2. Remember when you were small and you could have dreams of being anything you wanted to be when you grew up, before life and reality got in the way?
What did you dream of becoming? What changed in the interim?
Today’s session is all about going back to that time in your life and thinking about what happened between then and your teenage years, when you had to pick school subjects and make choices about what you were going to do after you were finished with secondary school. Where did you get your information about life afterschool or what path to pursue? Who was there to advise you? How did you make your decisions and what was influencing you at the time?
Going back over those thought processes will help you to better identify with your teenage audience. Put yourself into their shoes to imagine what personal insights you could share with them now, things you wished you’d known that might have also benefited you, when you were in school or at that same age. Remember, this is all about telling your own story – which is the story you know best!

3. Introductions Your turn!
Introduce yourself (4 brief points about your career to-date).
Do you have previous experience of volunteering?
What do you want from today’s session?
Why did you choose a career in Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths (STEM)? Best thing about your job?
A quick skip around the room, attendees introducing themselves to the group!

4. Smart Futures
Smart Futures is a Government initiative working with industry, research and education partners to promote STEM careers to post-primary students in Ireland.
Objective is to grow awareness and improve perceptions of what people working in STEM do and what skills they use/require.
Aim is to encourage students to consider/retain STEM subjects at post- primary and third level and improve the coordination of outreach resources.
Note: Smart Futures focuses on getting volunteers to engage with students in secondary schools rather than primary schools. While inspiring young children with role models at primary school is hugely important, our main aim with this programme is to support Junior Cycle students before they make their final Senior Cycle subject choices, and Senior Cycle students preparing to leave school.

5. Smart Futures
Co-ordinated by the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme and Engineer’s Ireland STEPS programme, with partners such as PharmaChem Ireland, Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics and ICT Ireland etc.
It’s important to acknowledge who is behind Smart Futures – partners?
Be aware that as a volunteer you’re part of a bigger network than just this organisation.
We can create a stronger programme by working together – this allows us to identify gaps and evaluate well.

6. STEM careers in Ireland
Starting salaries for STEM graduates up to €3Ok
(Hons Bachelor Degree level, Computer Science / ICT grads highest earners - 62% earning €29,000 or more)
50k+ people employed in PharmaChem (50% third-level qualified)
9 of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies (50k+ employed)
100+ MedTech companies. Ireland is the second largest exporter of MedTech products in Europe
Ireland’s BioPharma sector employs 28,000 people in Ireland, and this is set to grow to 33,000 by 2020
230k jobs linked to agri-food sector (30k more expected)
You’ll be asked how much do you earn, you don’t have to say, but indicate the average starting salary and highlight opportunities to move up or continue training etc.
Point out to students that technology underpins all STEM sectors and their skills requirements!
Over 50,000 people directly and indirectly employed in PharamChem, 50% of whom hold a third-level qualification.
18 of the world's top 25 medtech companies have a base in Ireland
51% of 2014 Honours Bachelor Degree graduates command a salary of more than €25k (compared to 48% of last year’s cohort).
Graduate engineers can earn between €28,000 per annum with the possibility of increasing to €38,000 per annum after 3 years.
The largest proportion of Computer Science/ICT (25%) and Engineering (23%) graduates are earning between €29,000 and €33,000.
Research Assistant (Level 1) start on €21,850 / Post-doc researcher (Level 2) €37,750 / Research Fellow €51,716 / Snr Research Fellow up to €65k
Average Industrial Wage in Ireland is €43,102, however low skilled workers in hotel and food sector earn approx. €16,932 pa. Fewer chances to progress
Average annual earnings in ICT sector rose 10% to €53, (CSO figures) compared to incomes in the healthcare and social work sector, which fell by 9.7% to €35,763 in same period
National agri-food strategy Food Harvest 2020 which aims to create 30,000 new jobs (IBEC
Use facts and figures as you see fit.

