NGTC Part of Agreement With Irish School

North Georgia Technical College is opening the international door for Engineering Technology students.

Leaders of the Waterford Institute of Technology in Ireland and the Technical College System of Georgia recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes a partnership giving Georgia and Irish students expanded educational opportunities.

North Georgia Technical College was selected as one of two Georgia technical colleges that will be participating in this new summer program.

This summer, students from North Georgia Technical College and Chattahoochee Technical College will participate in a one-of-a-kind engineering program in Ireland custom-tailored by Waterford Institute of Technology and Technical College System of Georgia faculty. Similarly, students from North Georgia Technical College and Columbus Technical College will attend a custom-designed culinary program.

Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Gretchen Corbin said signing this agreement formalizes their longstanding relationship with Waterford Institute of Technology and establishes a broad framework to expand their collaboration.

She said this partnership is an outstanding opportunity for students to train on an international level and then bring those skills to bear at companies here in Georgia.

A student selected to participate from NGTC must be a second-year engineering technology student and in good academic standing.

Students are planning to participate this summer include Amber Olliff of Demorest, Emily Walker of Toccoa, Eldon Hinkle of Martin, and Stephen Lenton of Clarkesville.

Walker called it the chance of a lifetime and said she is eager to participate.

The Waterford Institute of Technology is a university-level institution in the southeast of Ireland with over 10,000 students and 1,000 staff. It offers certificates, degrees and PhD’s in humanities, health and nursing, science and informatics, engineering, architecture, business and education.

Georgia officials said the new agreement will open additional program opportunities in tourism, hospitality management and criminal justice, adding to the already existing programs.