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AMTCE FET

The AMTCE FET Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Schools Project

LMETB launches Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Schools
Project for LMETB Post Primary Schools

On Thursday 20th October 2022, Minister Heather Humphreys, TD, Minister for Social Protection and Rural and Community Development launched the LMETB AMTCE FET Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Schools Project for LMETB Post Primary Schools for the 2022/2023 Academic Year in the AMTCE, Dundalk.

In attendance at the launch were CE LMETB Mr. Martin G O’ Brien, Director of Further Education and Training, Ms. Sadie Ward Mc Dermott, Director of Schools, Ms. Fiona Kindlon, Mr. Michael Mc Grath, Technical Director of the AMTCE, Mr. John Sheridan, Chairperson of the LMETB Board, Ms. Shauna Dunlop, Director of Research, Data and Strategic Engagement, SOLAS, Senator Gerard Craughwell, Principals, Deputy Principals, Guidance Counsellors, Technology Department Coordinators and Transition Year Co-ordinators from LMETB Schools and Colleges.

The AMTCE FET Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Schools Project forms an intrinsic part of LMETB’s vision for training the next generation of students. The project which is a collaboration between the FET and Schools Directorates in LMETB is being offered as part of the FET structured Pathways and Transitioning opportunities for students and learners to participate in and experience FET. The aim is to inspire students to consider high-skilled STEM careers, and to broaden teachers’ views of the careers on offer.

The AMTCE Further Education and Training (FET) Advanced Manufacturing Pathways Schools Project programme includes a combination of activities including visits in to the school, visits out to the AMTCE and other research centres, brainstorming sessions with groups of students, idea generation, concept and prototype development and practical workshops.

Through engagement with the project, the programme’s project challenge introduces students and teachers to real-world applications of STEM and technologies used in advanced manufacturing, enabling both teachers and students to learn new skills that allow them to better contextualise what is taught in schools with the requirements of the modern workplace.

Students also have opportunities to interact with engineers from diverse backgrounds, highlighting potential career paths available to them in all areas of STEM, whilst teachers also have the opportunity to upskill in design software and 3D printing technologies. The project incorporates the latest technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Robotics and as part of the programme there is also a focus on the importance of and skills of cyber security.

The project which was piloted in four LMETB Post Primary schools in the last academic year is now being rolled out across all LMETB Post Primary Schools for the 2022/2023 academic year as part of the Transition Year Programme.

Further information on the programme is available by emailing [email protected] Further information on LMETB is available on www.lmetb.ie and further information on the AMTCE is available on www.amtce.ie

STATE OF THE ART FACILITIES

News

Principals and Deputy Principals from LMETB Schools Martin G O Brien CE Fiona Kindlon Director of Schools Sadie Ward Mc Dermott Director of FET Shauna Dunlop Director of Research Data and Strategic Engagement SOLAS

Paul Harkin Technology Department Bush Post Primary School Michael Mc Grath Technical Director AMTCE John Sheridan Chairperson of LMETB Board Sheena Gartland Programme Coordinator Bush Post Primary School

Minister Heather Humphreys meets students from St. Oliver’s Community College

John Sheridan Chair of the LMETB Board with students from St. Oliver’s Community College Drogheda

John Sheridan Chair of the LMETB Board with students from Bush Post Primary School

Guidance Counsellors, Technology Teachers TY coordinators from LMETB Schools with CE Director of FET and Director of Schools LMETB

Fiona Kindlon Director of Schools, Minister Humphreys, Martin G O’ Brien CE, Sadie Ward Mc Dermott Director of FET and Shauna Dunlop, Director of Research, Data and Strategic Engagement, SOLAS

Audience