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.

According to MIDAS chairman Tom O'Dwyer the career outlook for talented graduates is good.

"While there is no doubt that the market has been very tough over the last two years, the prospects for honours degree holders remains very promising over the next few years."

MIDAS' positive prognosis is based to a large extent on the major shift in the electronics industry in Ireland over the last number of years from low-cost manufacturing to the research and development arena, which is less exposed to market cycles.

The organisation, which includes some of the State's largest employers, cites as an example of this shift the recent announcement by Intel of an $18m investment in a new research operation at Shannon to design and development communication processor chips.

Intel Communications Europe CEO Peter McNamara said this investment is a strong vote of confidence in the ability of the Shannon team, which largely comprises graduates from Irish colleges.

The career prospects in academic research are also buoyant, according to MIDAS.

The body points out that multi-million-euro funding from Science Foundation Ireland is underpinning research teams that will reinforce Ireland's position as a world player in microchip design.

Head of the Department of Microelectronics Engineering at University College Cork, Professor Peter Kennedy said:

"Research and development of new microelectronic chips is technically very demanding and requires the highest skill. Bright young students should not be put off by this Irish graduates have shown that they can compete in this area with the best in the world."