An Taoiseach to Open UCD EGA Panel Discussion on 'Manufacturing Engineering and Job Creation'

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD will open the UCD Engineering Graduates Association (EGA) Autumn Panel Discussion on 'Manufacturing Engineering and Job Creation' on October 22nd 2013. This is in recognition of the importance of the manufacturing sector to our current job creation and export drive.
The Panel Discussion will be addressed by leading national and international engineers in the manufacturing space including some of Ireland's leading entrepreneurs.

The Taoiseach recently opened the 5,250 sq metre NexusUCD Research and Innovation Centre together with the offices of ResMed a leading international company in the sensor technology business. 'By providing innovation in Irish business and education we will make Irish high-value products and services more attractive across the world' the Taoiseach said 'Building closer links between industry and higher education institutions will be essential if Ireland is to be promoted as the 'innovation island.'
 


An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD at the opening of the NexusUCD

 At the launch, UCD Vice President for Innovation Peter Clinch demonstrated the UCD ambition in this area. He said that 'the university is actively supporting the transition to a sustainable Irish economy based on innovation, education, enterprise and exports'.

ResMed is an Irish company formed out of innovative engineering research in UCD. Both itself and its predecessor company Bianca Med were founded by UCD research engineers Dr. Conor Hanley and Professor Conor Heneghan who studied chemical and electronic engineering respectively. Their initial research was to invent sleep monitoring technology which became a world leader in non contact sleep and breathing. You can imagine how this transformed the remote monitoring of sleep and breathing in the home especially for babies and the older generation.

Pictured at the launch Dr. Conor Hanley of ResMed, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and UCD Vice President for Innovation Peter Clinch

Dr. Conor Hanley of ResMed was delighted with the new research facilities in NexusUCD. 'We chose to site our new office in NexusUCD because of the excellent facilities available and its proximity to UCD and affiliated hospitals. Together they deliver an ecosystem that is vital to our innovation and growth' he explained.

The EGA Panel Discussion will further illustrate and explore the engineering innovation that is helping to drive our economic recovery. A further example of this in the agricultural engineering area is Dairymaster in Tralee, Co. Kerry, who manufacture automatic milking machines for the export market in China. Dr. Edmond Harty CEO of Dairymaster is a mechanical engineer who has a PhD from UCD in the area of milking performance in dairy farming. Edmond won the Ernst & Young 2012 Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

So please put the date of October 22nd in your diary for the Panel Discussion on 'Manufacturing Engineering and Job Creation' commencing with An Taoiseach at 7pm in the Clinton Auditorium. It will be preceded by the UCD EGA Annual General Meeting at 5.30pm.

Civil Engineer appointed new UCD President

The really exciting news today is the appointment of Professor Andrew Deeks of University of Durham succeed Dr Hugh Brady as UCD President for the next 10 year period.

Professor Andrew Deeks

Professor Andrew Deeks Biography

The Governing Authority of University College Dublin has today approved the appointment of Professor Andrew J Deeks as President of University College Dublin from January 2014.  Professor Deeks will succeed Dr Hugh Brady, whose ten-year tenure finishes at the end of December 2013.

A graduate in civil engineering from the University of Western Australia, Perth, Professor Deeks joins UCD from Durham University, where he is currently Pro Vice-Chancellor (Science).

Warmly welcoming the appointment of Professor Deeks,  Mr Dermot Gallagher, as Chair of the Governing Authority, said:  “Andrew Deeks has an impressive track record of leadership roles in the university sector.  UCD operates in a competitive international arena and his expertise and knowledge will help us to strengthen our national position while maintaining an active outward-looking focus.”

Professor Deeks joined Durham University as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Science in 2009.  This faculty covers one third of the university’s academic disciplines.  During his tenure, Professor Deeks spearheaded the development of Durham’s global presence strategy and extensive international partnerships, particularly in China and Brazil.  He is currently Chair of the UK Deans of Science. 

Durham University is a top 100 university in both the Times Higher Education 2012 world university rankings and in the QS rankings.  The Complete University Guide 2012 ranked Durham in fifth place out of 116 UK Higher Education institutions. 

