VR simulators to be used for teaching at Kilkenny college

Welding simulators, which will be used by students on agricultural training courses, are to be funded by the Department of Agriculture - including Kildalton College in Kilkenny.

A total of €430,000 will be invested in the simulators. Using a virtual reality welding simulator to introduce students to welding provides a safe and controlled learning environment that eliminates the hazards associated with actual welding.

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with special responsibility for Farm Safety, Martin Heydon T.D., announced that 13 welding simulators will be funded for use by students completing agricultural training courses.

“Welding is an important skill and it has many useful applications on the farm and across a range of sectors, including equipment repair, fabrication, construction, and maintenance,” the minister said, speaking at the National Ploughing Championships.

“These simulators will provide students with a safe environment in which to learn different welding techniques before training with actual welders. They also provide more experienced students with the opportunity to extend their range of welding skills. These investments help ensure students passing through our agricultural colleges obtain a broad and useful skillset in a safe environment that will benefit them throughout their future careers.”

Professor Frank O’Mara, Teagasc Director, thanked Minister Heydon and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for providing funds to procure the virtual reality welding sets.
“Welding training offers numerous benefits to students, both in terms of their educational experience and their future careers in the agricultural industry,” Professor O’Mara said.

Dr Anne Marie Butler, Teagasc Head of Education, added: “The procurement of these virtual welding sets greatly enhances delivery of safety-based practical skills training. The use of virtual reality welding is a component of ‘Technology Enhanced Learning’ which is developing rapidly in skills-based training.”

Thirteen welding simulators will be procured by Teagasc for use in agricultural colleges by full-time and part-time students. A demo model of the new simulators was on display at the Teagasc stand at the National Ploughing Championships.