The Irish Whiskey Association will sponsor one place on this micro-credential, which aims to equip learners with the necessary scientific knowledge and instrumentation competencies to develop skills relevant to the alcoholic drinks industry. The course was created in response to the strong demand for an analytical course to support the growing Irish craft brewing and whiskey industries.
The Irish Whiskey Association has also called on the incoming government to provide additional supports to the third-level institutions offering courses – both full- and part-time – in the brewing and distilling sector to ensure their positive continuation and a further strengthening of the industry at this pivotal time.
Director of the Irish Whiskey Association, Eoin Ó Catháin, noted: “Recent reports on the value of the Irish drinks sector show that it now easily exceeds €2 billion euro, and there are now around 10,000 people directly employed in brewing and distilling in Ireland. The strength of the sector, however, increases the demand for skills and expertise among our drinks producers. There are now full time Bachelor courses in Brewing and Distilling offered in South-East Technical University (SETU) and Technological University Dublin (TUD), and a micro-credential in Maynooth University, but we need further support to promote these courses. In order for our sector to continue growing and remain competitive, we must be able to rely on our local workforce.”
This need is acutely felt by companies seeking to fill vacancies in this competitive environment.
Professor Denise Rooney, from the Chemistry Department at Maynooth University (MU), who is a contributor to the micro-credential course, added: “Our micro-credential course in Brewing & Distilling Science is both co-designed and co-delivered by industry experts and academics at MU and was created in response to the strong demand for an analytical course to support the growing Irish craft brewing and traditional whiskey industries. Comprising of online lectures, tutorials and virtual lab simulations, this micro-credential course will be run over a 12-week period including a practical experience in Maynooth University’s modern labs. This course is ideal for new entrants into the distilling industry or those wishing to gain more in-depth knowledge in the area.”
