News Minister Naughton launches report on CodePlus

The Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton T.D. officially launched a major research report evaluating the national impact of CodePlus, a targeted computing outreach initiative designed to address the gender imbalance in STEM.

Led by researchers at the School of Education, University of Galway, alongside partners at Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick, and Lero, the longitudinal report highlights the significant role early computing intervention plays in empowering female post-primary students - particularly those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

The School of Education staff involved in CodePlus are Professor Cornelia Connolly, Dr Sally McHugh and Dr Sarah Porcenaluk.

Report Key Findings & Reach:

· Over 23,000 Students Reached: Nationwide participation has scaled rapidly, with more than 6,450 female post-primary students taking part in hands-on learning during the 2024/25 academic year alone.

· Inspiring Role Models: Industry mentorship formed a core pillar of the initiative, delivering over 18,000 career talks and facilitating 1,300 company site visits to give young women direct insight into tech careers.

· Confidence & Skill Building: Participants reported significant boosts in computational skills, self-confidence, problem-solving, and collaboration—essential competencies for both technical pathways and modern learning environments.

Read the CodePlus Longterm Impact Report here: https://lnkd.in/ekUGX3rs