Tag: skill

Copy Trading vs Manual Trading: Which Strategy Works Best?

People wanting to trade in financial markets have various means of doing so. Some traders make their own decisions before placing a trade by studying the market, reading charts, etc. This method is called manual trading. Others prefer to follow skilled traders and automatically copy their trades. This is known as copy trading.

Understanding copy trading vs manual trading is a helpful tool for beginners to decide which approach is suitable for them. Some have more time to learn and analyze markets, while others seem to prefer a simpler way to start. Both methods might work great, but both have advantages and drawbacks depending on a trader’s experience and objectives.

What Is Copy Trading?

Many new traders might wonder what is copy trading when they are just getting into the trading game. Copy trading is a practice wherein you copy the trades of other experienced traders. When the expert trader opens a trade or closes a trade, the same action occurs on your account. This way, people just starting out can follow strategies used by more advanced investors.

Most modern trading platforms now offer copy trading functionality. These platforms enable users to view traders’ profiles, including their past performance, and select who they want to follow. Once connected, trades get copied without having to place them manually.

Because of its simplicity, copy trading for beginners became very popular. The reason is that it allows new traders to participate in markets even if they have only novice technical knowledge. According to a report by Finance Magnates, copy trading platforms now account for a significant share of new retail trading accounts worldwide.

Some brokers offer built-in social trading functionality that allows an investor to automatically copy professional traders. Platforms such as Exness explain how these systems operate and the features traders should look for before selecting a broker.

What Is Manual Trading?

Manual trading is when a trader makes all trading decisions independently. The trader lays out the charts, reads the news, and, after analyzing the market, decides whether to buy or sell. Unlike automated systems, each trade is placed by the person, and not by software or by copying another person.

In the event of manual trading, people use their strategies and research to inform their trading decisions. They may do research on price patterns, technical indicators, or market trends before making a trade. This way, the trading position can be under control at all times.

One of the main advantages of manual trading is the degree of flexibility. Traders will also be able to quickly respond to changes in the market and adapt their trading strategies accordingly if needed. This is one of the reasons why it is very much preferred by many experienced traders when comparing manual vs automated trading, as they can rely on their own skills and judgement.

Copy Trading vs Manual Trading: Differences

Feature Copy Trading Manual Trading
Trade Execution Trades copied automatically Trades placed manually
Skill Level Low technical knowledge needed Requires market analysis skills
Control Limited control over strategy Full control over decisions
Time Required Minimal monitoring Regular market monitoring

Understanding copy trading vs manual trading helps traders understand how these two methods are applied in the real market. Both methods enable people to trade in financial markets, but there are differences in how trading is conducted and managed. The primary technical differences lie in the levels of skill required, the amount of control the trader possesses, and the time required to monitor the trades.

Skill and Experience Required

Copy trading tends to be less experience-related. Traders choose an experienced investor on a platform, and the system automatically executes the same trades that the person made. Because of the already implemented strategy, beginners will be able to take part without in-depth market analysis.

Manual trading needs a bit more technical knowledge. Traders study charts, monitor market trends, and rely on strategies such as technical analysis and risk management when opening a trade.

Control Over Trades

Control is a huge difference between copy trading and manual trading. In the case of copy trading, the process of decision-making to trade depends on the strategy the trader has. Full control is provided in manual trading. Traders choose at what times and to what extent to trade and adjust their positions according to the market conditions.

Time Commitment

Copy trading needs less daily monitoring as the trading is done automatically. Manual trading involves manual market analysis. Around 45% of traders spend 1-2 hours a day trading, and 14% of them spend more than 6 hours every day watching markets and making trades.

Benefits of Copy Trading for Beginners

Many new traders start with copy trading for beginners because it is simple and does not require too much knowledge about the markets. Instead of allowing them to make each and every decision independently, traders who are just starting out may consider following traders who have some experience in the market. This helps them to learn how trading works, but without having the stress of making complex decisions.

More than 70% of beginner traders check out copy trading features in their first year of trading.

Benefits include:

  • Learning from experienced traders
  • Requires less technical knowledge
  • Saves time due to automatic copying of trades
  • Easy to start with low initial investment amounts

These features make copy trading appealing to persons who wish to enter the market without taking months to gain knowledge of the technical market strategies.

