Dept of Plastics/Polymer Engineering
Materials, both natural and synthetic, have been used for many years in an attempt to alleviate the diseases and misfortunes that affect the functioning of the human body. The range of potential solutions is enormous: from simple contact applications, such as plastic lenses for the eye, through wound closure methods – adhesives and sutures – to the use of permanently implanted devices, including hip and knee replacement, cardiac pacemakers and coronary stenting. Over 2,100 coronary stenting procedures are done in Ireland every year.
According to the Irish Medical Device Association (IMDA) and the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, the requirement for people with engineering, scientific, technician, sales and purchasing skills will continue to rise and the demand for those qualified to Masters and PhD level will also increase. The industry is likely to see a move towards greater numbers of engineers, scientists, analysts and technicians.
AIT has long been a pioneer in the area of polymer science and technology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and in more recent years in the area of biomedical materials at postgraduate level. It is noteworthy that of 500-plus graduates from the previous honours degree in polymer technology, one-third are employed in the healthcare/medical device sector.
One of the recommendations produced by the Expert Group in their 2007 report was that there is a need to introduce programmes which bring together mechanical, electronic and biosciences technologies. The honours degree in biomedical technology offered by AIT was designed to meet exactly those needs and the response of employers to the curriculum has been overwhelmingly positive.
The institute’s track record in providing undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in this area and its research success through AIT’s Bioscience Research Institute (BRI) and the Materials Research Institute (MRI), highlight that AIT is very well placed to continue to provide the medical device/healthcare sector with graduates and postgraduates having the requisite skills to ensure the industry’s long term growth.
Why Choose Plastics/Polymer Engineering at AIT?
- AIT has been a pioneer in plastics/polymer engineering in Irish higher education.
- Graduates from previous programmes in this area have enjoyed fantastic career success.
- Extensive range of related research-based and taught postgraduate opportunities offered by AIT.
- Collaborations with industry ensure an enriched and authentic learning experience.
