Spring Graduation took place on April 10th this year, marking the third occasion that P-TECH graduates had the opportunity to formally celebrate their hard work and achievements alongside all other NCI graduates. This year’s cohort crossed the stage of the Convention Centre Dublin, capped and gowned, to receive their certificates.

In 2024, the achievements of our new graduates in the Certificate in P-TECH were recognised and applauded during the ceremony for the first time, also marking 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. This year's graduates should be very proud of themselves, and proud of what was hopefully the beginning of their learning here at NCI.

P-TECH's Project Office at NCI

In September 2025, a governance review of P-TECH commissioned by the Department of Education resulted in National College of Ireland becoming the home of the independent P-TECH Project Office. In this newly established P-TECH office, the following roles were appointed: Deirdre Kennedy, P-TECH Project Office Director, Evanna Keaveny, P-TECH Schools Learning & Support Manager, Carrie Archer, P-TECH Programme Director and Assistant Professor at NCI, and Cyrilla Costello, P-TECH Employer Engagement Manager.

NCI has been an incredible partner in the P-TECH programme since the beginning, showing continuous commitment to the initiative since its launch in Dublin’s NEIC in 2018. It is fitting that the new P-TECH Project Office is hosted here in NCI as the College's mission to "change lives through education,” aligns so closely with our P-TECH values. With the support of the wider NCI Team, we are really well-positioned to look to the future and the expansion of P-TECH to additional schools, regions, and industry sectors. We look forward to seeing how P-TECH continues to evolve and impact lives, inspiring young learners to become aware of all the pathways ahead, and we are incredibly proud of this year's cohort who got to celebrate their achievements at this year's graduation ceremony. Congratulations and well done to all.  ~ Deirdre Kennedy, P-TECH Ireland Project Office Director.

As the founding academic P-TECH partner, National College of Ireland is pleased to house P-TECH'S recently established Project Office. P-TECH is a programme for secondary level students to develop Digital and Business skills, problem solving and critical thinking, while gaining real world work experience and a third level qualification. Access to these opportunities is so important; young learners get to experience new opportunities that can guide their post-secondary school options while also expanding their future career networks. We are very proud of this year’s P-TECH graduates, and delighted to congratulate them on their achievement, and we wish them every success in the future. ~ Professor Gina Quin, President of National College of Ireland

About P-TECH: Tackling disadvantage and building community

First developed in 2011by IBM and local educators in the USA, P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) is an innovative model of education and industry collaboration. The P-TECH education initiative in Ireland was launched in Dublin’s North-East Inner City (NEIC) as a pilot programme in 2018.

P-TECH was designed to tackle educational disadvantage, and 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. Looking to life beyond school, the model combines second-level school education with elements of third-level education and work experiences such as mentorship and internships. This mix of practical and traditional learning allows students to see what they are capable of, and what career paths might interest them.

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.

This is a collaborative initiative; P-TECH 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.

You can visit the course homepage to learn more about the Certificate in P-TECH and the delivery of the programme.  

#ChangingLivesThroughEducation #75yearsofNCI

P-TECH students pictured at NCI's Spring Graduation: Evelynne Bozu. Edward Onyediachi Enunwa (winner of P-TECH student of the year) and Diana Vicovan - Photos by Dermot Byrne Photography