Advantages of Manual Trading

There is a dearth of automated tools, but even then, many traders prefer trading manually. One of the primary benefits of manual trading is the degree of control that is available to traders over their trading strategies and decisions. Instead of basing their actions on what another trader does, individuals can look at the market on their own and base their judgment and actions accordingly.

Manual trading also allows traders to develop better knowledge of the markets and can improve their decision-making skills in the long run.

Advantages include

  • Full control over trading strategy and trade execution
  • Better understanding of market trends & price action
  • Flexible decision-making depending on market changes
  • Long-term skills development through practicing and analysing

For the trader who wants to study charts and develop strategies, manual trading can be more independent.

What Type of Trading Is Right for You?

Choosing between copy trading and manual trading depends on your level of experience, as well as whether you have available time and interest in analyzing the markets. Both of these methods can work well, but they are appropriate for different types of traders.

Copy trading can be considered a good option for:

  • Beginners entering the trading Market
  • People who do not have time to analyze charts
  • Traders who have not yet learned the workings of markets

Manual trading may suit:

  • Traders who were experienced and knew the market
  • Individuals who love technical and fundamental analysis
  • Traders who want complete control of their decisions

Some traders even use a combination of the two. For instance, they could do copy trading and use manual trading as they are learning the market, and can perform easily.

Conclusion

There is no best way for all the traders. The question of copy trading vs manual trading is all about your experience and how much you want to invest in your trading and your trading objectives. Understanding the risks, practicing on demo accounts, and finding a strategy that works best for your learning style can help contribute to a more confident approach to trading.

 

 

League of Legends Ranking System and Distribution

It’s not easy to get from the starting rank to master tier or challenger in League of Legends, but not impossible. It makes sense to try and learn the lol ranking, but also divisions, league points and everything else. Many players use League of Legends Boost services to speed up the climb. That will allow you to improve your rank, slowly, as you face more opponents.

How the LoL Ranking System Works

If you want to understand the League of Legends ranking system, it’s more than just booting and trying to play ranked games. The ranked ladder is designed to match people with a very similar skillset. When you play in the competitive league, Riot Games will offer league points or LP. You earn LP when you win games, and if you get defeated, you will lose the LP in competitive play.

The amount of LP you have will automatically affect the match making rating or MMR. While the MMR of a player is hidden, it does affect who you get matched with. When you have a high MMR relative to your rank, you lose less LP and get more points if you win. Placement matches will help figure out the MMR, and then the way you play will adapt it.

The LP you lose or gain will differ based on the rank. If you are in the metal ranks, you will gain or lose 25 LP. For the ranks emerald or above, the amount of LP you lose or gain is 20. But remember that before you can add LP to the name, you have to get to level 30. If you’re not there yet, you can enjoy Draft or Quickplay, and then slowly progress to that level.

Every LoL Ranks and Tiers in Order

Right now, League of Legends has a ranking system that’s made out of 10 distinct tiers. Here’s the rank split system with each lol league and ranked league you need to know.

– Iron

– Bronze

– Silver

– Gold

– Platinum

– Emerald

– Diamond

– Master

– Grandmaster

– Challenger

One thing to note here is that from Iron to Diamond, every tier has four divisions. Those divisions are labeled using Roman Numerals, from IV being the lowest to I being the best. But if you are platinum iv, then you have new divisions to look forward to and higher tiers, once you get those ranked wins and rank rewards. Once you get past Diamond, though, there are no divisions.

Instead of that, they bring their own special rules to fit the higher stakes that come from a higher rank. Since competitive is split into Solo/Duo and Flex, each one of the two modes is kept separate, so you have ranks for each of them. Entering ranked play is exciting because you can move on to the next tier, play league in ranked matches, get past the gold tier and reach a new tier in your ranked climb.

What is League of Legends MMR?

MMR or matchmaking rating determines who you are getting matched with when playing the game. At its core, this is a hidden rating that will decide how much LP you earn or lose, but also who you are facing in these matches. The MMR is based on your current, but also previous performance. For a full breakdown of tiers, divisions, and how the system works, check out this LoL ranks system guide.

