BY DIONNE MEEHAN
BUSINESS owners and employers returned back to school on Tuesday as part of a unique project organised by Coláiste Ailigh.
‘Let’s Head Back to School for a Day’ gave participants a chance to see first-hand the nature of education and learning for the young people at Coláiste Ailigh who will be the employees, leaders and entrepreneurs of the future.
With many students in Coláiste Ailigh attending work placement to experience life outside the education system, Vice-principal Rosa McLaughlin thought it would be useful for businesses to attend school for the day to see what students experience.
“We are conscious there are massive changes in how school looks and feels and the way we learn things compared to when some of the employers were at school.
“It is important that they understand the positive changes that have gone on,” she said.
However, Rosa said there are still gaps between what employers need and what they provide as a school.
“Today is about starting a conversation whereby we can look at what more we can do to help prepare young people for the world of work.
“Long term, we hope this is the start of a conversation that is about making sure our young people are employable,” she said.
Annette Houston, FM Service and Marie Shields, Letterkenny Chamber Business Development Executive all smiles as they go back to school for the day.
The first subject on the curriculum for the ‘students’ was a Careers Guidance class with Múinteoir Helen.
In this class, the students completed a quiz called ‘The Vark Questionnaire’ to see what kind of learner they are.
As this is the first thing done with first years when they start school, it wasn’t too challenging of a task for newcomers.
Next they made a careers profile on a careers portal before they completed another short quiz.
The lesson the participants took away from this class is that not everyone is book smart, but everyone is smart.
The next class they attended was Construction Studies with Múinteoir Blaine.
Dermot Gallagher, Joe McLaughlin and Marie Shields with pens poised.
In this class they were shown some projects created by students from previous years.
Following this, a leaving certificate higher level question was handed out.
Working in groups to solve the question, the students seen that you can have fun while learning.
As the minutes ticked closer to 11 o clock, there was only one thing on everyone’s minds and that was lunch.
Dermot Gallagher, Human Resources Manager at Zeus Industrial Products Ireland Limited, usually has responsibility for all aspects of human resources from recruitment, to selection and training.
However, on Tuesday morning Dermot didn’t pack his briefcase in preparation for work, he packed his backpack as he was returning to school for the day.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Dermot said returning to school was a really interesting initiative to integrate and demonstrate to employers what is being done to help future employees prepare for the workplace of the future.
Taking a shine to Construction Studies during his return to education, Dermot said it certainly wasn’t what he remembered from his days at school.
With Construction Studies being mainly focused on woodwork back then, Dermot said today’s class gave him an insight into the important things going on in today’s environment, such as appreciation for the environment, which he found very interesting.
Since Dermot’s time at school, he said he sees a greater appreciation for preparing students for the workplace.
“It is really important to give students an opportunity to understand that there are more options than simply third level education.
“If people want to go directly into the workplace to work in a factory environment there are options out there for those who have those types of skill sets,” he said.
Patsy Gallagher, a partner in Gallagher Brennan Solicitors usually spends his days giving expert advice to clients.
However, for one day only, Patsy was the one receiving expert advice as Careers Guidance was the first class on his timetable as he made his return to school.
Returning to school gave Patsy a sense of nostalgia, however, he said things are a lot different from back in his day.
“My favourite part of today has been the modernisation in the classroom set up. From what we have seen so far, it is a lot different from what I had back in my day.
“It is very impressive how it’s moved forward,” he said.
Toni Forester, Michael Boyd and Patsy Gallagher brainstorming answers in construction studies.
Joe McLaughlin, Area Manager for Cornmarket Group Financial Services, is normally in charge of the remote working systems around the country, but today, Joe wasn’t the one in charge.
Instead, Joe’s sister Rosa McLaughlin, who is Deputy Principal of Coláiste Ailigh was the one to call the shots, as Joe returned to school.
Returning to school after 30 years, Joe said it is all very different.
“I see a massive difference since I was at school. This school in particular is a very new school compared to where I would have gone and it’s just so different, things are a lot newer and things seem to be more proactive for the students and it’s great to see,” he said.
Fionnuala Rabbit, CEO of Highland Radio, Marie Shields, Business Development Executive at Letterkenny Chamber, Emma Gordon, Office Manager at PGIM Ireland, Kristine Reynolds, Financial Broker at Reynolds and Associates, Donna McDade, Enterprise Engagement at Donegal ETB, Toni Forester, CEO of Letterkenny Chamber, Brian Kelly, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Tata Consultancy Services, Catriona Gallen, Internal Communications at Tata Consultancy Services, Michael Boyd from Boyd HR and Annette Houston from FM Services Group were also among the class of 2023.
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