ATU Tomorrow’s Leaders challenge win celebrated in Mayo

ATU has scooped first place in the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Tomorrow’s Leaders Student Challenge Ireland competition, held at Dundalk IT.

The team from the ATU Galway Department of Building & Civil Engineering beat 10 other university teams to win top prize. Team members included Kevin Kenneally from Kilmovee and Tony Conlon from Ballina.

The challenge involved coming up with a strategy or methodology for tackling the global housing crisis.

Sarah Hallinan, regional manager Ireland at CIOB, said: “A huge congratulations to the team from ATU for winning our CIOB Tomorrow’s Leaders Student Challenge competition. This incredibly difficult challenge really puts aspiring construction professionals’ minds to the test, asking them to come up with complex sustainable solutions which they must present to a panel of experts in a very short space of time.

“I was delighted with the level of professionalism and awareness of environmental sustainability on display, as well as how well the students were able to communicate their ideas - these talents will stand them in good stead for their future careers.”

John Hanahoe and Michelle Fahey, lecturers and mentors, paid tribute to the students: “We have competed in this event for many years and have been fortunate to win it on many occasions. We know that our students find working with other disciplines really useful and relish the challenge on the day. They also enjoy meeting and interacting with their colleagues from the other universities.”