Abbott supports smart future link with local schools
ABBOTT welcomed science teachers and guidance counsellors from the Sligo/Mayo region to their diagnostic facility in Finisklin Business Park, Sligo. The one-day visit was part of Business in the Community Ireland’s (BITCI) STEM ‘Seeing is Believing’ initiative.
Seeing is Believing supports ‘Smart Futures’, a collaborative industry and education framework raising awareness of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) careers at post-primary level.
The goal of Seeing is Believing is to give STEM teachers and guidance counsellors a deep and engaging insight into leading STEM sector companies and the innovative and diverse range of opportunities and careers that exist within the local region.
Working with leading local STEM sector companies, it is a one-day tour with a series of talks from employees in the sector.
The Seeing is Believing programme is one of a range of BITCI programmes that Abbott supports across its nine sites in Ireland as part of their strategic philanthropic outreach.
The teachers had the opportunity to meet employees with diverse backgrounds and find out first-hand the different careers offered in the healthcare industry, as well as learn where there are skills gaps and future employment opportunities for their students.
Speaking about Abbott’s STEM engagement, Conor Murphy, site director at Abbott’s diagnostics facility in Sligo said:
“We welcome Seeing Is Believing to Abbott. Supporting this programme is part of Abbott’s wider commitment to STEM education.
“Seeing Is Believing enables us to engage with educators and share with them the range of expertise within our organisation across engineering, quality, supply chain, manufacturing and many other areas.
“By leveraging Abbott’s expertise, and by working in partnership with our local community and teachers, we can support students and help inspire the next generation of scientific and engineering leaders.”
Josephine McGread, Guidance Counsellor at Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim ETB said: ‘It was an inspiring morning. Abbott gave a great insight into the variety of skilled jobs that are available locally for many of our students.
“This information is vital for teachers to stay up to date on developments in the innovative healthcare industry and will really benefit our schools.’