An initiative to increase access to careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) for post-primary students in socially disadvantaged communities is to be expanded.
Maynooth University, together with Microsoft Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and the Department of Education, have announced the STEM Passport for Inclusion programme is to be extended nationwide and will include a further 5,000 students.
The scheme was launched two years ago and combines an educational qualification, education supports and mentoring from industry role models.
It is designed to provide a pathway for students to progress to third level education and achieve a STEM qualification.
Since the launch of the pilot programme 1,250 students have participated.
The national expansion of the programme was announced at the 2023 STEM Passport for Inclusion graduation, which took place at Maynooth University.
Minister for Education, Norma Foley welcomed the announcement: "Following the success of the pilot, I am pleased with the expansion of the programme nationwide to support more students from socially disadvantaged communities to consider STEM within school and as they make their journey into the world of work," Ms Foley said.
Dr Katriona O'Sullivan, Digital Skills Lecturer at Maynooth University, said that the impact of the STEM Passport for Inclusion initiative has been far reaching.
"We are hugely excited to be able to roll the initiative out nationwide across academic years 2023 to 2025, we currently have 2,000 students from DEIS schools registered in three universities taking the module," Dr O’Sullivan said.
Microsoft is the STEM Passport for Inclusion’s lead industry partner, having contributed €600,000 in match funding to date.
"We are thrilled that the STEM Passport for Inclusion initiative is being rolled out nationwide and that it will continue to address inequalities in access to STEM careers among post-primary students in socially disadvantaged communities," said James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Vice-President Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre.
Dr Abigail Ruth Freeman, Director, Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland said the initiative opens access to STEM skills and careers for students from a diverse range of backgrounds and communities.
"The pilot programme has been highly successful, with a significant increase in the number of participating students planning on studying STEM at third level," she said.
