Local college secures educational partnership with Dublin based company

South Eastern Regional College (SERC) has created an educational partnership with Williaam Cox Ltd, based in Dublin, thanks to securing funding from the FUSION Programme, InterTradesIrelands cross-border knowledge transfer initiative. The FUSION Programme is an innovation technology transfer programme and operates on an all-island basis.

The programme is a three-way partnership between the employer, a graduate who can deliver the solution and SERC, who is employed as the academic partner and will provide mentoring and additional expertise throughout the duration of the project, facilitating the cross-border partnership.

The FUSION Programme will run for twelve months and is in collaboration with Williaam Cox Ltd based in Dublin who are a market leader in the area of daylight, fire safety and natural ventilation and plastics distribution.

Manufacturing engineering graduate Matthew Morrison was appointed as the successful applicant following an application and recruitment process and is mentored by SERC industrial engineer Ryan Gwilt who travels to Dublin several times per month as well as provides support remotely by telephone, Skype and email.

The graduate will benefit by gaining significant project management experience, industry experience and a fully funded Fusion Postgraduate Diploma.

The aim of the project is to improve production processes at Williaam Cox Ltd to allow the company to rapidly respond to increasing order levels. This will involve the investigation of 3D CAD and its implementation and the linking of design and process to remove a current large bottleneck in production by reducing duplication and streamlining the interface between design and production. This will result in more efficient design and manufacturing times and contribute to increasing sales.

SERC Head of Business Services Elaine Flynn explains: “​SERC recognises that innovative product ideas are an important part of growing the local economy and we recognise that not all companies have the ability to employ graduates straight out of university. With the FUSION programme, graduates can ultimately benefit from much needed work experience and companies can benefit from development or improved products, processes or services. SERC currently has four FUSION projects running which is testament to the high standards of training that the College provides.”