NCI’s Spring Graduation on the 4th of April 2025, is the ideal opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of the second cohort of graduates in the Certificate in P-TECH.
These students graduate with a QQI Level 6 Higher Education Award delivered within the post primary system, under the auspices of National College of Ireland. This is the second year that P-TECH graduates have been celebrated at graduation, and all involved are looking forward to seeing the next steps of this excellent cohort.
Last year’s Graduation on the 12th of April 2024 was a wonderful day of firsts as it was the first time that the achievements of our new graduates in the Certificate in P-TECH were recognised and applauded during the ceremony, and it marked the first time in which a QQI Level 6 Higher Education Award had been delivered within the post primary system, under the auspices of National College of Ireland.
About P-TECH
P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) is an innovative model of education and industry collaboration that was first developed in 2011 in the USA by IBM and local educators. The P-TECH education initiative in Ireland was launched in Dublin’s North-East Inner City (NEIC) as a pilot programme in 2018.
Designed to tackle educational disadvantage, this initiative was created with the aims of providing secondary students in the area with an enriching educational experience that will enable them to develop skills, realise their potential as learners, and to connect with new learning and career pathways beyond school. The model combines second-level school education with elements of third-level education and work experiences such as mentorship and internships.
National College of Ireland works with industry partners and schools to reimagine the original US-based P-TECH model and design a new curriculum tailored to complement the Irish education system. The Certificate in P-TECH was developed as a new programme to provide second-level school students with a range of skills and experiences that will help their development, future learning, and future career. This programme introduces students to new ways to develop knowledge, digital skills, and work experience.
Collaborating with the community
P-TECH is a collaborative initiative that is supported by the NEIC Programme Implementation Board, the Department of Education, and the Department of the Taoiseach.
National College of Ireland is the Higher Education provider, working with local secondary schools, Larkin Community College, Marino College, St Joseph’s Fairview, and more recently Rosmini and O’Connell’s, alongside industry partners, IBM Ireland, Cisco, Virgin Media, Uisce Éireann, Irish Life, Salesforce, A&L Goodbody, SAS, Irish Rail, Deloitte, and Business in the Community.
Interested in P-TECH?
The Certificate in P-TECH programme is delivered in senior cycle from Transition Year (TY) to 6th Year. P-TECH provides students with foundational skills and a bridge to their future employability and learning by introducing students to digital skills, business knowledge, 21st Century transferable competencies, and tools for personal development.
The Certificate in P-TECH is a QQI Level 6 Special Purpose Award (10 ECTs) which is comprised of two modules called Skills for Business and Career and Skills for a Digital World. The programme is delivered by P-TECH teachers and supported by industry mentors.
When reflecting on their experiences, one past student said “I learned proper work etiquette, what is acceptable in a workplace and what isn’t. I learned how to manage tasks in an efficient way and how to keep on top of my work.”
Speaking on how the programme helped students realise and connect with their own goals, another student commented that “It helped me learn more about what I want in my future and realistically how and what I need to do to achieve what I want. I also discovered simple things about myself too that you wouldn’t really think of.”
“At National College of Ireland, we are immensely proud to be the Higher Education provider, and we are delighted to be collaborating with local schools and businesses to ensure that second level students can fully engage with this innovative programme. The aims of P-TECH, specifically the aims surrounding building confidence and encouraging young people to look forward to becoming to lifelong learners aligns closely with NCI’s mission to “change lives through education.”
As we congratulate another cohort of successful P-TECH students at our Spring Graduation, we can clearly see how programmes such as this not only build confidence and inspire young people, but they also bridge the gap between second and third level education, showing these young students that there are various pathways ahead that we strive to help them access.” ~ Carrie Archer, Co- Programme Director for P-TECH at NCI.
We hope that many of these graduates will continue their learning journeys with us here at NCI. The Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Digital and Business Skills (DABS) is a joint tertiary degree developed and delivered by NCI and City of Dublin ETB as a natural progression point, applying the blended model of practical and in classroom learning familiar to our P-TECH students. You can continue reading here to learn more about DABS.
You can visit the course homepage to learn more about the Certificate in P-TECH and the delivery of the programme.
#ChangingLivesThroughEducation