Companies urge students to switch to technical subjects

LEADERS of cutting edge electronics companies yesterday urged Leaving Certificate mathematics and physics students to make a last-minute switch to technical subjects on their university applications.

The dramatic plea came from MIDAS Ireland, the organisation representing some of the State's largest microelectronics companies including Intel, Analog Devices and Xilinx and all the leading third level colleges, after the Central Applications Office (CAO) reported a 25% drop in the number of students applying for electronic and microelectronic courses this year.

The swing away from electronics is being blamed on the cyclical downturn in electronics with top students opting for more traditional course choices. Students have until July 1 to alter these choices.