DkIT Lecturer Shortlisted for the Prestigious Chartered Engineer of the Year Award

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) are absolutely thrilled to report that one of their lecturers, Dr Fergal O’Rourke was one of only five people shortlisted for the prestigious Chartered Engineer of the year award.

The Registered Professional Title of Chartered Engineer is the gold standard of the profession and was established in Ireland over 50 years ago. Within the Republic of Ireland, Engineers Ireland is the sole authority to award the title, which is granted to professional engineers who, through a rigorous review process, have shown their ability to apply their professional competencies in the workplace.

Dr Fergal O’Rourke is a chartered engineer, the Director of the Centre for Renewables and Energy at Dundalk Institute of Technology, Principal Investigator of the CREDIT Technology Gateway and a lecturer in the School of Engineering. He holds a BE(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering (First Class Honours) and a PhD (Mechanical Engineering). His PhD thesis focused on the hydrodynamic design and evaluation of a tidal current turbine operating in real site conditions. Fergal is principal supervisor of six PhD students that are working on projects in the energy domain.

Fergal has over 15 years’ experience in design, evaluation and research, undertaking key roles as a designer, project engineer, engineering consultant and research and development engineer. He has worked on the design, development and evaluation of a range of energy products and systems that provide a sustainable use of energy and reduce carbon emissions. Much of Fergal’s research and industrial project work form part of the learning material for undergraduate and postgraduate engineering students.

Dr Fergal O’Rourke said “It is an honour to be nominated and shortlisted for this prestigious award. I am delighted that my research and industrial engagement has received the recognition of our professional body - Engineers Ireland. A significant part of my research is focused on renewable and sustainable energy systems. My teaching materials, informed by my research and industrial engagement, assist with the Engineers Ireland Accreditation of our programmes which is paramount for our engineering graduates in achieving Chartered Engineer status and international recognition.”