7. STEM careers in Ireland
Ireland's top 10 multinational employers include Intel, IBM, Microsoft and Google
100k+ employed in the tech sector (730+ Irish digital tech companies)
In 2015, 67% of ICT firms increased headcount and 75% increased salaries. In 2016, 95% of firms plan to increase headcount and 96% plan to increase salaries. 44.5k jobs in ICT forecast ( )
Only 19% of ICT firms have an average employee tenure of greater than 5 years, indicating the fluidity of the market, candidates working in this sector can expect good opportunities and competition for their talents
Computer science/ICT graduates are in high demand, with the highest proportion of graduates employed in Ireland at 66%.
Other info:
We want students to know where there are jobs and to have a clear idea about the skillsets required
1000+ companies employ technical staff in sectors like digital media, eRetail, life sciences, cybersecurity, financial services etc.
Analytics, Big Data, cybersecurity, mobile apps, cloud computing and high tech manufacturing identified as key growth areas
40% of ICT (Information and Communications technology) professionals are employed across other (non-ICT) sectors of the economy
The ICT sector is growing 4 times faster than any other sector Ireland
Employment in ICT up 30% last 10 years (Vs 0.05% in other areas)
There could be up to 825,000 unfilled vacancies for ICT professionals by 2020 (
Second UPC Report on Ireland’s Digital Economy – 66% of SMEs will require analytics skills, 37% social media skills, 41% programming skills, 34% expect to require digital marketing skills.
- Tailor this info to suit different audiences you are talking to.
Pick two stats to throw out to a class as an ice-breaker or use as quiz questions!
Computer science/ICT graduates are in high demand, with the highest proportion of graduates employed in Ireland at 66% (

8. Leaving Cert Higher + Ordinary Design & Communication
Why now?
Leaving Cert Higher + Ordinary
2014
2015
Maths
52,382
53,570
Biology
32,956
33,865
Chemistry
8,604
8,938
Physics and Chemistry
466
552
Physics
7,177
7,508
Engineering
5,203
5,376
Applied Maths
1,706
1,919
Technology
1,102
1,327
Design & Communication
5,354
5,362
Agricultural Science
7,926
7,672
Still big imbalance in the number of students pursuing biology and the physical sciences in post-primary schools.
Number taking maths above includes higher level, ordinary level and foundation level
Numbers taking higher maths: 31% in 2015 (27% in 2014: 16% dropped to ordinary level on the day
47% of higher level maths students are female (2015)
84% of chemistry students took higher level (2015)
75% of all physics Leaving Cert students (ordinary and higher) are male (2015)
60% of all biology Leaving Cert students (ordinary and higher) are female (2015)
25% of all applied maths Leaving Cert students (ordinary and higher) are female (2015)
6% of all engineering Leaving Cert students (ordinary and higher) are female (2015)
466 students took phys-chem (H+O level) in 2014, 522 students took phys-chem in (H+O Level) in 2015
IoP: ¼ second-level schools still not offering physics at Leaving Certificate level.
*Engineering figure does not include construction studies (8,268 H+O 2015, 8% of all construction study students are female)
17% of all technology students (H + O level) are female (2015)
12% of all design and communication students (H + O level) are female (2015)
For info on increases and decreases in CAO 1st preference applications to STEM-related courses, visit:

9. Challenges
Not enough students are taking STEM subjects – we want to change that – but there are some challenges.
It can be an up hill struggle to change perceptions among teachers / students / society
Some cultural stigmas / stereotypes still exist
To change perceptions people need real life context and to meet real people working in STEM careers
Cuts in funding and lack of resources present challenges for schools – some subjects not available
Students think they have to be a mathematical genius to work in science.
Perception of being stuck in front of a computer or in a lab all the time.
You are part of the solution!

10. Benefits of Volunteering?
Why do people volunteer? What are the benefits for volunteer/organisation /school/ community
Highlight the motivating factors for volunteers
Volunteering = A chance to be role models /career influencers
Volunteering = An opportunity to challenge perceptions and break stereotypes!
Highlight it on your linkedin profile / add to your CV / increase self confidence / improve comms skills / feel good
Ripple effect
Positive for community as well as organisation – raise awareness / give something back / engage / address skills shortages / invest in people /
keep it local / CSR / improve scientific literacy / collaborate
Help make curriculum relevant – real world applications

