51±¾É«

Chloe Boyle

I chose UL as it has an extremely high academic reputation, and it also has an extremely wide variety of courses to choose from. I was interested in this course initially as I had always been interested in Business in secondary school and I was extremely interested in day-to-day technology and engineering. However, I had never studied technology or engineering subjects in school. After researching about Technology Management and seeing how it was such an inclusive course, I decided it would help me to further my interests.

At first, I was extremely apprehensive about the course and how much of the course I would comprehend not having completed any engineering subjects before. I met with Alan, our course director, and he assured me that as long as I kept up to date with lectures and lab’s I would be well able for the course and he was right, as all of the modules are thought at a beginner’s level and extra assistance is available if needed. The course consists of a mixture of engineering and business. My favorite modules were Manufacturing Technology, Decision Support Tools, Drawing and CAD and Lean thinking and Lean Tools. These modules were my favorite as they gave a great mix of hands learning, such as in Manufacturing technology, to switching it up to classroom-based learning.

I really enjoyed meeting all the people in my course. We have done many activities together as a class. We have gotten the opportunity to visit facilities such as Lufthansa and Zimmer Biomet. This allowed us to see how Lean thinking and Lean tools is incorporated in the companies’ day-to-day activities, it also gave us an insight into what our future careers could possibly look like, it was because of these excursions and seeing the work that was being completed on a daily basis, that I knew I had chosen the right course for me.

I was lucky enough to secure my Co-Op in Johnson and Johnson. It is a medical device company that manufactures contact lenses on a daily business. During my placement, I was placed in the Engineering Department as a Manufacturing Engineer. I worked as a team as well as doing mostly lone work due to Covid-19. Some of the projects I worked on was the installation of a new manufacturing line, Line 38, including assisting with all the testing that goes a long with it, and

doing obsolescence for my department (3GT). As well as doing other daily projects throughout placement. I learned many skills while working in J&J such as communication skills, teamwork skills, organizational skills, and IT skills. I was also lucky enough to complete my Final Year Project in conjunction with Johnson and Johnson. My Final year was based on a daily issue that occurs in Johnson and Johnson known as 512IDR mismatches.

Leane Hickey

I completed my Leaving Certificate at 17 so I was particularly uncertain as to what path would be well suited to me. Having three older brothers who went to Dublin, Cork and Galway for university, I was adamant to take my direction somewhere new. Everything about UL interested me, the courses on offer, the availability of accommodation and the convenient transport systems in place for students. The day I moved to 51±¾É« was actually my first time ever in the county! Despite this, the reputation and overall atmosphere that surrounds UL made me feel comfortable from day one.

Technology Management appealed to me for so many reasons. The course offered a variety of subjects I did not see anywhere else as a prospective student. The collection of modules are exciting and diverse, giving us an insight into areas ranging from Project Management to Marketing. The confinement to one area for four years was incredibly daunting to me when I was deciding on a third level course. Technology Management is not restricted to one classification of subjects, students have the opportunity to find their feet and grow interests as they learn.

The course gradually builds a strong set of skills and knowledge. Each semester there is a well-judged assortment of modules that are built on throughout the four years. Through the years I have really enjoyed the Manufacturing and Operations modules which are reflected in my Cooperative Education placement. The Supply Chain Design module in third year solidified my interests in the area and I had finally found something I was interested in pursuing beyond university. Finally, the elective choice made in third year gives students the opportunity to focus in on a subject area for their final three semesters which was hugely beneficial.

The biggest highlight of Technology Management to me is the gradual learning element. Rather then being overwhelmed with a huge amount of information squeezed into one module, my knowledge was built on continuously in a way that I retained information well. The application of what we were learning in classes and labs to real world situations gave me a realistic perspective of the manufacturing sector. Modules led by Sean Moore were highly engaging and involved site visits to relevant organizations such as Zimmer Biomet and Lufthansa Technik in Shannon.

I acted as an Operations Intern to the Manufacturing Operations Manager at Cook Medical. The entire experience was beneficial to my understanding of the manufacturing industry and the workplace itself. I had the opportunity to work with individuals who were respected professionals as well as constructive mentors. Cooperative Education allowed me to apply my classroom learning to real life situations and the knowledge I have taken from the placement is invaluable. The entire concept of work placement during a degree is what makes choosing UL an obvious decision, it is a students first step into the professional world in a practical manner where they have great supports surrounding them. Following placement, I completed my Final Year Project on a Cook Medical problem which allowed me to carry out research on an area I understood and was interested in.

The student life at UL exceeded my expectations. I made memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. The presence of facilities such as the Sports Arena and student bars and restaurants cultivated a university culture around campus. When I had settled into student life I began to volunteer at the Regional Writing Centre and really enjoyed it. I was able to interact with a subject I have always been passionate about in unison with pursuing a technology-based degree.