Business Education Links Programme

IBEC launched its nationwide Business and Education Links Programme in October 1995. The aims of the programme are to improve the image of and focus on business in the education system and to help students to make the transition from second-level school to the world of work or further education. Since October 1995 the programme has grown and developed on a bottom up basis and it continues to develop in response to needs expressed by schools.

The Business and Education Links Programme is an important element in developing in our young people the necessary personal, interpersonal and enterprise skills that will be so useful to them when they move from school to work or further education. This initiative provides the opportunity for schools and companies to work together at local level and so help build closer links between the business and education sectors. There are 310 participating companies.

The IBEC Business Education Links Programme provides for a mix of any or all of the following elements:

In the new Leaving Cert Vocational Programme students follow a full Leaving Certificate programme which includes two Leaving Cert subjects in related technical/vocational disciplines, or in business and technical/vocational disciplines, allied with a continental language, new technology training, and three Link Modules entitled "Enterprise Education, Preparation for Work and Work Experience".

LCVP schools participate in the IBEC Schools Industry Links programme. The LCVP office issues a Journal on a regular basis. The purpose of the Journal is to provide a forum for exchange of information, ideas, experiences and good practice between schools, and the Journal includes inputs from industry. The Office has also established an LCVP Home Page on the Internet. This provides schools with the flexibility to access information on all aspects of the programme at their convenience, and enables them to communicate through E-mail.

A condensed version of the RTE "Start Me Up" business series has been developed sponsored by Allied Irish Banks and the D/Enterprise and Employment, working in collaboration with the LCVP Office, bringing together business, media and education. Under the scheme, the video is provided through the AIB Student Officer together with an AIB school visit input focused on enterprise. Sets of the full series are also provided via a lending service operated by the LCVP Office.

In complementary developments under the Local Urban and Rural Development Programme, over 7300 students in 250 schools are involved in running 2300 businesses under the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme co-ordinated through the County Enterprise Boards. In more recent times, out of school programmes for early school leavers, such as Youthreach, have got involved in this scheme and have been very successful in it.

A new "Irish Times Business 2000" package complements the recently revised Business syllabus in the Leaving Cert. This is a resource pack designed to improve standards in Business Education, linking second level schools directly with leading business organisations. The pack contains case studies of leading Irish companies, including project questions and assignments. It also contains a CD ROM, a teacher's guide and curriculum matrix indicating where each case study links with the syllabus, the Irish Times Business News Guide, a glossary, teacher's questionnaire and Help Desk. It is provided free of charge to every second level school and is complemented by the Irish Times presentation throughout the year of a Business News Guide designed to develop students' knowledge of the business world, and help them relate to case studies in depth and appreciate the realities of business dynamics. On alternate Mondays, the Irish Times produces material in the Business and Finance section devoted to encouraging students to track progress of business organisations, the key industrial sectors, the impact of Govt policies and EU decisions, deregulation, the impact of privatisation and other issues. The new syllabus is underpinned by a spirit of enterprise, relying less on indirect learning about business, and more about involving the student in a real way in the actual world of business.

The Altramas Programme is part of the IBEC Business and Education Links Programme. The programme was developed in order to strengthen the links between businesses and second level schools and to provide students with learning experiences that would prepare them to play an active role in the world of work and enterprise’.

The Altramas programme, which is a modular programme, designed for delivery by teachers in the classroom. The materials for this were developed centrally for use in the classroom. The Altramas programme is delivered in the classroom by teachers and involves 3 modules each containing six lessons, covering development of skills in Personal Development, Interpersonal Skills and Enterprise skills.

Altramas is most frequently used with Transition Year class groups. The programme is designed to involve an element of teacher ‘experience’ of industry, on a limited basis. This is not however fundamental to the delivery of the modules within the programme but would be perceived as beneficial to it. The Department does not pay substitution costs/secondment costs for this element therefore its development has been slow.

County Enterprise Boards and Area Based Partnerships also have a role in developing local school business linkages which provide enterprise training and work experience.

The Young Enterprise Ireland (YEI) is one of a number out of school initiatives to support schools in designing and delivering minicompany type modules. Many have restrictions on size of group etc. or are expensive to run.

The Young Entrepreneurs Scheme (Sponsored by Golden Vale) is currently the largest of these providers with 8,300 registered student participants this year.

The only Department of Education and Science sponsored programme is the Minicompany component organised now by the Transition Year Support group. This programme has approximately 2,500 students currently involved. The issue of back up support for teachers undertaking this option has been addressed with the provision of funding of £2,000 for co-ordination in the present school year.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce fund a project centred on disadvantaged, city centred schools and provide them with Business mentors often leading to local employment.

The Dublin Schools Business Partnership Ltd., as a charity and Dublin Chamber of Commerce initiative, has for some time been involved in a number of programmes which provide business links and support to inner city post-primary schools designated as disadvantaged. These links operated often as part of the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme and the Leaving Certificate Applied, are particularly important in helping pupil’s learn about the world of work. They develop confidence and social skills, which will assist students in making educational and career choices. These links also help identify specific needs of schools and industry.

The schools involved select Leaving Certificate pupils who are interested in office work and welcome the opportunity to participate in the programme. The students successful at the interview process are given two months paid work experience in the companies. It is important to stress that these pupils are talented in their own right and the programme gives them the opportunity to use their talents productively. The participating schools are delighted with the programme and the positive example set for other students by those who participate in the initiative.

EMP/SKILLS - Skills and Employability Department