MakerSpace Program Ignites the Spark of Creativity and Technology in Secondary School Students

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) have launched an inspiring MakerSpace initiative aimed at transforming the way secondary school students view careers in technology. Transition Year students from Sligo Grammer School and Ballinrobe Community School got to experiment with a range of cutting-edge equipment as the project got off to a lively start.

Managed by the Online, Flexible and Professional Development (OFPD) function and funded by Higher Education 4.0, the MakerSpace team is embarking on a journey around the ATU region, visiting secondary schools to introduce students to a captivating world where technology meets creativity.

Through interactive workshops with state-of-the-art equipment, such as laser cutters, 3D printers, vacuum formers, 3D scanners, and Internet of Things (IOT) Kits, students will explore robotics, coding, and much more, empowering them to unleash their creativity while gaining invaluable technical skills. The project aims to show that science and technology are not just subjects in a textbook but gateways to a world of innovation and career possibilities.

Noel Mulkeen, Higher Education 4.0 Innovation Manager with ATU said “Our goal is to inspire students to consider STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as more than just subjects but as potential career paths. We want to open their eyes to the endless possibilities that a career in STEM can offer, we use the term ‘Imagine it – Create it’ to show students that, with the right training, there is no limit to what they can achieve.”

Mr Hall, Headmaster, Sligo Grammer School said the workshops will help inspire students “For many of our students now is when they start to think about their future studies and this visit from ATU MakerSpace has made STEM come alive. Our pupils have been able to see, in real time, how something from their imagination can become a reality and this is a powerful message about what their future careers could be like.”

The students from Ballinrobe Community School described the experience as “Fun, not so serious and we felt like a team figuring stuff out together”.

Jack Donaghy, a student from Sligo Grammar School said “The MakerSpace workshop was awesome, I was able to experience in a real way what future Science and Technology jobs have to offer. Hearing about the ATU and how technology is used today made me excited for the future and where science and technology will take me!”.

Professor Jacqueline McCormack, VP Online, Flexible and Professional Development and EDI says, “Engaging with schools and with our community is very important to ATU, we’re delighted to be able to bring a taste of our STEM subjects to schools in a way that is engaging and inclusive.”

If you would like your school to receive a visit from the MakerSpace team visit www.atumakerspace.ie and complete the contact form.

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