The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. today visited the recently expanded Apple campus in Cork and observed the ongoing work of the Apple school engagement programme which sees schools receive lessons in coding, photography, art and music.

Minister McHugh was joined on the visit by Cathy Kearney, VP European Operations.

The event coincided with a transition year visit attended by 100 students from Ballincollig Community School and Gaelcholáiste Mhuire A.G schools in Cork who were at the campus to learn about Apple’s operations in Ireland and enjoy Everyone Can Create and Everyone Can Code taster sessions. These sessions are designed to help students of all ages to learn the basics of coding and problem solving.

To date, almost 1000 students from local schools have already taken part in transition year visits to learn about Apple’s operations in Ireland.

The Minister also visited the nearby Terence MacSwiney Community College where since 2016, more than 40 Apple employees have volunteered to support the coding curriculum. The Minister met with Principal Phil O’Flynn to discuss the impact that the once-a-week classes have had on the students who are using Apple’s Everyone Can Create tools to create art, music, video and photography.

Minister McHugh said: “It is pleasure to be in Cork today to see at first hand the work that Apple are doing with schools in the community. It is important for students to learn about digital technology to prepare them for the future world of work.

“The work of Apple with schools here in Cork supplements the work of our Digital Strategy for Schools in embedding digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment in schools.”

Source: education.ie

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