When you have a high MMR, you will be gaining more LP per win, and lose less LP when you are defeated. But when the MMR is low, you lose more points per defeat, and also gain less points if you win, too. Enter the promotion series that Riot Games introduced, and try getting past gold iv, the platinum rank and so on. You want to do more than three games, check the ranked tab for your progress and continue the Legends game rank up. Eventually, you get past the Diamond rank and start playing against some of the best League of Legends players, especially when you are over Diamond I, nine tiers and the lowest division in diamond.

How to Unlock Ranked Mode in LoL?

You can play QuickPlay or other modes, but you only unlock ranked after playing for a while. The requirements for unlocking ranked are as follows:

– You must reach level 30

– You need to unlock 20 champions in your account

– After you unlock ranked, you must do five placement matches

It’s fine if you lose a few matches. If you have the skill, you’ll end up climbing up shortly. And it’s all in good fun, because it brings a very interesting and rewarding experience.

Rank Distribution in LoL

Rank distribution is interesting because very few people reach the top ranks in the game.

– 19% of players are in Iron, with the same percentage being in Silver and Bronze.

– 17% have the gold rank

– 11% are in the Platinum tier

– Then, 8.4% are in the Emerald tier, with 2.7% being in the Diamond tier.

– 0.59% of players are ranked Master

– 0.067% are Grand Master

– 0.028% are in the Challenger tier

But reaching the highest ranks in the game is very hard. Plus, there are LP gains and losses to deal with, and the matchmaking rating will be affected based on your performance in the previous tier, too.

Entering the challenger rank is very difficult, unlike getting through the tiers iron rank and the placement games. The player skill level is much higher and you will encounter a losing streak, especially as you go past that one tier where you got stuck and enter a new league. Doing those five placement matches is crucial, but it could take you hundreds of hours to reach the challenger tier.

LoL Rank Decay

Rank decay is a system meant to prevent people from keeping top spots in ranked even if they don’t play. That means:

– If you are inactive for a longer time span, you will start losing 50 to LP a day.

– However, penalties are only affecting high ranks, such as diamond or above.

– You can prevent penalties simply by playing games, as that will show your account is still active. Doing so will postpone any LP losses.

If you’re ranked Diamond, you are banking 7 days per match, to a maximum of 28 days banked. They offer 28 days before the decay, and you lose 50 LP. If you’re ranked Master or above, a match will bank you a single day, and you can bank up to 14 days, which is also the number of initial days before decay. You will be losing 75 LP per day on decay. For more guides and ranked tips, visit https://eloboss.net.

When you deal with decay, you might find ranked players from previous divisions in your current rank. It’s difficult to improve your past performance, but as you reach the highest division like diamond ii, things can get better. Just make sure that you LP gain often and avoid losing points.

Quick Tips for Ranking Up in LoL

 

– Try to dominate your placement matches, as it will help you acquire more LP gains in the beginning.

– Play only 1-3 champions per role and try to master them, as it’s better than trying variety.

– Focus on a single role if you can, as it will improve the way you handle that role.

– Chase objectives, not kills and play around power spikes. That means knowing when your champ is very strong, usually after getting multiple items or reaching at least level 6.

– Review mistakes from your games and see where you can improve, as it will help immensely.

– If you have 2 losses already, take a break. Usually, taking a breather is the best idea, because it will help improve your play.

Conclusion

Getting the best rank in the game is tricky, it requires lots of attention and time. But you want to take advantage of the different benefits and tiers, assess the match quality and see how split points are shared. And of course, track the player’s MMR and become the best you can. Reaching master grandmaster and challenger is difficult and it requires hundreds of hours of play, but this is not impossible. Harness that, access free rewards, and continue playing, you will improve immensely.

How Handheld Laser Welding Boosts Precision and Efficiency

In today’s fast-moving manufacturing world, precision and speed are no longer optional—they’re essential. Whether you’re producing intricate automotive parts, delicate electronic components, or large-scale metal structures, every millimeter and every second counts. Traditional welding methods like MIG and TIG, while reliable, often struggle to deliver the precision and productivity that modern industries demand.

That’s where handheld laser welding steps in. This advanced technique is transforming how professionals approach metal joining—making it faster, cleaner, and more efficient than ever. In this article, you’ll learn how handheld laser welding works, what advantages it brings, and why it’s becoming a must-have tool in manufacturing and fabrication around the world.

