OREANDA-NEWS. On 18 August 2008 was announced, this year RUSAL Aughinish celebrates twenty anniversary of its educational award to the high-achieving children of employees.

RUSAL Aughinish has always believed that its team involves not only its employees but their families as well. We also believe that the community should benefit in many ways from having RUSAL Aughinish as a part of it. RUSAL Aughinish also has an overriding commitment to rewarding and recognising academic excellence.  One of the most significant methods of combining these goals is to recognise the accomplishments of employee’s children by providing academic scholarships and awards.

The awarding of scholarships is based solely on the results achieved in the final examination in the Irish secondary school system: the Leaving Certificate Examination, which is in effect the entrance exam for University.  Each year, up to six outstanding students have been granted scholarships for up to four years (or depending on the course 5 years) of study.  The result of this sponsorship, which has been ongoing since 1988, has been a major contribution to the professional development o the community.  To date RUSAL Aughinish has sponsored the education of :

2 Architects 

7 Primary Level Teachers 

19 Business & Finance Professionals 

17 Second Level Teachers 

8 Chemical Engineers 

2 Doctors 

2 Computer Science Engineers 

3 Veterinarians 

9 Electronic Engineers  

5 Psychologists 

4 Mechanical Engineers  

6 Physiotherapists 

12 Scientists 

6 Other Healthcare Professionals 

4 Lawyers  

The scholarship consists of an initial grant of ?1,500 and thereafter each subsequent year depending on favourable exam results. The grant enables the students to offset expenses and fees incurred in their education. Employees whose children have been sponsored include all grades.

Information on UC RUSAL’s production facility

RUSAL Aughinish is an alumina refinery situated on Aughinish Island on the south side of the Shannon estuary near Foynes, 20 miles downstream from Limerick city, in the Irish Republic. Production commenced in 1983. The plant produces over 1.8 million tonnes of alumina per annum and employs over 450 permanent employees, working in a team based organization.