Dr. Maria Kyne:

Regarding teaching, we have been trying as universities and institutes of technology to help teachers to understand engineering in particular and the different branches of it. For some guidance teachers, it is an area they have never come across. They are much more familiar with science and maths. They find it hard to understand the different types of engineering. We invite guidance counsellors every year and show them laboratories so they are familiar with what mechanical and civil engineering, etc., look like. They can then go and teach or at least advise second-level schools. The career guidance profession had its annual conference in Sligo about a week ago, at which the chair of the Explore Engineering group gave a presentation about what the group does and our showcase, in which industry displays what it does in the engineering and STEM fields, including ICT and science. Some 44 companies displayed what they do. We had an open showcase for parents and students to come and see what engineering is. We did the same thing for apprenticeships in the mid-west region in November. We invited all students from second level up to these events to see what the different apprenticeships were, so rather than talking about it, they could see what it means. It is about educating parents, students and teachers. They have all been invited. We were on Facebook in all its forms to try to sell that so that people have access to the information they need to make informed choices, for teachers, parents and students.