Albany Technical College students return from trip to Ireland

ALBANY — An Albany Technical College delegation of four engineering technology students and one instructor traveled to Waterford, Ireland, for two weeks this spring. What these students learned might just help southwest Georgia in a growing global economy.

The ATC students experienced Irish culture with sightseeing and touring. In addition, they attended credit-bearing engineering classes at Waterford Institute of Technology, which focused on robotics.

During the two-week program, the delegation participated in lectures and labs on the future development of robotics, the use of robotics in industry, build design, three-dimensional printing, applied electronics, applied materials, sustainable energy and certifications.

They also toured several production plants near Waterford to gain knowledge of how robotics is used in Irish manufacturing.

Albany Tech students were housed on campus at WIT, where they had maximum potential to network with the faculty and students at Waterford, as well as fellow students from other Technical College System of Georgia institutions participating in the program.

“I learned a lot about the heritage and the past of Ireland,” student Willie White said. “We also got to help build a robot and visited some pharmaceutical plants to see how robots were used in production. The school has another trip set for next year and I hope to go again.”

Aaron Alvey, chairman of the Industrial Systems Technology program at Albany Tech, accompanied the students to Ireland.

“Many in our delegation experienced a trip abroad for the first time,” he said. “These types of outside educational experiences support economic growth in Georgia through educating a skilled and trained work force.”

For several years, the Technical College System of Georgia has been constructing an innovative International Studies Program. This initiative supports the TCSG mission of building a well-educated, globally competitive work force for Georgia.

The program’s benefits to TCSG students include the creation of a learning environment inside and outside the classroom, exposure to new experiences, achieving cross-cultural competence and appreciation of diversity, and preparation to succeed in the global marketplace.

“I gained a greater appreciation of robotics applications,” student Theresa Barbosa-Weston said. “It was also interesting to see the history of how Ireland has progressed over the years.”

In part, TCSG chose to work with WIT in Waterford due to its robust and growing economic connection and the trade association between Georgia and Ireland. In 2014, Georgia exports to Ireland totaled more than $172 million, a 7.1 percent increase from the previous year.

Top exports from Georgia to Ireland include civilian aircraft, engines and parts, compression piston engines, and medical instruments. In addition, Georgia leads the nation in the export of pumps, gas turbines, wood pulp and carpets to Ireland. In 2014, Georgia’s imports from Ireland totaled more than $655 million. Top Irish imports include perfumes, beer and pharmaceuticals.

Later this summer, five Albany Tech Culinary Arts students, along with Chef Todd White, chairman of the college’s Culinary Arts Department, will also travel to Waterford for a similar program of study in their field.