Rethinking Apprenticeship Training for the Construction Industry in Ireland

The construction industry is of strategic importance to any economy, as it delivers the building and infrastructural needs of society; it is also a major provider of employment. The over-reliance on construction was a contributing factor to the collapse of the Irish economy and employment in construction fell to under 50% of its 2007 peak as a consequence. The decline devastated apprentice training with a reduction in excess of 90% of new registrations of construction apprentices at the lowest point. The implication of this to the industry is disquieting, given the crucial role apprenticeships play in the sector. The Irish model of apprentice training, exalted as a model of excellence when economic drivers were favourable, has been shown to be over-reliant upon employer stability and new apprentice registrations in order for it to flourish. In 2013, the Irish Government announced a review of apprenticeships, in order to address these issues. Though this review extolled the virtues of apprenticeships it failed to address the labour market issues associated with the industry. Now firmly in recovery, the industry faces a knowledge and skills deficit which has the potential to render it unable to respond to future growth. The need for change in the current apprenticeship training system is thus imperative. The paper critically analyses the Irish construction apprenticeship training system and provides a comparative analysis to international practices to identify a benchmark for a new Irish apprenticeship model for construction. The findings highlight the basis of a rethinking of Irish apprenticeship in order to future-proof training and protect against the cyclical fluctuations of the construction industry

Trades and Apprenticeships Skills Survey: the Employers Perspective

The construction sector in Ireland has gone through a period of extremes in the last decade, from an exceptionally high growth to deep and prolonged recession. The backdrop to this report, however, is one of favourable economic and industry conditions. Economic growth is positive, exchequer balances are improving, unemployment continues to decline and sentiment within the construction industry is strong across most sub-sectors. The construction labour market however, remains in a state of disequilibrium. The severe recession had devastating consequences on construction firms in Ireland resulting in company closures, redundancy and mass emigration. At the same time the number of new registrations onto construction education and training programmes plummeted as the industry was characterised as having uncertain career opportunities. While the economy and the construction sector are currently in a growth cycle, there remain two legacy issues within the construction labour market that may hamper the ability of the sector to reach full potential. Firstly, for some companies, the threat of entering into another recession in the future may act as a deterrent to staff recruitment, most notably apprentices. In addition, due to the reduction in registrations on apprenticeship programmes for several years, there now lacks the requisite number of trained construction workers to meet demand for construction output across all sectors. The Demand for Skills in Construction to 2020 report published by the CIF/DKM Economic Consultants in 2016 highlighted the need to increase the number of skilled construction workers to ensure the industry had the ability to meet future demand. The need is even more pronounced in light of the proposed €115bn expenditure as part of the National Development Plan (NDP). It is essential that the construction labour market has the capacity to deliver the priorities therein in a viable and timely manner. The purpose of this report is to acquire construction labour market insight directly from employers with specific focus on employment trends, enablers and barriers

Mechanisms to improve employer engagement in apprenticeship in the Irish construction industry: a mesolevel analysis

Apprentice training in Ireland remains within a state of flux. Although construction output is steady at present with the sector recording growth in excess of 60 percent over the last three years, there remains an alarming discordant issue of a lack of construction skills. In 2017, the largest representative body of construction related firms in Ireland, the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) endorsed a research study of their membership of more than 1,000 firms in an attempt to quantify the level of engagement in training. This study sought to identify the determinants of engagement and the constraints thereof. Findings from the research confirmed employers are predominantly small to medium sized enterprises. Consequently, the key factor determining engagement in training is found to be related to costs. Mechanisms to address this issue are identified herein

Quantity Surveying Professional Apprenticeships: a Paragon for the Supply of Talent in the Irish Construction Industry

The construction industry in Ireland has undergone considerable change in the last decade, the effect of which has resulted in a legacy malfunction in the construction labour market. The recent construction downturn led to high levels of construction unemployment, resulting in the mass emigration of construction professionals. Additionally, perceptions of job uncertainty in construction deterred new entrants into construction-related training and education programmes such as Quantity Surveying. If a skills gap is allowed to prevail, then there is a tangible threat to the industry’s cost competitiveness. As such, value for money becomes merely theoretical, and the cost to the economy could be the loss of its much-valued foreign direct investment as the construction industry becomes unable to deliver for its clients. Although traditionally reserved for vocational skills, apprenticeship could provide an alternative method of training construction professionals, such as Quantity Surveyors, in a more expeditious manner. Consequently, this may serve as a possible mechanism to address the current disequilibrium in the construction labour market. Accordingly, the future Irish construction industry, by embracing diversity, may benefit from an improved delivery of personnel which is more resilient to the cyclical elasticity of the construction economy and thereby improve the talent pipeline

