P-TECH was first developed in 2011 in Brooklyn, New York, by IBM and local educators. Since that time, P-TECH has grown to more than 200 schools in 27 countries across the world, with more than 600 businesses participating and over 200 college partners. In 2018, Ireland was the first country in Europe to adopt the model with 3 secondary schools in Dublin’s North East Inner City. Scoil Iósaif is proud to be one of the first P-TECH schools in Europe.
P-TECH stands for pathways in technology. This innovative programme has been developed with a focus on digital economy jobs. These jobs include some of the technology industry’s fastest growing fields, from cybersecurity and cloud computing to cognitive business and digital design. P-tech is implemented into our curriculum through robotics and coding lessons but student’s also develop highly relevant workplace skills, such as collaboration, communication and creativity as well as professional and technical skills. Students at Scoil Iósaif are getting early exposure to what their future might look like in this new digital economy, setting our students apart from the rest of the country.
In Ireland, P-TECH is a partnership between the Department of Education & Skills, NEIC, NCI (National College of Ireland), IBM, Cisco, Irish Life, Irish Water and Virgin Media. We are delighted to be partnered with IBM & Cisco here in Scoil Iósaif. They provide employee mentors for our students from 1st year P-TECH right through to 6th year. P-TECH has generated a lot of interest and enthusiasm among students, particularly the prospect of working with new technology and learning what it’s like to work in large multinational companies through paid internships, which are available to every student in transition year. Furthermore, students have the opportunity to leave school with credits towards a full QQI Level 6 qualification, a third level qualification, on successful completion of the programme, an opportunity which is invaluable.
Being a P-TECH student in Scoil Iósaif means we support your child for the future of his choosing, whatever that may be.
