STUDENTS in DCU recently launched the university's first engineering society in the presence of the Minister for Science and Technology, Pat Rabbitte.

As well as providing a forum for engineering students interests, the society aims to assist engineering students in expanding their employment prospects.

"When companies come out to colleges it's often business and marketing students who get first call," says Derek Tobin, chairman of the society. "Basically, the idea is that engineers should get more involved with companies and that will help them with their employment prospects later."

The society is planning a trip to British Telecom in London as well as inviting speakers from engineering companies to address the society and has also opened a Web site at http;//www.eeng.dcu.ie/engsoc.

DCU currently operates a number of engineering degree courses for undergraduates, including the first degree of its kind in telecommunications engineering in the country.