The School of Engineering at Trinity College Dublin has successfully hosted the prestigious UNITECH General Assembly from August 19th to August 25th. This event marked a significant convergence of talent and collaboration, with 15 of Europe’s leading companies participating in the assembly. The gathering was attended by a total of 270 participants, all of whom were dedicated to nurturing the next generation of engineers, technologists, and scientists.

UNITECH, a forward-looking society established to cultivate young, talented individuals to tackle the challenges of the future, orchestrated this unique event. The society operates through a symbiotic collaboration involving 15 corporate partners, 8 academic partners, and the UNITECH society itself. This intricate network fosters an environment of growth and development for aspiring professionals through structured internships with industry, well-defined exchanges with esteemed university partners, and immersive coaching and mentorship initiatives.

At the helm of the UNITECH programme in Trinity College Dublin is Dr. Garret O’Donnell, Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing, and Biomedical Engineering. As the Academic Programme Director, Dr. O'Donnell plays a fundamental role in steering the programme towards its goals of nurturing tomorrow’s leaders in engineering and technology.

Sarah O’Brien, the lead Internship Coordinator for the School of Engineering, emphasised the school’s commitment to collaboration with industry, stating:

“Collaborating with industry is a focus for the School of Engineering, and our membership of UNITECH allows us to give students a great internship and learning opportunity. These collaborations at the student level are the seeds for larger collaborations with industry such as research and innovation projects.”

The event also highlighted Chloe O’Connor, the Unitech Local Office Coordinator, who played a key role in coordinating the assembly and ensuring its success.

This UNITECH General Assembly showcased the power of collaboration and innovation, demonstrating how academia and industry can join forces to empower the engineers, technologists, and scientists who will shape the future. Trinity College Dublin’s School of Engineering are honoured to have been hosts this year, and look forward to Unitech events in the future.

For those interested in learning more about UNITECH and Trinity College Dublin’s School of Engineering, additional information can be found on the UNITECH website: https://www.unitech-international.org/unitech-society alternatively you can contact our Unitech Coordinator Chloe O’Connor.