Dundalk hosts cross-border manufacturing summit
Advanced manufacturing leaders, researchers, and policymakers gathered in Dundalk, Co Louth, for an expo focused on sustainable production and cross-border collaboration. The event, hosted at the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (ADTCE), marks the start of a planned series of all-island networking events that will alternate between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. The expo served as a platform to connect industry stakeholders with educational providers to address evolving skills requirements in the sector.
Apprenticeships in robotics training
The focus on workforce development coincides with the launch of Ireland’s first apprenticeship program in Robotics and Automation. Training for the inaugural cohort began last month at the ADTCE in Dundalk. The program is managed by the Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) and is the only course of its kind currently operating in the country.
The first group of nine apprentices includes seven men and two women. The cohort is diverse, featuring individuals who recently completed their Leaving Certificate alongside experienced workers who are retraining to earn a Level 6 qualification. The apprentices’ employers represent a broad industrial base, including the mining, pharmaceutical, and construction sectors.
Industry consortium develops validated curriculum
The apprenticeship curriculum was developed by an industry consortium in collaboration with the LMETB. It is validated by Quality Qualifications Ireland (QQI), an independent State agency. This validation is significant because it provides a framework for other education and training boards across the country to adopt and offer the same course in the future.
The facility in Dundalk features dedicated robotics labs designed to train people in modern industrial automation. Martin O’Brien, Chief Executive of the LMETB, stated that artificial intelligence and digital technologies are fundamentally altering how products are designed and manufactured. He noted that the board is focused on ensuring learners have access to the facilities required by industry. By strengthening links between employers and training providers, the goal is to develop the specific talent needed to keep local industries competitive.
Ministers meet apprentices at manufacturing expo
The expo served as a meeting point for key figures in regional development. During the event, the new apprentices met with Erin McGreehan, a local TD and chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, as well as Northern Ireland’s Minister for the Economy, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald.
The event is part of a broader effort to accelerate cross-border collaboration in advanced manufacturing. Organizers intend for these networking sessions to become a recurring feature, alternating venues between the Republic and Northern Ireland to foster deeper industrial ties across the island.
Answers about the robotics apprenticeship program
What qualification do the apprentices receive?
The program leads to a Level 6 qualification, which is validated by Quality Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
Who is eligible to participate in the robotics apprenticeship?
The current cohort includes both recent school leavers and existing members of the workforce who are looking to upskill or retrain.
What is planned for future cross-border events?
The event in Dundalk is intended to be the first in a series of all-island networking meetings that will alternate between locations in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
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