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Abstract

The Technological University Dublin (DIT: http://www.dit.ie/) is one of the largest Higher Education Institutes in Ireland, with 20,000 students registered and over 2000 members of staff. It has been providing technological higher education for over one hundred and twenty years encompassing the full spectrum of Third Level programmes. During that time the Institute's alumni have played important roles in technical and scientific innovation, economic and social development and culture and education both in Ireland and internationally.

The CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems Inc., Ray O’Connor is a DIT School of Surveying alumnus and in October 2013 Ray visited his Alma Mater in the Bolton Street campus. On behalf of Topcon, Ray made a very substantial donation of surveying and optometry equipment to the DIT which has significantly enhanced the surveying capabilities of over 300 DIT surveying, engineering and architectural students who undertake surveying modules during their studies. Whilst visiting, Ray also gave a motivational lecture to the current students of the Honours BSc degree in Geomatics (http://www.dit.ie/geomatics/) and raised the possibility of a DIT BSc Geomatics student internship with Topcon.

The BSc Geomatics at DIT is the only undergraduate programme offered in spatial information science on the island of Ireland. The number of disciplines encountered by Geomatics students, over the 4 year programme, has grown significantly in the last decade to include advanced geodetic surveying techniques, photogrammetry, GIS, land management and mathematical methods. In addition, one semester in the third year of the programme is dedicated to gaining practical work experience in industry either at home or abroad. During this semester learning on the job is supported by workplace mentors and an academic supervisor. This semester provides students the opportunity to develop a better idea of prospective careers while simultaneously improving their employability.

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