11. Communication: consider your audience
How would you present to a student group?
How to present to a primary school audience?
How to present to a post-primary school audience?
How is technology relevant to the group in question?
What questions would you expect from the group?
Public speaking is easy…right?!
It’s all about preparation -

12. Great public speaking is…?
Use humour, personal stories and conversational language – don’t patronise!
Practice with a timer and allow time for questions.
Project your voice, don’t mumble - be heard!
Be personable, ask students direct questions, use first names.
Connect with teacher pre-visit to agree content, pitch, age group etc.
Use ice-breakers and consider your audience.
Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.
Toastmasters Tips for great public speaking
Connecting with the teacher before will allow you to manage their expectations and ensure you are well prepared (discuss timing, equipment, age-group, ability, content matter, hands-on activity or not etc. before the day of the visit)
Tailor your message and language to suit the audience! Would you use the same language for a primary school group as a post primary group?
Post primary- what questions do they expect to be asked?
What kind of props could you use/bring?
Activity ideas for students? ‘One thing science or tech gives us that you couldn’t live without?’ or ask students to work in groups for 5 minutes to write down any job relating to technology they might like to do!

13. Volunteer Tips for Success
Be yourself!
Consider your clothes, body language, and tone
Buddy up
Connect with teacher before visit
Keep it informal and avoid acronyms/
jargon!
Reflect
Classroom
pre/post
talk survey
Remember to praise.
Every idea is a good idea!
So, we’ve gone through some general tips on communicating and looked at why volunteering is beneficial and important.
After break we will go through the actual presentation you can use on visits, talk about child protection issues and discuss the process of how we manage school requests and booking visits.
Enjoy!
Bring props

14. What’s next?
Training workshop follow-up (with a link to set up SMARTsteps profile)
Schools register via SmartFutures.ie + post requests to map
Volunteers login to SMARTsteps to access school requests map
Click on requests to get more info + accept any you can deliver
Auto goes to teacher and volunteer – exchanging your contact info
Contact teacher + agree time/date + update event details on SMARTsteps
Reminder /SMS go to you and the teacher before visit
Post-school visit: brief feedback survey sent to teacher and volunteer
Outline the support available for all volunteers
Visits are tracked and evaluated via the SMARTsteps portal
Presentation slides available on the volunteers section of – find this under ‘RESOURCES’ as well as infographics, policy docs etc.
If volunteers get asked directly to do a visit (by family member etc.) they can do so but the school must still be registered with us / once school is registered we can link the volunteer to that school and set up those visits

15. School requests mapped
Commitment: two school visits per year
School requests mapped
This is a view of the map of school’s that have made requests
Teachers / volunteers can update the date and details in the system if something changes or visit is postponed etc.
Select any talk you feel you can carry out and later agree date with the teacher

16. Dos and Don’ts Information on Child protection and other issues
Read and sign Smart Futures child protection sheet
Garda vetting is not required BUT teacher must stay in
the room at all times!
Photos cannot be taken without seeking prior consent
Never share/circulate your personal contact information
with students – you can liaise via the teacher/school
Never accept a friend request from students on social media
Volunteers read and sign the terms and conditions sheet – pass this around
Volunteers cannot be added to the database and sent on visits without this!
Never let a teacher leave you alone with students – teachers will be told this beforehand as well
Do not take photos at the session of children unless you have permission of guardians
These tips are important – it is not your job to discipline the class!
For info: Smart Futures volunteers are exempt from Garda vetting requirements, as set out in the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012
Section 3 (1) of the Act states "this Act shall not apply to .....the giving of assistance by an individual on an occasional basis and for no commercial consideration at a school, sports or community event, other than where such assistance includes coaching, mentoring, counselling, teaching or training of children."
It is illegal to ask volunteers to be vetted where their volunteering activity does not require it. This programme exemption has been endorsed by Volunteer Ireland and the Dept. of Justice in Ireland.
In keeping with best practice, volunteers carrying out more than 8 visits per year will be asked to be vetted, which will be processed via Volunteer Ireland.

17. FEEDBACK SURVEY!
Collect sign up forms
Register volunteers to CRM
Issue thank you follow up (with career profile template)