“TY Talks 21” opens up the world of work to TY students across Ireland

Thousands of transition year students will today take part in a special virtual event that will enable them to gain valuable insights into the world of work from leading companies across Ireland. Following over a year of remote learning and Covid disruptions to the workplace, transition year students have missed out on the opportunity to engage in practical work experience and the chance to fully develop the professional, personal and social skills that such experiences deliver.  

“TY Talks 21” is an online immersive conference, delivered by Ibec and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals in Ireland (NAPD), that opens up the opportunities of transition year to schools across the country. The event looks to inspire and inform the next generation of students at a crucial juncture of their young academic journeys and offer them a preview of the world of work, the future of work, the essential 21st century skills and the varied education pathways open to them.

Ibec Director of Membership & Sectors, Sharon Higgins said: “The advent of technology, digitalisation and increasing globalisation has increasingly shaped how we work in recent times and it is more important than ever for our young people to gain insights and experience into the world of work as it increasingly evolves. 

“Through TY Talks, we want to highlight to students the dynamic, changing world of work, and provide them with the skills and tools to discover what they are passionate about. Companies from across the broad spectrum of the Irish economy will be on hand to engage with students, sharing insights into present and future jobs, and providing advice on the career and education paths available to students. We hope that the event instils a newfound passion for these students and motivates them as they begin their Leaving Certificate cycle in the coming months.”

President of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), Michael Cregan, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Ibec on this exciting event. We want the event to employ the advantages that remote learning can provide, allowing students to engage first-hand with futurists, influencers, future young leaders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from across Ireland that otherwise may not have been possible in this capacity. It is an exciting opportunity to engage with the thousands of transition year students across Ireland and allow them to head onto the next stage of their educational journey with renewed passions and interests.”

The event platform will host an interactive and immersive virtual exhibition area, split into 3 zones:

• Under the Learning and Skills zone, students can explore 11 virtual booths that will showcase a host of information, videos and downloadable information on Apprenticeship; Further Education; Institutes of Technology; Technological University; Universities; Studying Abroad; and Study Supports.

• Our Industries zone will host 10 virtual booths, all showcasing key sectors of the Irish Economy.  Here students can download Industry Factsheets, video testimonies, and other insights from a wide range of industries including Food, Drink & Agriculture; Life Sciences; Technology & Telecoms; Engineering, Logistics and Supply Chain; Arts, Entertainment, Media; Property & Construction; Retail, Hospitality & Sport; Financial Services & Professional Services; Health, Social & Childcare; and Public Service & Civil Service

• The third zone is the Business Partners zone and this is where students will find booths from our partners Amazon Web Services, IDA, Enterprise Ireland, CPL Resources, Medtronic, Screen Ireland, Pepsico, KeepWell and Spin FM, who will be on hand to provide information about entrepreneurship, start-ups, wellbeing and industry careers and skills.

The event is supported by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Local Enterprise Office, Fís Éirean Screen Ireland, Cpl Resources and Amazon Web Services (AWS), alongside our learning and skills partners, Solas, the Higher Education Authority, Irish Universities Association and Skillnet Ireland. With thanks to our media partners The Irish Times, Spin 1038 and Spin Southwest.