Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Sustainable Engineering Technologies

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Overview

The BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Engineering Technologies is delivered over four years in four stages of 60 credits each. Each stage includes taught modules worth either 5 or 10 credits depending on their learning outcomes. In first year, all modules are mandatory.

In second year, students pick a stream, either Manufacturing Industry offered in ATU Galway City or ATU Sligo, or Computing offered in ATU Donegal. 15 credits are mandatory and 45 stream specific. In third year, 20 credits are mandatory and 40 stream specific. In fourth year, 15 credits are mandatory and 45 stream specific. Work placement is mandatory for all students in Year 3 and all students complete a major project in year 4. As student progress through the programme, the complexity of the systems they are studying increases.

Provider Locations and Structure

Year 1 based in the following ETB location:

FET Training Centre, Letterkenny

Years 2, 3 & 4 based in the following ATU campuses:

ATU Donegal (Sustainable Engineering Technologies for Computing)
ATU Galway (Sustainable Engineering Technologies for the Manufacturing Industry)
ATU Sligo (Sustainable Engineering Technologies for the Manufacturing Industry)

Course Content – For All Years

Year 1
At the end of year 1, students will have hands on skills in manufacturing technologies as well as computer aided design both 2D and 3D. Their knowledge of sustainability will give them an edge when applying for positions in Industry.

Year 2
At the end of year 2, students will have a grasp of the standards and regulations relevant to sustainability, understand the importance to include sustainability as part of product design and recognise the importance of continuous improvement. In the Manufacturing Industry stream, students cover fundamentals of Building Information Modelling, energy technologies, and automation, which will open opportunities to work as a technician either in the manufacturing industry or in building services. In the computing stream students will have sufficient knowledge of computer hardware, operating system, python scripting, cloud computing and database systems to apply for IT technician roles.

Year 3
At the end of year 3, in the Manufacturing Industry stream, students will have sufficient knowledge in manufacturing systems to be part of the decision- making process for process design or improvement, and therefore, apply for the higher technician roles. In the computing stream, students will be able to be part of the design of computing systems with knowledge in data ethics, cybersecurity and energy consumption. Work placement is mandatory for all students.

Year 4
At the end of year 4, their profile should allow them to work at enterprise level where students will be part of the decision-making team in relation to issues relating to sustainable development goals.

Embedded Awards

This tertiary degree is a comprehensive 4 year programme. The programme is designed to support academic success despite challenges that may arise. If a student has to leave the programme before completing the final year, tertiary degrees include embedded awards. Embedded awards formally recognise learning achieved during time in the programme. For this degree, the embedded awards are:

After successfully completing Year 1	NFQ level 6 Certificate in Sustainable Engineering from ATU
After successfully completing Year 2	NFQ level 6 Higher Certificate in Sustainable Engineering Technologies for the Manufacturing Industry or Higher Certificate in Sustainable Engineering Technologies for Computing from ATU
After successfully completing Year 3	NFQ level 7 Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Engineering Technologies for the Manufacturing Industry or Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Engineering Technologies for Computing, from ATU

The final NFQ level 8 Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Sustainable Engineering Technologies for Computing or in Sustainable Engineering Technologies for the Manufacturing Industry is awarded by ATU.

Planned Intake (Number of Places)

20 places per location

Entry Requirements and Eligibility

Leaving Certificate – Grade O6/H7 or better in five Leaving Certificate subjects. Leaving Certificate must include English or Irish and Mathematics.  Maths at minimum of O6 is acceptable to meet the minimum Maths entry requirement. Irish at F2 is acceptable to meet the minimum language requirements.

(UK and International equivalents will be considered)

A Full level 5/6 QQI award including a maths module (5N1833, 6N3395, 5N18396, 5N0556 or 5S2246) or O6 in Leaving Cert Maths

Mature applicants – (aged 23 on or before 1st January of the course commencement year). These applicants do not have to meet the minimum entry requirements listed here and are considered on an individual basis (previous education, work experience, and demonstration of competence to undertake the programme)

Access programme (LCA students can gain access to this programme following completion of an access programme)

An applicant who is a minimum of 17 years of age with at least 2 years post Junior Certificate relevant experience. All applicants must demonstrate that they would qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant under the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) and/or are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection (DSP) long-term means-tested social welfare payment and/or be from one or more of the priority groups or from any priority group identified as part of the next National Access Plan (2022-2028). See Appendix B.

International equivalents will be considered.

Applicants must demonstrate competence to undertake the programme.

Onward Pathways

Graduates of the ATU BSc in Sustainable Engineering Technologies leave the programme with the academic knowledge and vital competencies required to address the sustainability challenges of industry, specifically in manufacturing and ICT sectors.

Our students are engaged in activities that will enable them to lead on sustainability initiatives for various organisations and examine facilities, products and processes. Our graduates are fully equipped with professional skills and experience in industry. Through a detailed review of industry trends, Sustainable Development Goals, emerging environmental and societal trends we have identified the skills, knowledge, and competencies that employers need to address these challenges. Our graduates are equipped to work in all manufacturing and ICT sectors.

For the Manufacturing Industry stream, the employment opportunities will include traditional roles such as environmental plant managers, continuous improvements roles, operations managements, product development, facilities management, and new and emerging roles driven be the Green Deal targets.

From the Computing stream, employment opportunities will include roles in green data analytics, supporting the implementation of sustainability target for any business; operation management of data centres with a focus on energy efficiency, sustainability and minimising the environmental impact of a facility; green cloud design, implementation and management; cloud computing solution; and sustainable vendor management collaborating with vendors to source environmentally friendly equipment, materials and services for ICT.

Lifelong learning skills are something all graduates develop in order to be equipped to learn and keep up with all the changes that they will face in industry. Graduates can therefore continue their studies to postgraduate level with ATU or across the globe.