Understanding Handheld Laser Welding

Handheld laser welding is a process that uses a focused laser beam to fuse materials together. Unlike traditional methods that rely on electrical arcs or filler rods, laser welding directs concentrated light energy precisely onto the joint area. The result is a smaller heat-affected zone, reduced distortion, and superior accuracy.

How It Works

The system typically includes:

  • A laser generator, often a fiber laser, that produces the beam.
  • A handheld welding gun, ergonomically designed for operator control.
  • A wire feeder (optional), for certain materials or thicknesses.
  • A shielding gas supply (like argon or nitrogen) to protect the weld from oxidation.

Operators guide the laser beam along the joint, either manually or with positioning fixtures. Because the laser’s heat is so focused, it melts only a tiny portion of the material, creating a deep, narrow weld with minimal spatter.

Compatible Materials

Handheld laser welding works with a wide variety of metals, including:

  • Stainless steel
  • Carbon steel
  • Aluminum and its alloys
  • Copper and brass

This versatility makes it useful across industries, from automotive fabrication to electronics and consumer goods manufacturing.

Challenges of Traditional Welding Methods

Before diving deeper into the advantages, it’s worth identifying the common pain points faced by welders and manufacturers using conventional welding systems:

  1. Low productivity: Manual setup, electrode replacement, and post-processing slow down output.
  2. Inconsistent quality: Variations in heat and operator skill lead to uneven welds and rework.
  3. High thermal distortion: Larger heat-affected zones can warp thin materials or damage nearby components.

Handheld laser welding addresses all these issues head-on with its speed, accuracy, and minimal thermal impact.

Advantages of Handheld Laser Welding

1. Enhanced Precision

One of the biggest strengths of handheld laser welding lies in its pinpoint accuracy. The laser beam is extremely concentrated, allowing you to weld even small or complex joints with minimal heat input.

Key benefits include:

  • Reduced heat-affected zone (HAZ): Less warping or damage to surrounding material.
  • Better edge control: Ideal for thin metals and intricate designs
  • Cleaner seams: Smooth, aesthetically pleasing welds with little to no grinding required.

This level of precision is especially valuable in industries where tolerances are tight and visual quality matters, such as aerospace, electronics, and medical device manufacturing.

2. Increased Efficiency

Compared with MIG, TIG, or stick welding, handheld laser systems can be up to four times faster, according to industry case studies. This is due to several factors:

  • Instant start-up: No electrode preparation or filler setup needed.
  • Higher travel speed: The concentrated beam melts metal faster.
  • Reduced post-processing: Minimal spatter and oxidation eliminate lengthy polishing or cleaning steps.

In addition, the equipment is portable—operators can easily move from one workstation to another without complex rigging. This mobility makes handheld laser welding an ideal solution for on-site repairs or field installations.

3. Superior Weld Quality

Laser welding creates cleaner, stronger joints than many conventional methods. Because the beam penetrates deeply without excessive heat, the resulting welds are both durable and visually smooth.

Benefits include:

  • High tensile strength: Comparable or superior to base material.
  • Minimal porosity and cracking: Controlled heat reduces internal defects.
  • Improved consistency: Automated beam control ensures uniform results.

For manufacturers, this means fewer defects, less rework, and better long-term reliability of welded components.

4. Cost and Labor Savings

Although initial investment in laser welding equipment can be higher, the long-term operational savings are significant:

  • Reduced consumables: No need for filler rods or extensive grinding materials.
  • Lower labor intensity: The process is faster and easier to learn, reducing fatigue and training time.
  • Less energy waste: Highly efficient lasers use less power per weld than traditional arc systems.

Over time, these efficiencies translate into lower production costs and faster project turnaround—an advantage for businesses seeking higher productivity without expanding their workforce.

Applications Across Industries

The flexibility of handheld laser welding makes it suitable for a broad range of applications.

Industry Application Example
Automotive Welding car body panels, exhaust systems, and battery enclosures
Aerospace Joining lightweight alloys for structural and fuel components
Construction Fabricating stainless-steel railings and architectural frames
Electronics Precision welding of connectors, sensors, and casings
Furniture & Appliances Creating seamless joints for decorative or functional parts

This versatility allows companies to adopt a single technology across multiple product lines, simplifying training and maintenance requirements.