Prior to joining Durham University, Professor Deeks was the Head of the School of Civil & Resource Engineering at the University of Western Australia, Perth, from 2004 to 2009.  As Head of School, Professor Deeks created a new model for industry involvement in the school, developed collaborative programmes with Chinese universities, significantly improved the student experience and doubled student numbers.  He speaks conversational Mandarin.   His strong commitment to students is acknowledged in the number of prizes and awards he holds for teaching excellence and innovation in teaching.

“I am very much looking forward to taking up the role of President of UCD, Ireland’s largest university.” Professor Deeks said.  “UCD plays a unique role in Irish society and economy, and, under the stewardship of Dr Hugh Brady, has made impressive inroads into becoming a truly international university.  I will bring ideas and approaches learnt from my experiences in the UK and Australia and blend these with the undoubted ambition and energy I see among the high calibre people at UCD to ensure UCD is recognised throughout Ireland and the world as an international and intercultural place of learning and scholarship of the highest standard, benefiting local, national and global communities.”

Professor Deeks is a leading expert in computational mechanics; specifically in the scaled boundary finite element method, which is a semi-analytical approach for solving elastostatic, elastodynamic and allied problems in engineering.  He is also highly respected for his research work in structural mechanics, structural dynamics and dynamic soil structure interaction.  He has authored and co-authored over 160 textbooks, research articles and conference proceedings and has been the recipient of prestigious research grants.

UCD Distinguished Graduate Honoured

Yesterday we hosted our annual lunch and Distinguished Graduate Award. This year's lunch was very well attended, driven in part by our new sponsors, including Bord Gais and Nicholas O'Dwyer & Partners. Sincere thanks also to Arup, CRH, Engineers Ireland, ESB and RPS.

In my welcoming address Speech I briefed the audience on the new EGA Strategy 2013 and outlined our success to date in raising our profile for the benefit of engineering graduates and UCD in general.

Photo left to right Professor Gerry Byrne UCD Dean of Engineering, Dr Liam Connellan, PJ Rudden President UCD Engineering Graduates Association and Marie Connellan

Dr Liam Connellan and PJ Rudden President UCD Engineering Graduates Association

The Distinguished Graduate Award went to Dr Liam Connellan, BE in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering UCD, 1957. Dr. Connellan was Director General of the Confederation of Irish Industry from 1972 to 1992. He then became Chairman of the National Roads Authority from 1994 to 2001, President of Royal Dublin Society from 1995 to 1998 and President of Engineers Ireland in 2001-2002. He was also Chairman of the Veolia Environment, an organisation with responsibility for planning, building and operating the Dublin LUAS light rail. Dr. Connellan has also been decorated by both the French and German Governments in the past. Dr. Connellan's CV

In my opening comments, I remarked that we were planning that Manufacturing Engineering would be the focus of our Panel Discussion this Autumn. In his acceptance speech Dr. Connellan took up this theme and outlined the tremendous progress we are making nationally with indigenous manufacturing and mentioned Keenan of Bagenalstown, Mc Hale of Ballinrobe and Dairymaster in Tralee in addition to the tremendous export success of our food and diary industry.

It was a most successful and engaging event, enhanced by the stunning setting of the John Field Room at the National Concert Hall. Sincere thanks to Fionnuala McGowan of UCD Engineering for all the arrangements.

EGA Lunch Sponsors

EGA Distinguished Graduates

Engineers Picnic

The Gathering is a Government tourism initiative for 2013 to maximise visitor numbers to Ireland this year and to especially welcome back our diaspora from abroad even for a week or a weekend! As we know over the past 5 years many of our engineering graduates especially civil and construction engineers have left our shores for foreign lands due to the recession in Ireland.

We are especially appealing to our grads in the UK and have arranged the Engineers Picnic in UCD to coincide with the UK Bank Holiday weekend at the end of August! We want to welcome you home that weekend if you can possibly manage it. You will meet your classmates and other UCD graduates and many of your old lecturers and professors.  

We start in the UCD Rose Garden with a BBQ at 4pm with food, drink and a variety of music through the evening and into the night.

At the EGA Board last Spring, I initially suggested we call the event Ceili na hInnealltoiri (showing my age!). However, our enthusiastic Gathering Committee led by Angela Treanor (2011) as Chair, Robyn Kelly (2008) and Tony O'Brien (1973) were entrusted with the organisation of the event and decided it would be called the Engineers Picnic.