Quantity Surveying Professional Apprenticeships: a Paragon for the Supply of Talent in the Irish Construction Industry

The construction industry in Ireland has undergone considerable change in the last decade, the effect of which has resulted in a legacy malfunction in the construction labour market. The recent construction downturn led to high levels of construction unemployment, resulting in the mass emigration of construction professionals. Additionally, perceptions of job uncertainty in construction deterred new entrants into construction-related training and education programmes such as Quantity Surveying. If a skills gap is allowed to prevail, then there is a tangible threat to the industry’s cost competitiveness. As such, value for money becomes merely theoretical, and the cost to the economy could be the loss of its much-valued foreign direct investment as the construction industry becomes unable to deliver for its clients. Although traditionally reserved for vocational skills, apprenticeship could provide an alternative method of training construction professionals, such as Quantity Surveyors, in a more expeditious manner. Consequently, this may serve as a possible mechanism to address the current disequilibrium in the construction labour market. Accordingly, the future Irish construction industry, by embracing diversity, may benefit from an improved delivery of personnel which is more resilient to the cyclical elasticity of the construction economy and thereby improve the talent pipeline

Feasibility and usability of a virtual reality intervention to enhance men’s awareness of testicular disorders (E-MAT)

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer among men younger than 50, and benign testicular disorders such as torsion and epididymitis can be life-threatening if left untreated. Men’s awareness of testicular disorders is lacking, and their intentions to see help for symptoms of testicular disease are low. This study aimed to describe the development, feasibility, and usability of a virtual reality (VR) intervention designed to enhance men’s awareness of testicular disorders (E-MAT). We designed E-MAT as a three-level VR experience and tested its feasibility and usability with 15 men recruited from a university. Following exposure to the intervention, participants filled a 43-item questionnaire. Participants agreed that the technology was comfortable to use, testicular disorders were well represented, the use of light humor was appropriate, and the scientific facts were easy to understand. Participants also agreed that the intervention was suited for men from different sociodemographic backgrounds and felt confident using VR. Overall, participants perceived the intervention as user-friendly, enjoyable, and aesthetically appealing. To the best of our knowledge, VR has not been used to promote men’s health in the past, let alone increasing their awareness and help seeking for testicular disorders. We recommend testing the effectiveness of E-MAT and making it available on public platforms that men can access at their own leisure. VR can be used in future interventions to educate men about various health topics

Enhancing men's awareness of testicular disorders using a virtual reality intervention: a pre-post pilot study.

Background: The incidence of benign and malignant testicular disorders is on the rise. Three literature reviews and one qualitative study found that men’s awareness of testicular disorders was lacking, and their intentions to seek help for symptoms of testicular disease were low. Objectives: The aim of the study was to enhance men’s awareness of testicular disorders, help-seeking intentions for testicular symptoms, and intention and behavior to feel their testes. Methods: Men aged 18–50 years were recruited from a university and asked to engage in a three-level, educational, virtual reality experience. The Medical Research Council framework guided the development and pilot testing of the intervention. Knowledge, awareness, perceived risk, implementation intentions, help-seeking intentions, and behaviors were measured at pretest (T0), immediately posttest (T1), and 1 month posttest (T2). Results: Data were available from 49 participants. In comparison to T0, a significant increase in knowledge (mean difference [MD] = 3.5, 95% CI [2.8, 4.26]); testicular awareness (MD = 0.2, 95% CI [0.01, 0.41]); implementation intentions (MD = 0.6, 95% CI [0.33, 0.90]); and help-seeking intentions for testicular swelling (MD = 0.3, 95% CI [0.12, 0.51]), lumpiness (MD = 0.3, 95% CI [0.08, 0.46]), and pain (MD = 0.6, 95% CI [0.25, 1.01]) was noted at T1. This increase was maintained at T2. Participants who expressed an intention to feel their testes at T0 were more likely to report performing this behavior at T2. Discussion: The intervention succeeded in promoting knowledge, testicular awareness, implementation intentions, help-seeking intentions, and behaviors. A randomized controlled trial of the Enhancing Men’s Awareness of Testicular Disorders intervention with a larger sample size is warranted

Promoting men’s awareness, self-examination, and help-seeking for testicular disorders: a systematic review of interventions [version 2; referees: 2 approved]