Key Factors That Affect Performance

Even with advanced technology, results depend on several crucial factors:

  1. Laser Power and Beam Quality: Higher power allows deeper penetration, but beam stability determines weld smoothness.
  2. Material Properties: Reflective materials like aluminum may require adjusted settings or surface treatments.
  3. Shielding Gas: Proper selection (argon, helium, or nitrogen) ensures oxidation-free welds.
  4. Operator Skill: While easier to learn than TIG or MIG, precision control still matters for consistent results.

Safety Considerations

Laser welding is powerful, so safety cannot be overlooked. Operators must follow proper protocols to protect themselves and their workspace:

  • Eye protection: Use laser-rated goggles appropriate for the laser wavelength.
  • Skin protection: Cover exposed areas to prevent burns from reflected beams.
  • Ventilation: Extract fumes generated from vaporized metals.
  • Enclosure or shielding: Prevent accidental exposure to reflected beams.

Future Trends in Handheld Laser Welding

As laser technology advances, handheld welding systems continue to evolve. Several emerging trends are shaping the next generation of equipment:

  1. Automation and robotics integration: Combining handheld units with robotic arms for semi-automated precision welding.
  2. Smarter systems: Incorporating sensors and AI for real-time quality control and adaptive beam adjustment.
  3. Advances in fiber laser technology: Improved efficiency, longer lifespan, and reduced maintenance needs.
  4. Expanded adoption: As prices decrease, small and mid-sized manufacturers are beginning to adopt handheld laser welding for everyday use.

These innovations promise even greater control, productivity, and affordability—making the technology more accessible across industries.

Why You Need Handheld Laser Welding

If your business relies on metal fabrication, precision assembly, or repair work, handheld laser welding can transform your workflow. Today’s advanced systems, such as those from Denaliweld, combine high performance with remarkable ease of use. Denaliweld’s handheld and portable laser welding machines are designed for precision and reliability, featuring a patented CUAL mosaic laser source that ensures smooth, stable operation and consistently accurate welds, even under demanding conditions.

Here’s why this technology is becoming essential:

  1. Versatility: One machine can handle multiple metals and applications, reducing the need for several welding systems.
  2. Quality assurance: With consistent, repeatable welds, you’ll minimize errors and improve end-product reliability.
  3. Productivity boost: Faster welds and reduced post-processing mean shorter production cycles.
  4. Future readiness: As more industries adopt automation and digital manufacturing, laser welding aligns perfectly with those goals.

Conclusion

Handheld laser welding represents a major step forward in modern metal fabrication. By delivering unparalleled precision, remarkable efficiency, and superior weld quality, it solves many of the challenges that traditional welding methods struggle to overcome.

Whether you’re a fabricator seeking faster project turnaround, a manufacturer aiming to improve quality, or an engineer exploring advanced joining techniques, handheld laser welding offers a powerful and practical solution.

As technology continues to evolve, the ability to weld with pinpoint accuracy and minimal effort is no longer limited to large industrial setups—it’s now available in the palm of your hand.

LinkedIn Data Shows 1 in 10 Jobs Allow Staff To Work From Home

Ireland continues to lead the way for flexible working according to new LinkedIn data published today, which saw the country ranked first for the availability of remote roles, with 9.1% of job postings on the platform in August. Ireland also ranked second in Europe for hybrid jobs, with 37% of jobs postings on LinkedIn categorised as hybrid working, closely behind the United Kingdom (39.3% share of all job postings.) Remote roles also remain some of the most competitive jobs on LinkedIn, making up 15.4% of job applications in EMEA, with Ireland seeing even greater level of demand at 20.1%.
Women faced with a ‘double edged sword’ as a result of flexible work
While flexible working has brought about many benefits for professionals in terms of work life balance, a new research paper published by LinkedIn has revealed that it also presents a double edged sword for women. LinkedIn international data shows that men consistently advance faster than women, with 10% of men promoted within 65 months, compared to 74 months for women.
The research revealed that this gap varies depending on flexible working, with on-site roles offering the fastest route for a promotion. Flexible arrangements reduce this gap, but only because progression slows for both men and women. On site roles saw 10% of men promoted within 64 months, with 10% of women achieving this within 68 months. Hybrid roles, however, saw delayed promotional opportunities, with men and women being promoted within 70 months and 72 months respectively. So while flexible work roles lead to greater parity between genders, staff based on site are promoted faster at the expense of slower progression for women.
Demand for AI talent continues to soar
LinkedIn’s data continues to highlight soaring demand for AI talent. AI engineering roles now represent nearly 7% of all technical job postings on LinkedIn – a 63% year-over-year increase. Demand is not limited to technical roles – knowing how to work with AI agents is the fastest-growing skill in 2025, and AI literacy capabilities such as prompt engineering have surged more than 70% in postings across fields like marketing and design.
Commenting on the latest data, LinkedIn Ireland Country Manager Cara O’Leary said: “Our data has consistently shown that Ireland continues to lead the way for remote and hybrid work opportunities, demonstrating how flexibility has become firmly established as a defining feature of our jobs market. Professionals are clearly embracing the benefits of choice in how and where they work, with Ireland seeing even stronger demand for remote roles than our European peers. This shows just how fundamental flexible working has become to attracting and retaining top talent, as employers continue to adapt to shifting expectations.”
“At the same time, our research highlights that flexible working is not without its challenges – particularly for women, who continue to face slower progression in the workplace. While hybrid arrangements help to narrow the gender promotion gap, they do so largely by slowing advancement for everyone. These findings underline the importance of companies being intentional about how they support career development in flexible environments, while also preparing for the next wave of change as AI reshapes roles and skills across industries.”

