benefit the PEP would present, as I was no stranger to the work environment. However, now I feel it was of great value, as the experience has provided me with renewed confidence in my ability to obtain a position in a new and challenging career."  Simon Smith 

" I worked in the Health & Safety Office, NUI Galway. Working in the Health & Safety Office provided experience in safety control in areas such as construction, biological and chemical agents, visual display units, fire management and radiological hazards. As well as this I was able to improve my skills in safety statement preparation, monitoring techniques and safety audits, putting many of the skills learned in the classroom into practice."  Maria Kelly 

“I was in a Safety Consultancy in Tullamore, called Safety Advisory and Training Services (SATS). It was very beneficial to get some practical experience of what is expected from us in a Health & Safety career setting, before actually graduating and getting a ’real job’. It has clarified what area of Health & Safety I am most suited to and where I want to go next in college and in my career.”  Natasha Clark

“Studies claim that after 3 years in a person's career its a person's own management skills, as opposed to technical skills, which become the key to career progression. The PEP is one way in which these skills can be honed." James Coughlan, PEP completed with Louth County Council

“The PEP Experience: A little light that allowed me to see both the pros and cons of life after college...it was a lot more frightening before I turned on that light!!!.”  Grace Kelly; Company - KILLARNEY TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Maynooth

"I completed my placement at JJ Rhattigan & Co, a construction company. 'I did not think it would have been possible to learn so much in such a short peroid of time."  Sandra McDonnell

"I got to experience Health & Safety from a wide range of different perspectives such as manufacturing industry, construction sites, mining sites, laboratories, offices etc...I have gained valuable practical experience, which will assist me in my final year of studies and as a Health & Safety professional in the future."  Gerard McNulty; PEP completed in Midland Brick, Perth, Western Australia

"I would strongly recommend the Intel placement. I received excellent experience across many modules of my course. The Health and Safety Department at Intel were very welcoming and made my PEP experience worthwhile."   Claire King; PEP in Intel

"My placement experience was with Ward and Burke Construction. Initially, I was based in Carrigtohill, Cork, as an assistant site safety officer on a pipe-laying scheme. My duties varied almost every day. I was then moved to a site in Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Here my duties were similar to the pipe-laying in Cork, except on a larger scale, as the site area was much bigger, with more employees involved. Overall, the placement experience was a great success and I learned so much from it. Getting out of the lectures and college routine and stepping into the working world, gives you a much better feel and understanding of how safety works."  Darragh Moran

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