Engaging with the community, as well as primary and secondary school students, is a key part of the REEdI Project. These outreach activities help raise awareness not only of the REEdI initiative but also of engineering, the broader STEM disciplines, and the opportunities available at Munster Technological University.

Throughout the year, the REEdI team hosts and takes part in a range of outreach activities including school visits, TY Taster Programmes, the STEPS Engineering Your Future (EYF) programme, and Engineer’s Week.

Kerry Careers Evening

 

Some members of the REEdI team attended the Kerry Careers Evening at Killarney Community College, where they had the opportunity to meet prospective students and their families. The event provided a valuable platform to showcase the innovative REEdI Engineering programme, share insights about the unique blend of academic learning and practical experience it offers, and answer questions about future career opportunities in STEM. Engaging directly with students allowed the team to highlight how REEdI supports the next generation of engineers through industry partnerships, hands-on learning, and a future-focused approach to education.

 

 

STEPS Engineering Your Future (EYF)

The REEdI@MTU team had the pleasure of hosting Transition Year students from a range of schools for the Engineers Ireland STEPS Engineering Your Future (EYF) experience. Held over three days at the School of STEM on the MTU Kerry Campus and the AgriTech Centre of Excellence (ACE), the event gave students a hands-on introduction to the world of engineering. Participants engaged in a variety of STEM-focused activities including lectures, interactive workshops, immersive tech demonstrations, campus tours and an industry visit. The programme offered a unique opportunity for students to explore engineering in an applied and engaging environment, while gaining insight into potential career paths. We hope the experience sparked curiosity and ambition, and we look forward to welcoming some of these future engineers back to MTU in the years to come.

 

School Visits

At REEdI, school visits are a vital part of how we engage with the bright young minds we aim to empower. These visits give us the opportunity to connect face-to-face with learners, introduce them to the REEdI programme, and showcase the many opportunities it offers for their personal and academic growth. By being present in schools, we’re able to share our vision, answer questions, and encourage participation amongst students.

Strengthening our connection with school communities is crucial for REEdI as it promotes our project as well as engineering, STEM, and Munster Technological University. Here are the schools we were lucky to attend over the past six months:

  • Coláiste na Ríochta, Listowel
  • St. Michael’s College, Listowel
  • Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School, Tralee
  • St. Pat’s Secondary School, Castleisland.
  • Presentation Secondary School, Milltown
  • Coláiste Gleann Lí, Tralee
  • Desmond College ETB, Newcastle West
  • Midleton CBS Secondary School
  • Coachford College, Co. Cork

 

Transition Year Taster Week

REEDI@MTU was delighted to welcome Transition Year students from nine secondary schools across Kerry for a dynamic TY placement programme. This initiative is a key part of our outreach and engagement calendar, designed to give students a practical and inspiring introduction to engineering.

More than 20 students took part, engaging in a range of hands-on activities and interactive sessions. From prototyping with LEGO® Serious Play to tackling real-world engineering challenges, participants experienced what it’s like to study engineering at MTU and gained valuable insight into the field.

This placement offered a meaningful stepping stone for students exploring future pathways in STEM. We look forward to hopefully welcoming many of them back to MTU through the MT834 programme in the years ahead.

 

CBS The Green Visits MTU Kerry Campus for SciFest 2025 Project

Students from CBS The Green visited the MTU Kerry campus as part of their SciFest 2025 project titled “A Comparative Study of Virtual Reality versus Traditional Classroom Methods in the Design and Development of a Rube Goldberg Machine.”

The visit formed part of their project research and engagement, providing an opportunity to explore their theme in a higher education setting.

 

Engineers Ireland Table – Engineers Week 2025

Students Karina Falvey, Rachel Creedon, Méabh Trindle ran an Engineers Ireland Table at MTU Kerry Campus as part of Engineers Week 2025. They are actively encouraging students to become members of Engineers Ireland so they can begin building a network of peers, employers and industry professionals to enhance career development

 

STEM Passports

REEdI@MTU were delighted to attend the graduation ceremony at MTU Kerry, celebrating the incredible achievements of young women from secondary schools across Ireland.

Rachel Creedon, a student engineer on the MT834 BEng (Hons) in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering programme at the Kerry Campus, shared her journey into STEM and engineering, providing insights to the STEM Passport graduates.

500 students received their awards on campus, bringing MTU’s total graduates to 1,500 and contributing to a national total of 5,000. These students are future leaders in fields such as astrophysics, biomedical engineering, data science, veterinary biosciences, neurobiology and chemical engineering.

Students who completed the STEM Passport earned 50 CAO points, which can be applied to STEM programmes at third level, including the BEng in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (MT834) with REEdI.

This initiative, founded by Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan, is dedicated to expanding access to STEM education for young women, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. The programme combines hands-on STEM learning, innovation skills and mentoring, which are also key components of the MT834 course at MTU.