Northern Ireland’s Technology & Design future under the spotlight

In June, Stranmillis University College hosted a conference entitled, The Health, Wellbeing & Future of Technology & Design in Northern Ireland.

Opening speakers included the Assistant Director for Higher Education from the Department for the Economy, Graham Miller, and CEO of Catalyst, Steve Orr OBE.

The conference attracted teachers, Heads of Department and post-primary Principals from across Northern Ireland, along with delegates from the Education Authority, CCEA, SERC, Galway University and Queen’s University, Belfast.

The organising consortium for the conference was convened in May 2024 by Stranmillis University College to include the Technology & Design tutors of Ulster University and St. Mary’s University College.

Consortium members presented a comprehensive overview of the subject’s current position and its significant potential to impact Northern Ireland’s economy and society, but also the critical threats it now faces, before detailing proposals for the subject’s future, based upon research into Project-Based Learning that has been pioneered at Stranmillis.

Conference delegates had opportunities to impact the consortium’s final report, and the consortium’s chairperson, Dr Michael Ievers BEM, concluded with a further proposal that a representative network of subject professionals should be established.

The consortium aims to present its final report in the autumn of 2025.