Back at home the Irish building sector may be facing a slowdown, but Waterford Institute of Technology students John Doyle and Colin Fagan have embraced the opportunities presented to them within the US.
John, from Kilkenny, and Colin, from Meath, both BSc Honours Construction Management and Engineering undergraduates, were selected to participate in an internship with US firm Turner Construction, last February.
The first Waterford students to take part in the seven-month placement, both men have already been offered permanent jobs with the company, on the completion of their degrees.
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The programme, due to organise its second intake this year, is seen as an invaluable insight into the industry on an international scale, providing students with incomparable experiences.
The opportunity is particularly beneficial due to the current slump in Irish building projects.
Both men have been working on Turner's $1.2bn (€772,000) contract to construct a new baseball stadium for the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
Construction Management and Engineering Programme Director at Waterford Institute, Eugene O'Sullivan said: "The Irish construction industry may be under a temporary cloud at present but there is a silver lining for placement students and graduates who wish to pursue a career or obtain experience in the US and other parts of the world and then return to Ireland with an impressive career resumé."
Next year's two lucky placement students, at Turner Construction, will work on the poignant rebuild project at the World Trade Centre site, designed by Sir Norman Foster.
Over 800 Waterford students have completed construction placements during the past 20 years. Some have gone as far a field as Japan and mainland Europe, while many others received training in Ireland.
(PR/JM)
