

Education
Bridge to Employment programme gives senior cycle students unique career opportunities
Bridge to Employment students from Thomond Community College with Principal Norma O’Brien. The programme offers senior cycle students the unique opportunity to pursue higher education and careers in the healthcare industry.
The three-year programme gave students the skills to pursue careers or further study in healthcare
By I Love Limerick correspondent Ava O’Donoghue

Transition Year students from Ardscoil Mhuire and Thomond Community College graduated from the three-year Johnson & Johnson ‘Bridge to Employment’ programme on Wednesday, May 11.
The programme offers senior cycle students the unique opportunity to pursue higher education and careers in the healthcare industry through learning incentives.
The worldwide initiative was launched by J&J in 1992 to support education by communicating to young people that learning can be meaningful, engaging, and relevant.
Since its launch, the BTE programme has helped school students pursue education, excel in academics and broaden their career aspirations to over 75 sites on six continents.
J&J teamed up with Junior Achievement Ireland to bring the programme to Limerick’s Transition Year students. A total of 50 students from Thomond Community College and Ardscoil Mhuire were given the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities over three years, including week-long work experience placements at J&J Vision Care, workshops, career advice sessions, academic support, wellbeing sessions and more.
The students also participated in a Birkman Assessment, a form of psychometric assessment built around the concept of positive psychology, and completed Junior Achievement Ireland’s ‘Career Success’ programme. Junior Achievement Ireland helps to prepare young people for their futures through hands-on, experiential learning.
The Bridge to Employment programme was a fantastic opportunity for the TY students, as it gave them the opportunity to experience real-life employment, allowed them to explore potential careers, prepare for college and discover how learning is relevant to their future.
“J&J Bridge to Employment class of 2022! Congratulations to the group of 50 graduates,” Junior Achievement Ireland commented at the graduation. “Over three years, this group have worked hard and participated in masterclasses, work experience and continuous personal development to get them career ready.”
Congratulations to the students of Thomond Community College and Ardscoil Mhuire on this great achievement!
For more information on the Bridge to Employment programme, go HERE
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