Engineers Ireland has welcomed an increase in students specifying engineering courses as their first preference in 2007, compared to last year.

Denis McGrath, Chartered Engineer and registrar of Engineers Ireland, said: "Engineers Ireland STEPS to Engineering Programme aims to raise awareness of engineering as a career choice. The number of students specifying a Level 7 or 6 engineering course as a first preference on their form has increased by over 21 per cent this year which would suggest that our events and relationship building with schools are a success.

"In particular, our involvement in the Are You Up For It campaign which highlighted to students the opportunities available for engineering graduates in the ICT sector.

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"However, we are still very concerned that the number of students applying for Level 8 engineering courses has fallen in comparison by over five per cent. This is most likely a direct result of the decreased number of students studying higher level maths."

Engineers Ireland are reminding students seeking entry to Level 8 engineering courses than even if they did not achieve a C3 or above in higher level maths, individual universities are running an Engineers Ireland approved maths exam that can facilitate entry to that institution’s engineering courses.

Mr McGrath concluded: "Though Engineers Ireland is delighted to see the increased demand for engineering courses, we are looking forward to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s report on the Leaving Certificate maths syllabus.

"We still believe that students need to be motivated to take on the higher level maths paper and have suggested bonus points for those students who apply for engineering courses. We welcome any changes to the curriculum if they encourage students to study higher level maths and create a core relationship between the subject, real life and in turn careers in engineering."

(JM/SP)