Over 1600 Transition Year and 5th Year students from across the Mid-West region virtually attended the Junior Health Sciences Academy ‘Early Careers’ Event on March 2nd and 3rd. Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s Schools Division worked with the Health Sciences Academy, a partnership between University of Limerick, the UL Hospitals Group and the HSE Mid West Community Healthcare Organisation, in organising the highly successful event. Limerick Education Centre promoted the event throughout the Limerick, Tipperary and Clare network of schools. Due to the ongoing restrictions caused by COVID-19, the event took place online via Zoom.
The virtual event provided information on careers in health for students; with a combination of videos, interactive online discussions, questions and answers and panellist discussions. The concept for the event was jointly developed by the Health Sciences Academy at University of Limerick and the ETB’s Schools Division as a collaborative response to reach out to schools and students, particularly those students in Transition Year, who cannot visit hospitals or other clinical settings for work experience. It was designed to be as informative and interactive as possible, showcasing healthcare as a possible career path for Transition Year students. The event was informed through desktop research, focus groups of students and teachers in Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board schools and the wider involvement of Limerick Education Centre.
The over 1,600 students attending the webinars heard from healthcare staff who are working in hospital and community settings, describing their day, their career journey and advice for anyone interested in pursuing healthcare as a career. Students also heard from students in University of Limerick who are studying health sciences programmes, such as nursing, midwifery, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, psychology and paramedic studies. University of Limerick staff also contributed to the two-day event to give some advice on course entry requirements.
Speaking following the event, Donncha Ó Treasaigh, Director of Schools, said: “I would like to thank all staff in the Health Sciences Academy, the UL Hospitals Group and the HSE Mid West Community Healthcare Organisation in committing to develop this engaging and highly informative event for Transition Year students across the region.” The Early Careers event also included very enjoyable ‘fireside chats’ with GAA PWC Hurler of the Year, and a former student of Castletroy College and University of Limerick, Gearóid Hegarty, as well as Naomi Carroll who plays with the Irish Hockey Team. Both are teachers in Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board schools; Gearóid teaches in Desmond College, Newcastle West, and Naomi teaches in Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh in Limerick City.
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