GALWAY-MAYO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY


Próifílí na gCéimithe / Graduate Profiles


Marie Rafferty graduated in 2009 B.Sc. Furniture & Wood Technology


I started in GMIT Letterfrack in September 2006 studying Furniture & Wood Technology. From the start I loved the course, learning all there was to know about the history of


furniture and the different types and classes of woods. First year in Letterfrack was a beginning – it was learning the skills needed to transform a piece of wood into something brilliant using all the different hand tools and basic machines. As we progressed into second year the world of advanced machinery was presented to us. With it came the making of wonderful furniture pieces. This was a learning curve that made me realise that I really love what I do, particularly overcoming the continuous challenges offered in the way the projects are structured. It was the perfect course for me in that I learned all about making furniture both by hand and using machines.


In the third year of the programme I went to America for my work placement. I worked in a Higher Education Centre in South Boston, Virginia helping them set up a course that would be similar to the programme I studied in Letterfrack. I used the machinery skills that I acquired at college in setting up different automated machinery. The placement was fantastic, not only for learning about how industry works and how different companies operate but also to get to meet new people.


I would definitely recommend GMIT Letterfrack as a place to study. It provides everything that is required in furniture technology and it is recognised worldwide as a college for producing graduates of outstanding skills and knowledge.


Damien Wallace graduated 2005 B. Sc. (Honours) in Furniture and Wood Technology programme in 2005


Upon graduating, I decided that I would like to further my education. I undertook a Master of Science degree


by way of research at the GMIT Letterfrack campus. On completing this I was offered a position with a project management consultancy firm. Working with furniture companies throughout Ireland, the job entailed analysing work practices and procedures, and identifying and implementing new solutions to improve efficiencies.


I think that the Furniture and Wood Technology programme provides a great mix between the practical and the theoretical. Everything that is learned in the course is applicable to industry. This gives you the confidence to enter the workforce with the ability to apply the knowledge learned in a practical and relevant manner. The work placement provided me with first-hand experience of how a company functions and also to see how different techniques are applied. The final year project gave me the chance to combine both the practical and theoretical aspects of the course and to develop my interests. The course gave me good project management skills as well as problem solving and analytical capabilities. I also got many opportunities to develop my communication and interpersonal skills, all of which are vital to success in the industry. In 2009, I returned to GMIT Letterfrack to study on the Higher Diploma in Arts in Education (Technology) and I hope to qualify as a teacher in September 2010.”


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