Advertising Feature
An advertising feature is created, supplied and paid for by a commercial client and promoted by the Irish Times Content Studio. The Irish Times newsroom or other editorial departments are not involved in the production of advertising features.

Atlantic Technological University & SCSI are bridging the digital skills gap in the Property Services & Facilities Management sector

With a recent report showing a shortage of approximately 1,100 property surveyors in Ireland, there is a need to boost the talent pipeline in this thriving sector; Atlantic Technological University is launching a new suite of flexible and online programmes to address this

L to R: Gerard Touhy, director, Touhy O’Toole Estate Agents; Patrick Sweeney, business development officer and account coordinator, ATU; Trevor McSharry, head of department of Civil Engineering & Construction, ATU; Laura O’Donnell, assistant lecturer, Civil Engineering & Construction Department, ATU; James Lonergan, director of education, Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI); Barrie Cox, lecturer, Civil Engineering & Construction Department, ATU; Alex Magee, Civil Engineering & Construction Department, ATU Una Parsons, head of college, ATU; David Rowe, asset manager and chartered surveyor, Mount Amber Investments.
L to R: Gerard Touhy, director, Touhy O’Toole Estate Agents; Patrick Sweeney, business development officer and account coordinator, ATU; Trevor McSharry, head of department of Civil Engineering & Construction, ATU; Laura O’Donnell, assistant lecturer, Civil Engineering & Construction Department, ATU; James Lonergan, director of education, Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI); Barrie Cox, lecturer, Civil Engineering & Construction Department, ATU; Alex Magee, Civil Engineering & Construction Department, ATU Una Parsons, head of college, ATU; David Rowe, asset manager and chartered surveyor, Mount Amber Investments.
Thu Dec 08 2022 - 11:08

A recent report from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) identified a shortage of approximately 1,100 property surveyors in Ireland, with firms advising that the lack of these staff is constraining business. Furthermore, in the Facilities Management sector, there is growing professionalism in the industry now estimated to be valued at €1.5bn, indicating that it will accumulate even more importance in the coming years.

Both the Property Services and Facilities Management industry within Ireland is thriving and holds positive careers opportunities for those working within the sector who would like to upskill or those looking to retrain for a career change.

The need for more advanced educational offerings and digital skills development was identified by SCSI and Atlantic Technological University (ATU). In response to this market demand, ATU have now launched an expanded suite of SCSI accredited online and flexible programmes in the Property Services and Facilities Management discipline. These new courses will help alleviate the skills demand within industry and will also equip graduates for an exciting career in property services.

“SCSI are delighted to see the launch of these courses through our partnership with ATU. The availability of these online courses in Real Estate Development and Valuation and in Facilities Management (FM) provides a unique, flexible, accessible opportunity for students who wish to upskill on a part-time basis,” says James Lonergan, director of education at SCSI.

READ MORE

These courses at ATU will provide a route to chartership for graduates and once chartered they can work anywhere in the world. Though specialised, there are various job opportunities available leading to an exciting career with many opportunities. Graduates will find themselves in flexible and varied working locations from office based to visiting onsite locations or clients’ properties. There is a unique mix of construction and business within these programmes, from managing contracts, budgets, valuations, communication, negotiation, to surveying, measuring, planning, and reporting. Facility Managers are generally involved in everything from contracts to sustainable building energy management, and were to the forefront of the recent Covid-19 response within business.

Trevor McSharry, head of department of Civil Engineering and Construction says, “This new suite of SCSI accredited programmes further strengthens ATU’s position in addressing unmet industry skills requirements through online and flexible part-time programme provision, particularly in the property and facilities management areas.”

The new suite of part-time online courses include a Level 7 BSc in Property Services and Facilities Management, a Level 7 Certificate in Auctioneering and Estate Agency Practice, a Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Facilities and Building Services Management and a Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Real Estate Development and Valuation which are now open for application for a January 2023 start.

When developing these courses, an important aspect to incorporate was progression opportunities giving graduates the ability to continue their flexible education. Currently, ATU offers a Level 6 Higher Certificate in Property Services and Facilities Management which allows graduates to progress to either of the Level 7 courses continuing to the Level 8 courses.

Atlantic Technological University (formerly GMIT, LYIT and IT Sligo) has over 50 part-time courses now open for application for a January 2023 start. As a leader in part-time learning, ATU offers students the opportunity to study part-time through a variety of delivery modes such as online, blended, and on-campus learning.

View the full course list at www.atu.ie/study-at-atu/online-blended-atu-part-time-courses.