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Employers at ATU Built Environment Careers Fair highlight construction skills shortage
The shortage of built environment graduates will impact our ability to tackle the climate emergency and deliver critical housing and infrastructure. These were the views expressed by many employers and academics at a recent careers event hosted by Atlantic Technological University (ATU).
Thirty employers from Ireland and the UK representing all sectors of the Built Environment sector attended the annual Built Environment Careers Fair in ATU Galway (Dublin Road campus). Employers met and engaged with students from Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying degree programmes about new graduate opportunities and placement positions. All programmes in the Department of Building and Civil Engineering offer placement opportunities to their students in the third year of their studies. These work placements enhance the student learning experience and ensure students have valuable experience prior to entering the workplace and increases their employment prospects.
John Hanahoe, Senior Lecturer, ATU Dept of Building & Civil Engineering, ATU Galway, says: “Many of the employers attending the event highlighted the shortage in suitably qualified graduates to work in all sectors of the built environment sector. Because of the shortage of graduates, the starting salaries and employment conditions for graduates have increased significantly to try to attract skilled professionals.”
A major shift in focus in built environment programmes in ATU Galway in the last decade is the focus on sustainability and tackling the climate emergency. Dr Shane Newell, Lecturer, ATU Dept of Building & Civil Engineering, ATU Galway, says: “Graduates entering the construction sector will be at the coalface tackling climate change and this makes it a very rewarding and exciting time to be entering the profession”.
ATU Galway offers Ordinary Degree (Level 7) and Honours Degree (Level 8) programmes in Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying.
