COUNTDOWN TO COLLEGE/Careers in Technology:Ireland has been facing a growing shortage of graduates in technical disciplines, even though computer scientists, electronic engineers, and IT professionals have excellent career options.
Yes, Dell has closed its computer manufacturing facility in Ireland, but it still employs scores of IT graduates with very high-level skills, researching and developing the next generation of technological advances. Graduates in these disciplines will form the backbone of Ireland’s long-term economic future.
In 2008, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland said nearly 2,000 hi-tech jobs would be created in Ireland over the coming years. These new jobs will come as a result of expansions by existing companies ( IBM, Business Objects, GOA Games and Houghton Mifflin) as well as new companies such as Facebook.
What would I study in a computer science programme?
Computer science is the investigation and exploration of the theory, practice and use of computers and computation.
You study how computer hardware and software systems are designed, built and used to support activity; how computers are used to solve challenging problems; how they work; how computer software is developed; how computer hardware is designed; and how computers communicate with each other.
What career options are on offer to technology graduates?
A degree in a technical discipline offers a wide range of career opportunities including: electronics engineer, software engineer, computer/IT consultant, computer analyst/programmer, applications developer, database administrator, information systems manager, IT trainer, multimedia programmer, systems/business analyst, technical support officer, information scientist, IT sales professional, multimedia specialist, network engineer, and technical author.
One of the areas students are often amazed to discover is the difference technology can make to society, for example, the relationship between technology and medicine, involving electronic medical records and prescriptions, improved MRI machines, camera phones which allow deaf people to communicate with sign language, or how improved communications technology can help relief efforts in disaster situations.
As your career in technology progresses, you will move into leadership positions. You can become a technical manager, leading groups that are meeting key technical challenges, or you can take up a general management position. Graduates of a technical discipline find themselves in very high demand, due to their combination of creative problem-solving abilities and technical understanding.
Many of the world’s leading technology companies have operations in Ireland, which employ a very high proportion of graduates. Google has created hundreds of high-quality jobs for technology graduates. Graduates are also employed in software development in Microsoft, Oracle, Iona Technologies, Hewlett Packard and Havok; in hardware design and manufacturing with Dell, Hewlett Packard and Xilinx; and in the telecommunications sector with Vodafone, Ericsson and Eircom.
Some graduates have also formed successful start-up companies and have taken leadership positions in industry and research. Finally, interesting research opportunities exist both nationally and internationally.
What range of courses is available to me?
There are over 100 ICT-related courses, offered at all levels through the CAO process.
Details of all these courses are available on www.qualifax.ie. Apart from computer degrees, which are widely available from both the universities and institutes of technology, there are computer and software engineering options, computer games programmes, software development programmes, multimedia courses, computer network and systems courses, digital media programmes and computer science with a language options.
How difficult will it be to secure a place on the programmes I choose?
Points for honours degree programmes currently range from 250-350, although a small number of programmes will require 400-450 points. At certificate and ordinary degree level, courses are on offer from as low as 100 points, to in or about 200 points.
Tomorrow: law and communications
Brian Mooney guides you through the college options available to you in this year’s CAO process. This column will continue until the February 1st CAO deadline.
Online: Listen in to Brian Mooney’s podcast at irishtimes.com/education