DkIT Collaborates with Dundalk Company for All Ireland STEM Outreach Initiative

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) are proud to report that they are participating in a STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Maths) Outreach initiative with primary and secondary school kids on both sides of the Border. Gareth Kelly a lecturer from the School of Engineering in DkIT recently attended a media launch for a STEM outreach partnership the Institute has been working on with South Eastern Regional College (SERC). As part of this project DkIT have collaborated with a local media company called The Unit which is based in Dundalk.

The Unit is a Software Development company which specialise in developing products for the betting, gaming and sports sectors and they have been collaborating with customers from across the globe since 2017.

Mark O’Hare, Head of Business Development & Account Management, The Unit, said “The Unit was delighted to work with DkIT and Gareth Kelly on the Bridge Designer Project. It’s a fantastic initiative and we’re delighted to see a project we have contributed to benefitting the schools in our community. We have strong ties with Dundalk Institute of Technology with several graduates of the college working in our Dundalk office, so it was great to have been given the opportunity to grow that partnership through this project and we look forward to further collaboration in the years to come”.  

DKIT Bridge Designer is free software for use in schools and at home where students can design and test their own bridges. The students have to contend with loads, material strengths and construction cost just like real engineers. the software was part of a national competition in America, but with the help of the team from The Unit, DKIT can now bring it to schools all over Ireland.

DkIT has a long and noteworthy legacy of engaging in school Outreach in their region, so this new initiative is now part of their many STEM offerings to local primary and secondary schools.

Gareth Kelly noted ““for over 50 years DKIT has taught Engineers who have gone on to be industry leaders all over Ireland and the world. We are committed continuing that legacy by bringing all our STEM outreach workshops and festivals to primary and secondary classrooms. By engaging with our future engineers at as early stage as possible, we are helping to nurture an interest in engineering that can lead the students into an exciting and fulfilling career”.

DkIT now has an exciting range of outreach programmes for both primary and secondary schools which can be accessed through the Institutes website. Visit the School of Engineering’s outreach portal https://www.dkit.ie/p/engineering-outreach-at-dkit.html