Futurewize

Futurewize is a collaboration between second and third-level education and STEM industries targeting first and fourth year second-level students (13 and 16-year-olds). Futurewize encourages and retains interest in STEM, first year students participate in Futurewize, a five module STEM programme facilitated in class, virtually or in person, by volunteers from STEM industries, culminating in a career planning session. Through Futurewize, students learn about aeronautical engineering, forensic and environmental science through interactive activities and experiments inspiring curiosity and confidence in the scientific method
Fourth year students participate in Futurewize Third-Level taking them out of their classrooms and into third-level institutes to meet relevant STEM role models who help them to:
– understand the prospectus
– participate in STEM careers workshops facilitated by STEM industry role models
– learn how Third Levels are addressing health and societal issues created by Covid-19
– create a SMART plan for their futures.
Developed via co-creation with key stakeholders, Futurewize Third-Level encourages 16-year-old students to take STEM subjects for their final exams, understand the scope of STEM careers, how STEM solves global/societal issues and breaks down negative stereotypes around STEM careers.
Futurewize Targets:
– 60% female participants
– 60% participants attend DEIS schools (research demonstrates females and students attending DEIS schools are less engaged with STEM).
– 7,593 students
In 2021-2022 5,993 first year students will continue to receive Futurewize and 1,600 fourth year students will participate in Futurewize Third-Level. Importantly Futurewize Third-Level targets those first year students who participated in Futurewize in 2018/19.