SERC receives funding grant to develop STEM teaching in primary schools

Recent research carried out by the College and the University identified that current educational teaching models in place at primary schools contribute to the continuing lack of females entering the engineering industry.

The vital funding will be used to prepare and introduce essential, prepared primary school lessons and exciting STEM-based classroom activities to encourage young girls to explore the many qualities of engineering.

The project will build on the success of previous SERC projects, such as the ‘We Can Engineer it’ workshops, which were introduced at the College last year. The eventual aim of the funding will be to increase the gender diversity in the engineering sector across Ireland.

Aine McGreeghan, Engineering Curriculum Manager said: “We are delighted to have received funding from the All-Island fund in partnership with the University of Limerick to encourage STEM teaching in primary schools.

"Currently, the engineering industry is heavily male dominated, with just 20.1% of the overall workforce being women, so it is important to address this gender imbalance and remove the barriers facing females pursuing a career in this field.

“We ran several ‘We Can Engineer It’ workshops for young girls in SERC last year, in order to raise awareness of Engineering as an option and help develop STEM skills.

"This is a fantastic initiative to build on and will help to implement effective STEM teaching models across primary schools in Northern Ireland in the future, driving further skills and economic growth.”