8 Years Later, how is the Aviator game still so popular?

Since its release, Aviator has remained a hugely popular game in the gambling word. It’s so popular that gaming platforms are increasingly offering this crash game to players. In fact, Aviator has sparked a wave of other crash games too, with entire crash game lobbies now available at many top sites. So, while there are many other games and options, what is it that makes Aviator stand out from the crowd? Let’s take a look at the reasons this game has retained its popularity over the years.

Reasons Aviator is great

First of all, the game is simple. While some players look for complexity, others just want a straightforward game that they can enjoy right away. Unlike those who look for a high skill level to do well, those who want something find it in Aviator. Its gameplay is simple, the rules are easy, and it plays smoothly. To illustrate the point further, the game simply requires the player to place a bet, let the plane head upwards, and then choose when to cash out before the plane crashes. This simplicity is hugely appealing, especially to newer players looking to start playing online. It’s accessible on many different platforms too, with Aviator Bet Malawi offering the game to anyone who signs up.

Another reason that it’s so popular is that it is still an exciting game to play. This is even when the game is simple. It’s a stressful game too, with tension when it comes to determining when to cash out. The game is all about determining when to stop letting the plane fly, and hopefully grab any winnings before it crashes. As this occurs at random, and there’s no predicting it, tension and suspense are created. On top of that, the longer the plane is flying, the higher the multiplier, which means that players can get more stressed when trying to get a big win.

Aviator also has a high RTP. Also known as return to player rate, this is the theoretical return to player percentage awarded after a player plays the game. It’s a measure of the likely returns players will get when they play the game hundreds of thousands of times. The higher the RTP, the better it is for players in terms of getting a return on what they have spent. Ideally, games should be 95% or higher. So the 97% RTP of Aviator makes it very attractive. Alongside this, there’s an extremely high maximum payout available as well. In fact, the top payout is 20,000x the bet. Of course, this means that players do need to be playing the hardest level and, to get the biggest payout, play the largest bet size. A £5 bet winning the 20,000x maximum payout would still win you £100,000. Higher bets than that would payout a whole lot more.

The final reason for Aviator being so popular is that it appeals to a wide range of budgets. Importantly, the game has a low starting bet limit, and then goes up to a big top limit. This enables players of all types and budgets to give the game a go. It’s also available in a demo mode. While players won’t win money this way, it does mean that it’s possible to check out the overall gameplay, and get to grips with the way it works. As such, players are able to figure out what works for them, and even to see whether or not they actually like the game before they put their own funds into it. This option further helps to make players interested in playing the game, especially for those who have never played a crash game before and may be uncertain as to how to play.

Conclusion

Aviator is a hugely popular game and has many great features for playing it. Its easily accessible and is found on a growing number of platforms. In fact, this is another feature that makes the game so appealing — it’s available on a range of devices from phones to computers, no matter the operating system. With all these different aspects to consider, it should come as no surprise to see that the game is still popular, and in fact growing in popularity.

