Mechanical Engineering students in Leuven Visit

11 March 2024

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently welcomed back a group of final year students from the B.Eng. (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering course. This group of students got a fantastic opportunity to further develop their innovation and employability skills with this three-day visit to Belgium.

The student’s trip was based out of the Irish College in Leuven, the trip incorporated sessions in a variety of high-tech design companies, a visit to KU Leuven (currently ranked number 42 university in the world and Reuters most innovative university in Europe) and a visit to the European Commission. Students had the opportunity to meet and share ideas with experts in robotics and vision systems, drone development, machine design and renewable energy.

A common message across the sessions was the importance for engineers to understand societal needs and communicate appropriate solutions, which chimes with our students’ formation and creative approach.

Jake Howlin B.Eng.(Hons.) in Mechanical Engineering said of the experience

“I found the Engineering Trip to Leuven to be very valuable and enjoyable. There were many interesting talks and events, most notably at Comate and Flanders Make, which provided a fantastic opportunity to see innovative technologies up close and get to talk to people who are very much interested in, and passionate about, the work that they do. The trip was also a lot of fun and a great bonding experience for the group that is different to the usual college experience.”