A VARIETY of disciplines including engineering, architecture, design, computers and maths uses computer-aided design as a tool. Most third-level courses in these areas will include CAD. However, for those looking for options outside the CAO/CAS system, it is also possible to study CAD at Post Leaving Certificate level, where it may be combined with other disciplines or offered as an option by itself.
The important thing is to research the course before you apply as each course will have a different emphasis.
Colaiste Ide in Finglas, Dublin, offers foundation and advanced courses in architectural technology and CAD. School-leavers need a minimum of five passes in ordinary level papers including English and maths. A knowledge of building construction or technical drawing would be desirable but not essential, according to course tutor Kieran Gallagher.
The course includes architectural drawing, CAD using the industry standard package AutoCAD, construction studies, technical drawing, mathematical methods, drawing, structural mechanics, computer communications and a two-week work placement.
Gallagher says that the computer is starting to replace the drawing board and the course is about 50 per cent computer-based, mirroring the situation in most architectural practices. Students may progress from first year and two dimensional drawing into the advanced course which includes three dimensional drawing.
The jobs scene is reasonably good with 47 per cent of the last year's advanced course graduates finding related work in architects' offices or as CAD operators; 35 per cent went on to study at third level; 12 per cent went into unrelated work and six per cent were unemployed or unavailable.
While the course is architecturally slanted, two of the graduates found work in engineering companies. Students sit both NCVA and City and Guilds qualifications.
Dun Laoghaire Community College offers a one-year course in two dimensional drawing, desktop publishing and interior design, with a possibility of progressing to a second year where students study advanced Autocad. Graduates of the courses find work as junior graphic designers, draughtspeople, in architects or engineers' offices. Eddie O'Loughlin, course co-ordinator, says that employment prospects are quite good.
Meanwhile, Carlow Vocational School offers a one-year Post Leaving Certificate engineering CAD/ CAM course. Subjects studied include engineering maths, engineering CAD, computer aided manufacturing, industrial communications and mechanical drawing. Students spend one day a week on work experience.
The course co-ordinator says that some students will already have a place on a third-level architecture or engineering course and they use the year to familiarise themselves with AutoCAD, which is the package used by most colleges. Others do the course in hopes of gaining employment directly - in this case, they will usually go in at the level of Junior draughtsperson.
The course has a mechanical engineering slant because of the requirements of local industry such as the Sugar Company and Braun, he explains.
As with other engineering or computer-related courses, boys outnumber girls in most of the these courses. Carlow Vocational School reports one girl in this year's class, while the more architecturally slanted course in Colaiste Ide has eight girls in a class of 28. At Dun Laoghaire Community College the ratio is about 60:40 boys to girls.
