From Awareness to Action: Engineers Ireland advocating for engineering outreach, an education position from the Engineers Ireland STEPS programme, will be presented at the Engineers Ireland STEPS 25th Anniversary Celebration on Monday 7 April with a panel event hosted by Mark Langtry, TV presenter and STEM Education Expert. The panel will feature Damien Owens, Director General of Engineers Ireland, Úna Parsons, Retired Head of College, Atlantic Technological University, and Head of Faculty of Engineering and Design, and Dr Keith Sunderland, Engineers Ireland Registrar and STEPS Director. The paper will be available on Monday 7 April.
The panel will discuss the findings and recommendations of the paper including the creation of a national Centre of Excellence for Engineering Outreach, embedding engineering more explicitly in school curricula, and pushing for real changes in STEM policy. It calls for targeted teacher training, a national awareness campaign, and a long-overdue recognition of apprenticeships as respected routes into the profession.
The Engineers Ireland STEPS Programme is the only national STEM programme with a dedicated focus on engineering. Centred on children aged 5-16, the programme has introduced over 2 million children and young people to engineering as a meaningful and exciting career path.
If you would like to speak with Dr Keith Sunderland, Engineers Ireland Registrar and STEPS Director about the programme, or the findings and recommendations of the education report
Suggested interview topics:
- Skills shortage: A shortage of engineering talent is threatening Ireland’s ability to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven, knowledge-based economy.
- ‘College-only’ outlook: The lack of awareness, opportunities, and perception of engineering apprenticeships highlights gap in the engineering education and outreach system.
- Addressing gender inequity in STEM: 68% of girls-only schools offer STEM subjects other than science or maths, compared to 96% of boys’ schools (IWish, 2024)
About STEPS
The Engineers Ireland STEPS Programme is designed to open up the exciting possibilities that engineering offers to school children who want to make a real difference in the world. STEPS aims to inspire future generations of STEM talent by providing meaningful, fun, and practical insights into the diverse world of engineering. http://www.engineersireland.ie/schools
About Engineers Ireland
With over 28,000 members, Engineers Ireland is the voice of the engineering profession in Ireland. Engineers Ireland was established in 1835, making it one of the oldest and largest professional bodies in Ireland. Members come from every discipline of engineering, and they range from engineering students to fellows of the profession. For more information, see www.engineersireland.ie