The UCD Engineering grads who I know enthusiastically endorsed their choice and here we are! This goes to prove which generation now runs the EGA! Nevertheless the older ones including myself still add the odd words of wisdom and experience. Its a very interesting and dynamic cocktail I can tell you as those of you who will attend the Picnic will testify.

All are welcome including family members and graduates attending don't have to be from UCD Engineering although I imagine that most will be.This is an inclusive Gathering and the cost per head will be approx €20 (to be confirmed) depending on sponsorship.

Good Luck to Leaving and Junior Certificate Students

I wish all of our students well for their Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations this week. As I know myself it is a stressful time for students and parents alike.

Its great to see the numbers taking Honours Maths at both Leaving and Junior Certificate - especially at Junior level as previously this was as low as 40%! Roughly half of those who take Honours at Junior level take Honours at Leaving Cert. So the rise to 60% taking Honours at Junior level will increase the numbers taking Honours at Leaving Cert by 50% and that appears to be happening.

I chaired the Engineers Ireland Task Force Report on Mathematics and Science at Second Level and was amazed at some of findings like the then lack of joined up thinking between Primary and Secondary education. Science is still not a compulsory subject at Junior Cert! The most revealing issue was the lack of qualified teachers at Junior Cycle level especially which is now being addressed.

The launch of the Engineers Ireland Task Force Report on the Education of Maths and Science at Second Level during Engineers Week Feb 2010 Aoibheann Ni Shuilleabhain Maths and Science Teacher, Dr Chris Horn then President of Engineers Ireland, Sarah Green Maths and Science Teacher, Eamon Prendergast Research Engineer Engineers Ireland and P J Rudden then Vice President of Engineers Ireland and Task Force Chairman

The two most exciting developments are the Project Maths initiative (promoting 'learning by understanding' and not 'learning by rote') and the complete reinvention of the Junior Cycle curriculum currently under way.

All of these developments are part of the Education focus of the new exciting EGA Strategy which is about to be launched in terms of our objectives to grow the Engineering Graduates Association for the benefit of graduates and UCD going forward. So watch this space.

Recalling the German Ambassador

Reading the Opinion feature in the Irish Times on Friday by the German Ambassador Dr Eckhard Luebkemeier, I recalled his visit to UCD last November for the EGA Annual Panel Discussion chaired by Pat Kenny of RTE.

Dr Eckhard Luebkemeier and Stephen Donnellly TD

Pat Kenny, Chairman of the UCD EGA Panel Discussion

'We Germans need Europe as much as Europe needs us' he said on Friday 'Europe's prosperity depends on our ability to measure up to countries like the US, Japan and China. That is why even 'big' Germany has a fundamental interest in a strong Europe. Our prosperity depends on a prosperous Europe because the single market is and will remain our most important trading place.'

Dr Luebkemeier's article last week was building on the theme of the EGA Panel Discussion last November 'Can We Shape Ireland's Recovery on the German Model'. Last November he stated 'Germany is the country with most neighbours in Europe, our prosperity depends on prosperous European partners. We are acutely aware that we are where we are and where we want to be: a nation-state in Europe whose peace, prosperity and democratic stability of its European neighbours.'

The Ambassador is a very skilled and astute diplomat. He showed this when he was interviewed by Pat Kenny on his morning RTE radio programme the week after the EGA debate. In fact Pat was so taken by the EGA debate that he brought two of our panellists - the Ambassador together with Stephen Donnelly Wicklow Independent TD - onto his own radio programme to debate the matter further for the benefit of the nation. It was a very strong performance by both panellists.

It is no surprise that the Eurozone crisis which we debated last November is still raging in the media and the corporate world. The Ambassador in his Opinion article on Friday also tries to be fair to Germany's critics.

'Germany can and should be criticised' he said 'we have no monopoly on wisdom. But neither have others. What Germany does have today is the 'power of the purse'. Germany is the main anchor of the Eurozone. To date German taxpayers have taken on liabilities of nearly €300 billion. With the implicit backing of the German economy the European Central Bank has taken measures of a kind and on a scale unforeseen when it was established'.

