Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT ) and Midlands Science have announced a new strategic alliance to jointly promote science education and careers across the Midlands region.
This agreement will see an expert panel from across the institute’s disciplines and Midlands Science working together cooperatively on science education and skills development and outreach. This will include expert mentoring programmes and workshops for schools, targeted activities during Science Week, and a joint promotion of science, engineering, technology and maths (STEM ) outreach activities across secondary schools in the Midlands.
Dr Don Faller, dean of faculty of science and health, said: “STEM is becoming more and more important in everyone’s daily life as we approach the third decade of the 21st century. Science is everywhere, from the discovery and development of new medicines and medical devices to attempts to understand of how the universe was formed. Technology is continuously evolving all around us, from electric cars to mobile smart devices and the development of alternatives to climate-changing fossil fuels.
“Within the faculty of science and health at AIT, we continue in our mission to develop a wide range of employment-focused science and health programmes to equip 21st century graduates with knowledge, skills and competence to participate in and contribute to Ireland’s industrial and technological future. Our new link with Midlands Science underpins our strategic aim to engage with regional business, enterprise and social communities and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership over the coming years.”
Jackie Gorman, CEO of Midlands Science, said: ‘We are proud to have AIT as a new strategic partner and are currently in the process of agreeing an overarching framework with clearly defined objectives which will flow into a series of seminars, workshops and information days which will take place across the region. Teaming up with the region’s award winning higher education provider, we believe we can make great strides and build on the work we have been doing in science education promotion here in the Midlands since 2008.
“AIT already has a huge focus on developing talent in the region and Midlands Science shares this vision. This partnership will play a key role in ensuring that we work with and reach as many schools, students and parents as possible in the coming years towards the furtherance of STEM skills development for our future economic growth here in the Midlands.”
