COLLEGE OFFICIALS FROM IRELAND VISIT IOWA LAKES TO LEARN ABOUT ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES AND AGRICULTURE

An Irish college administrator and professor traveled to Iowa Thursday to meet with the President and instructors of Iowa Lakes Community College to learn more about alternative energies and agriculture.

Malachy McAleer and Mark McGuigan of Omagh College, chose to visit Iowa Lakes after a past Iowa Lakes graduate encouraged them. Charles White, a student in the first graduating class of the Wind Energy and Turbine Technology program is currently working in Ireland for B9 Energy. Omagh College is looking at the possibility of starting a Wind Energy program at their college. They spoke with B9 Energy officials (White’s employer. They recommended Iowa Lakes since White is an exemplary employee.

Omagh College is based in the County Tyrone in central Ireland. It is a leading employer and provider of higher education in County Tyrone. The college awards diplomas in vocational coursework as well as academic programs up to a ‘foundation degree,’ which is very similar to an Associate in Arts degree at Iowa Lakes.

McAleer, head of the School of Technology, said this visit has been valuable for him, stating a great deal of curriculum here mirrors what is taught in Ireland.

"We’re looking at exchanging curricula in the next few weeks, especially in the areas of rural sustainability and wind energy," said McAleer.

President Harold Prior said that initial talks with McAleer and McGuigan led to discussions about ‘franchising’ programs with each other, where the curriculum of one college would be ‘shared’ for teaching at the other college.

"What we found is that we’re very similar," said Pres. Prior. "There are so many parallels that it’s just phenomenal."

Traveling with McAleer was McGuigan, who is the project officer for renewable energy projects at Omagh College. He oversees $2 million of projects including energy supply education and training programs.

Irish visitors Mark McGuigan and Malachy McAleer of Omagh College visit with Tom Brotherton, executive dean of the Emmetsburg campus.