 

 

Microsoft Dream Space engages 300,000 young people in digital skills

At the second annual Microsoft Dream Space Showcase held in Dublin to mark the end of school year, Microsoft announced that it has engaged 300,000 young people and teachers in its immersive Microsoft Dream Space STEM experience which has been designed to help young people pursue their interest in STEM and shift their perceptions about the role technology can play in their future career choices.

This important milestone comes just 18 months after the company pledged to provide almost 1,000,000 students and their teachers across the island of Ireland with the opportunity to develop their digital and AI skills.

Over the past year, the company has introduced a suite of new programmes, which has helped to broaden the reach of Microsoft Dream Space. The company joined forces with RTÉ Learn to present Microsoft Dream Space TV: brAIn_waves – a series exploring the evolution of AI which enabled primary and post-primary students to develop their AI literacy.

The Microsoft Dream Space hub in Leopardstown also hosted the largest ‘Capture the Flag’ cybersecurity event for post-primary school students in Ireland, which sought to inspire the next generation of cyber security leaders.

To address inequalities in accessing STEM careers among post-primary students in socially disadvantaged communities, Microsoft Ireland, together with Maynooth University, Science Foundation Ireland and the Department of Education expanded the STEM Passport for Inclusion initiative nationwide with the ambition to engage a further 5,000 students.

The second annual Microsoft Dream Space Showcase held at One Microsoft Place this week brought together over 400 students from rural areas to demonstrate the many ways in which their digital skills can help to solve some of today’s sustainability challenges.

Other Microsoft Dream Space innovations introduced within the past 12 months include the expansion of the Dream Space Ambassador and Dream Space LIVE programmes, the launch of the Dream Space Minecraft Teacher Academy, the relaunch of the Dream Space Digital Academy and the roll out of bespoke Dream Space events for people with disabilities.

The continued expansion of Microsoft Dream Space builds on Microsoft’s recent commitment to help ‘Skill Up Ireland’ by providing people of all ages, experiences and ambitions with the opportunity to develop their AI fluency and skills.

James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Vice-President Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre, said: “As part of our commitment to Skill Up Ireland for the era of AI, we’re incredibly proud to have engaged 300,000 young people from across this island in our Microsoft Dream Space experience.

“With digital technology transforming our lives, work, and education, it’s crucial that every student, regardless of socio-demographics, can engage in STEM learning as early as possible and prepare for our AI future. That’s why 18 months ago, we committed an additional €3 million investment in our innovation and education hub, Microsoft Dream Space, over four years.

“As a result, we’ve been able to significantly expand our Dream Space programming and introduce new innovations to broaden its reach and impact. The significant increases in STEM interest and confidence that we’re seeing as a result, particularly among girls and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, highlight the power of the programme.

“Through the continued growth of Microsoft Dream Space, I’m confident that we can provide every student on the island of Ireland with the chance to engage in STEM and AI learning and empower the next generation of digital leaders.”

Speaking about her experience of the Dream Space Student Ambassador programme Isobel Fay, student from Our Lady of Mercy Convent School in Booterstown, said: “Since taking part in the Dream Space Ambassador programme, I’ve learned so much about new technologies like AI and how they can be used to solve different problems in society. All the training has been really helpful in boosting my confidence to speak to students and teachers at my school in Booterstown about all the interesting possibilities that we can use technology for. I’m looking forward to more Dream Space sessions in the future and continuing to learn about the latest developments in technology.”

Reflecting on the engagement of her students in the Microsoft Dream Space TV: brAIn_waves series Nathalia McCarthy a teacher from Grange Community College, Donaghmede in Dublin said: “I loved how the series was linked to the curriculum, so we were able to add it so easily to what we were already doing in the classroom. I have never seen enthusiasm like it in 1st years, 2nd years and our TY students.”

Research undertaken by Maynooth University has indicated the positive impact of Microsoft Dream Space on those who have taken part. Findings show a 42% increase in girls likely to pursue STEM careers and a 40% increase in boys with similar aspirations. Notably, socio-economically disadvantaged girls demonstrated a 30% increase in career aspirations in STEM fields and an 80% boost in confidence regarding their STEM capabilities.

Educators eager to bring this transformative STEM education experience to your students, subscribe to the monthly Dream Space newsletter to stay updated on the latest offerings and opportunities. Join us at aka.ms/dreamspacenews.