New High Voltage Electrical Systems course to begin at SETU Waterford

Ireland’s first dedicated High Voltage Electrical Systems programme has been deemed a 'big deal' by Head of Faculty of Engineering at South East Technological University (SETU), Dr Frances Hardiman. 

In partnership with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), SETU and Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) combined their expertise in electrical engineering to co-develop and co-deliver this innovative 60 credit Level 6 programme to meet the changing needs of the industry. 

The first semester of the course will begin in Waterford in May. 

Project manager for the programme, Dr Hardiman said: “It has been a valuable experience working with a strong industry consortium and TUS to co-develop and deliver a bespoke work-based learning programme that utilises specialist skills in High Voltage from multiple sources, demonstrating the need for collaboration to deliver on the future skills agenda in engineering.”

Ireland’s first dedicated High Voltage Electrical Systems programme was launched this week in SETU in the presence of industry experts from across the South East. 

The High Voltage Electrical Systems course is designed to upskill electricians and electrical engineers in the highly specialised area of High Voltage and aims to develop industry-recognised competence in areas such as High Voltage electrical installations, grid connections, substation maintenance and switching facilities.

Ireland’s electricity grid infrastructure has grown dramatically in recent years with the increase of large consumers of energy including large industry, data centres and the substantial growth in renewable energy provision.

The South East Regional Skills Forum identified this training need and facilitated the establishment of a consortium to investigate and ultimately develop the new programme. 

According to Edmond Connolly, South East Regional Skills Forum Manager: “The specialised electrical contractors involved in the construction of such facilities acknowledged that they needed further specialised training for their staff working on high voltage electrical installations.

“This new qualification will help companies build their capacity to construct and manage high voltage facilities and also enable them to win new contracts abroad.”

Key to the development of the new programme was the involvement of the Construction Industry Federation’s Specialist Contraction Association which brought together Ireland’s leading electrical engineering firms who contributed to the design of the programme.

Head of Department of Engineering Technology at SETU, Austin Coffey spoke of the benefits of the programme for employers in the industry. “This programme demonstrates what can be achieved for addressing immediate and future industry skills needs by a common goal with multiple industrial stakeholders and university partnership. I believe that this will be the first of many collaborations in joint programme development between SETU and TUS and other technological universities in Ireland,” he said. 

The programme is jointly delivered by SETU and TUS in a part-time, blended learning mode over one year - summer to summer. It utilises a work-based model and will have 30% of credits achieved in the participants’ place of work. 

The programme commences in May 2023 with 16 employees from industry who will attend one day per week at SETU Waterford during the first semester and TUS Limerick during the second semester. Additional online classes will be delivered as well as a significant work based learning module assisting candidates apply the theory learned to the workplace.