Last Friday, Stage 3 OEM Engineering Apprentices celebrated their last day at Monaghan Institute, this was their third and final off-the-job college placement, they now return to their respective employers to complete the final stage of their apprenticeship and will graduate later this year as OEM Engineering Technicians.

The nine apprentices began their apprenticeship journey back in October 2020 amidst the social and economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Alana Kernan, who will be the first female graduate of the OEM Engineering Apprenticeship and a dedicated advocate for Women in Engineering said;

“At the beginning of the programme there was great doubt in all our minds if it would even go ahead due to the Covid pandemic, luckily for us it did, and we are now delighted to be at this stage. Joining the OEM Engineering Apprenticeship is one of the best decisions I ever made and I feel very excited about my future career as a female in Engineering. I would encourage any female thinking of doing the same to just go for it, it has been a fantastic experience for myself“

Dick Clerkin, Managing Director with Clerkin Consulting set the tone for the event with his Keynote speech, encouraging the apprentices to grab every opportunity that comes their way, saying;

“In both work and life, opportunities will come and go. Often at times you least expect. Deciding which to grasp and which to let pass by can be difficult, with no guarantees either way. However, by basing your decision around your core values and long-term goals, the outcomes of these decisions will rarely disappoint”.

Anna Marie Woods, Programme Manager congratulated the apprentices on successfully completing their final off-the-job phase and commended them on their commitment and diligence throughout the three years and particularly throughout the Covid pandemic period.

Stephen Carron, Coordinating Tutor, also congratulated the nine individuals, saying their work ethic and comradery were admirable and he had no doubt that each and every one of them had bright futures ahead.

The OEM Engineering Apprenticeship managed by Cavan Monaghan Education & Training Board in collaboration with Limerick Clare Education & Training Board is now in it’s fourth year, with learners studying in both Monaghan and Limerick. Not only is the programme targeted at the manufacturing sector, increasingly, more employers in the servicing, Installation and commissioning sector are getting onboard and are reaping the many benefits of having highly skilled OEM Engineering Technicians in their organisations.

Skills areas covered on this apprenticeship include Mechanics, Pneumatics, Electrical, Mechatronics, Electronics, Hydraulics, Engineering Drawings, Robotics, PLCs. In addition, the apprentice will also develop skills in areas such as Team Leadership, Operations Management and Communications.

The OEM Engineering Apprenticeship team at Monaghan Institute wish the third-year group all the best and look forward to welcoming them back for graduation later in the year.

For more information on the OEM Engineering Apprenticeship programme, visit https://oemapprenticeship.ie/