Background: Testicular cancer (TC) is commonly diagnosed among men aged 15-40 years. The incidence of TC is on the rise. Benign testicular disorders such as testicular torsion and epididymitis can lead to testicular ischemia, sepsis, and infertility if left untreated. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of studies promoting menâ s knowledge and awareness of testicular disorders and/or self-examination, behaviours and/or intentions to examine their testes, and help-seeking behaviours and/or intentions for testicular symptoms. Methods: Academic Search Complete, Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO, ERIC, the Cochrane Library, the World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, Clinicaltrials.gov, Grey Literature Report, and Open Grey were searched for studies published between November 2014 and April 2018. The methodological quality and level of evidence per outcome were assessed. Results: There were five papers included: two were experimental studies, two were systematic reviews, and one was an integrative review. The majority of the reviewed interventions were successful in increasing menâ s awareness of TC and self-examination. Examples include a television show featuring a celebrity with TC, a university campaign, and interactive educational sessions. The impact of the reviewed interventions on health beliefs (i.e. perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy) varied across the reviewed literature. Studies promoting help-seeking for testicular symptoms and awareness of benign testicular disorders were lacking. Conclusions: This review highlights the importance of evaluating educational interventions aimed at younger men, whilst raising their awareness of testicular disorders and increasing their help-seeking intentions for testicular symptoms. Given the lack of consensus around scheduled testicular self-examination among younger men, clinicians are encouraged to instruct men to familiarise themselves with the look and feel of their own testes and to seek timely medical attention for abnormalities

EIRFLAT-1: A FlatSat platform for the development and testing of the 2U CubeSat EIRSAT-1

The Educational Irish Research Satellite (EIRSAT-1) is a 2U CubeSat being designed, built and tested at University College Dublin. A FlatSat platform known as EIRFLAT-1 has been constructed to enable the testing and development of the CubeSat. EIRFLAT-1 facilitates the electrical connections between CubeSat components while leaving key interfaces accessible for test equipment and allowing for the hot swapping of components. Commercial Off The Shelf and in-house developed hardware has been tested using EIRFLAT-1 at component, subsystem and full system level. In addition, the FlatSat has been used for flight software development. This paper describes the design of EIRFLAT-1 including electrical and mechanical components and additional ground support equipment developed to assist in the testing and development activities. EIRFLAT-1 has proven to be an invaluable tool for testing and has led to the discovery of issues and unexpected behaviour with flight hardware which would have contributed to schedule delays if undiscovered until after the satellite was assembled. Moreover, EIRFLAT-1 facilitated early and incremental testing of both software and operations procedures. The schematics for the electrical design of EIRFLAT-1, which is compatible with all CubeSat Kit PC/104 components, has been made publicly available for use by other educational CubeSat team

Experiences in firmware development for a CubeSat instrument payload

Recent advancements in gamma-ray detector technology have brought new opportunities to study gamma-ray bursts and other high-energy phenomena. However, there is a lack of dissemination on the development methods, tools and techniques used in the production of instrument flight firmware. This is understandable as firmware for spacecraft payloads may be proprietary or exceptionally hardware specific and so is not always published. However, this leaves a gap in the knowledge for CubeSat teams, especially those consisting of university students who may be building a custom spacecraft payload with limited initial experience. The Gamma-Ray Module (GMOD) on-board EIRSAT-1, a 2U CubeSat in the 2nd European Space Agency Fly Your Satellite! programme, is one such instrument. GMOD features a 25x25x40mm Scionix CeBr3 scintillator, coupled to an array of 16 (4x4) JSeries OnSemiconductor MicroFJ-60035-TSV silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) with readout provided by the SIPHRA IDE3380 application specific integrated circuit. The instrument is supported by the Gamma-Ray Module motherboard which controls and configures the instrument, providing regulated voltage and current sources as well as generating time tagged event packets and a temporary on-board flash storage. At the core of this system is the Texas Instruments MSP430FR5994 microcontroller. A custom firmware was produced for the instrument by the EIRSAT-1 team over numerous cycles of testing and development to reliably perform the long duration tasks of readout, storage and transfer of time tagged event data to the EIRSAT-1 on-board computer. Recognising the value of sharing our experiences and pitfalls on firmware development with the wider CubeSat community, this paper will provide an introduction to GMOD, with focus primarily on the development approach of the firmware. The development, testing, version control, essential tools and an overview of how the resources provided by the device manufacturer were used will be examined, such that the lessons learned may be extended to other payloads from student-led mission