Involvement by engineering firms in STEM-based outreach activities within their local communities is vital to develop Ireland’s future engineering talent pipeline, Ireland’s professional body for engineering has said. 

Speaking ahead of STEPS Engineers Week, Ireland’s largest celebration of the engineering profession, taking place from March 5-11, Caroline Spillane, director general of Engineers Ireland, joined Joe English, Intel Ireland factory manager, to emphasise the important role of engineering organisations within their communities to support future talent growth. 

“STEM skills have tangible, practical, and immediate applications for our daily lives and we must highlight opportunities to foster these skills at primary and secondary level to empower and develop the next generation of engineering talent in Ireland”, said Spillane. 

Caoimhe Ní Chorragáin and Logan Finnegan at Scoil Chearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh, Leixlip

'Encourage industry to partner with local primary and secondary schools'

“During STEPS Engineers Week, we encourage industry to partner with local primary and secondary schools to help spark students’ imagination about STEM. By affording students with opportunities to engage with engineering role models or to experience a real-life engineering setting, industry can provide hands-on immersive learning experiences and showcase the limitless opportunities a career in the sector can offer.”

For more than three years, Intel Ireland has been a strategic partner of Engineers Ireland’s STEPS programme. In addition to STEPS Engineers Week, Intel also encourages employees to take an active role in a variety of STEM outreach, such as judging the STEPS Young Engineers Award primary school competition,  running their Intel Mini Scientist competition and presenting to Transition Year students at interactive career talks. 

Intel Ireland factory manager Joe English said: “Working together with local communities, and in particular with schools, is something that we value and prioritise at Intel. In 2021 alone, Intel employees volunteered almost 50,000 hours to support schools across Ireland.

"Much of this time is spent encouraging students at a young age to see the possibility of STEM, and to give them the chance to have a positive, hands-on learning experience that can shape their future perspectives and ultimately their career choices.

"STEPS Engineers Week provides a very important opportunity for us to further connect with students and to share our insight into the world of engineering with them. This year we are also very excited to have the chance to host our Mini Scientist grand final - a competition for primary school students - in the same week.

'Time and commitment'

“We are grateful to Intel Ireland and their employees for their time and commitment to our STEPS programme. By interacting with their local communities, Intel employees help to bring the fascinating world of engineering to life in classrooms across Ireland. These interactions can help to ignite a passion and curiosity for STEM which in turn could lead to a future career for many.” 

L-R: Joe English Intel Ireland factory manager; Caroline Spillane, director general of Engineers Ireland and Ann-Marie Holmes, vice-president of Intel’s manufacturing, supply chain and operations group and co general manager of Fab Sort Manufacturing at Intel Corporation

Pat Ennis, an engineer at Intel, is one of thousands of Intel volunteers based in Ireland. Reflecting on their previous STEPS Engineers Week experience and the importance of volunteering. He said: “I love volunteering at the schools – it’s the excitement they have for the simplest things that makes it special – a straw bridge or a balloon rocket gets their imagination running wild and they are visibly giddy with delight.

"The kids are so interested and genuinely want to learn more about engineering and our work at Intel when we start discussing what we do in Intel. The questions they ask would fill a day of discussion and their interest reminds me how special it is to work with such technology every day."

Spillane called on engineers and the wider engineering community to access free downloadable resources and play an active role in this year’s STEPS Engineers Week. She encouraged the profession to “engage with primary and secondary schools in their locality to showcase to students the amazing way Irish engineers are pushing the limits of ingenuity and innovation".

To find out more about STEPS Engineers Week and to download free resources, including engineering activities, interactive shows and documentaries, visit: https://www.engineersireland.ie/schools/engineers-week