The UCD EGA will continue to debate the affairs of the nation with a growing number of stakeholders. Last month we discussed the setting up and regulation of Irish Water at our Annual Lecture. We were privileged to have this debate led by the current Water Regulator for England and Wales Regina Finn before a record audience including many leading executives in Irish Water, local authorities and the private sector.

This October we will debate another critical national economic issue - 'Can Irish Skills in Engineering Manufacturing continue to lead Job Creation and National Recovery'. We hope to have this debate fronted by a panel of leading Irish politicians, engineers and entrepreneurs. Much performance of current engineering manufacturing in Ireland comes from FDI companies in Computing, Pharma and Medical devices which is driving our export growth. At the same time, manufacturing by indigenous Irish firms in Food Processing, Brewing, Agricultural and Transport Machinery are also very significant and growing.

Record Attendance at Annual EGA Lecture on Water Regulation

There was a record attendance at the UCD EGA Annual Lecture last Wednesday evening. We were honoured that Regina Finn Chief Executive of OFWAT Water Regulator for England and Wales agreed to give this year's lecture. No doubt that the subject matter of the lecture on the regulation of water utilities and the quality of the speaker drew the very large crowd to the Clinton Auditorium on the UCD Campus.

Regina gave a fascinating account of setting up OFWAT as CEO in 2006. The England and Wales solution to the regulation of water was the attraction of private sector expertise management and capital coupled with the setting of environmental and quality standards and the protection of consumers from monopoly power.

Regina Finn giving her lecture.

She set about addressing regulation of 20 regional monopolies in an industry with a turnover of more than £10.5 billion. The water companies had been privatised in 1989.

There has been a lot of success in water regulation to date. Leakage has fallen by 40% since 1995. £108 billion has been invested and customer bills are 30% lower in England and Wales than they would have been. The water network is functioning better and environmental quality has improved especially with over 100 Blue Flag beaches and fish have reappeared in the River Thames again.

Most important of all, customer service is significantly better with a 99% reduction in the risk of customers experiencing low water pressure.

New challenges facing OFWAT are climate change causing more droughts and floods, the need for more flexible transfer arrangement between regions with water surplus to those with scarcity. There are also challenges with the tough economic climate and falling incomes, a growing UK population, over-abstraction and increasing environmental challenges required an extra £100 billion to meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive.

OFWAT stakeholder opinion surveys show a greater confidence in the need for regulation from larger business and least from the domestic consumers. There is obviously less possibility for  cost efficiency gains in more recent years as the early gains were 'the low lying fruit'. In addition, sustainability remains a major challenge in social environmental and economic terms.

Three former Presidents of Engineers Ireland - John McGowan, Liam Connellan, Michael Higgins, listen intently to Regina's presentation

After her presentation (which will be posted on this website next week) there were many and varied questions from the audience ranging from the challenge of sustainability, how OFWAT deal with customers who don't pay their bills and universal metering only (50% of all customers are metered). The issue of a possible 'generous free allowance' to domestic customers was raised in England and Wales in terms of adverse customer reaction. Also raised was the variability of charges across the regions.

Regina revealed that UK legislation is weak in dealing with customers who don't pay their charges. On metering I think her best quote of the night (look out some Irish politicians!) was that 'metering is the fairest way to charge for water'.

UCD Dean of Engineering, Gerry Byrne, Regina Finn, UCD EGA President PJ Rudden, UCD Deputy President Mark Rogers at the UCD EGA Annual Lecture 2013

The very large attendance including senior officials of Irish Water, the local authorities, Environmental Protection Agency, Commission for Energy Regulation, semi-state bodies, National Treasury Management Agency,  Chambers Ireland, Dublin Chamber of Commerce, the Construction Industry Federation, ICTU, leading consulting engineers and contractors, legal and financial consultants.

EGA Board Members with Regina Finn - Sean Murphy, Robyn Kelly, Angela Treanor and P J Rudden

The feedback messages and emails from those who attended felt it was an excellent discussion and debate on a hugely important national topic. Water is after all the most important food we produce as a nation and water deficiencies can have very serious social, commercial, industrial and public health consequences. Thus the huge focus on this in the political world as the new utility Irish Water is set up.

We wish to sincerely thank Regina - a Dublin native - for coming from London to give the lecture and to the very large attendance who came to UCD to show their interest.