Alan Anderson recently completed an engineering master’s in road and transport engineering at Atlantic Technological University Sligo (formerly IT Sligo) and found online learning an excellent way to upskill while working full-time.
“I achieved my undergraduate degrees from ATU Sligo, and I knew the university offered the support and guidance needed for my further studies online,” Anderson says. “The master’s offered by the college is very applicable to the field of engineering I am involved with.”
Through his completion of the MEng at ATU Sligo, Anderson can now apply for his Chartered Engineer status due to the course being fully accredited at the education standard required for the registration of chartered engineers. It is the first online programme at master’s level to gain full Engineers Ireland recognition.
While studying at ATU Sligo, Anderson was able to able to apply his new skills to his current role at Colas Ireland by developing a new product for emulsion manufacturing through his research thesis in year two. He also gained a greater understanding of legislation and government policies in civil engineering.
“The MEng in road and transport engineering covered several modules,” he says, “which have brought me benefits in my professional career and thus helped my company.”
As a leader in online learning, ATU Sligo has designed a flexible learning experience suited to those in full-time employment who need to upskill to keep up with industry demand and to also open more opportunities in the workplace. The flexibility of online and blended learning suited Anderson, and he particularly liked the recorded aspect of live lectures and the ability to watch back at a time that suited him.
ATU Sligo continually works with industry to create new online part-time programmes to help upskilling in areas of demand. This MEng was developed in partnership with the Department of Transport and the Local Authority Services National Training Group (LASNTG), targeting civil engineers working in the road and transport engineering sector. It is suitable for both recent level 8 accredited graduates from civil engineering and experienced professionals in the public and private sector. Local authority employed engineers can avail of full funding for the programme if they receive a nomination from their employer.
At the recent Irish Construction Excellence Awards, ATU Sligo won an award in the Third Level – CPD category for this online, blended, and part-time MEng in road and transport engineering. While the university was also recognised by having its online and flexible master of science in project management also shortlisted as a finalist, there could be only one winner.
Says Dr Brian McCann, course coordinator for the winning programme: “I am delighted on behalf of the programme committee that the ICE award committee has acknowledged the quality and positive impact that the MEng degree has had on the civil engineering sector. This award provides further recognition of the academic integrity and flexibility of delivery for learners, as evidenced by the degree’s full Chartered Engineer status awarded by Engineers Ireland in 2021.″
Within the Department of Civil Engineering and Construction at ATU Sligo is a suite of road- and transport-related programmes open for application. From the MEng in road and transport engineering and the certificate in road engineering and design (developed in collaboration with the Department of Transport) to the certificate in road safety audit and engineering (developed in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland), ATU Sligo is to the forefront of road and transport engineering education in Ireland.
If you have any questions about this article or online learning at ATU Sligo, please contact the Admissions team on admission@itsligo.ie.
Applications are now open for part-time online courses at ATU Sligo for a September 2022 start. Apply now www.atu.ie/sligoonline