University of Limerick Junior Achievement Ireland event tells students to ‘build confidence, creativity and resilience’

UL Junior Achievement Ireland event tells students to ‘build confidence, creativity and resilience’. President of University of Limerick Professor Shane Kilcommins, Helen Raftery, JAI; Professor Maura Adshead, Head of Community Engagement, UL; Teresa Leahy JAI; and Barry Winkless, Cpl

UL Junior Achievement Ireland event highlights the Mid‑West’s growing role as a centre for education‑industry collaboration

Junior Achievement Ireland (JAI) brought together leaders from education, business and the not‑for‑profit sector from across the Mid‑West to celebrate 30 years of supporting young people to develop the essential skills needed for the future world of work.

’30 Years of JAI: Shaping the Future of Work’ explored how students can be better prepared to thrive amid rapid technological change, evolving workplaces and new career pathways.

Since establishing its presence in Ireland in 1996, Junior Achievement Ireland has built strong, long‑standing partnerships with schools, educators, and employers across the Mid‑West, supporting students in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary to build confidence, adaptability and real‑world skills alongside academic learning. Over the past three decades, JAI reached more than 1.3 million students nationally, with thousands of those learners based in the Mid‑West.

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Opening the event, Professor Shane Kilcommins, President of University of Limerick, highlighted the importance of early skills development and exposure to a broad range of future opportunities for young people growing up in the region.

“The Mid‑West has a strong and proud tradition of educational innovation. When students encounter enterprise, creativity and real‑world learning at primary and secondary level, they arrive at university better prepared to make the most of their time here. Seeing a wide range of possible futures while they are still in school helps students approach higher education with clarity, confidence and purpose,” he said.

Professor Kilcommins noted that initiatives which connect schools with industry are increasingly important in helping students transition successfully through education and into meaningful careers, particularly as schools and universities adapt to the demands of a changing economy.

The event’s keynote address was delivered by Barry Winkless, Chief Strategy Officer at CPL and Head of the Future of Work Institute, who shared insights from his new book, Future Work World: How Leaders Can Create Destinations for Talent that Excite, Entice & Engage. Winkless’ work explores how emerging technologies, including AI, alongside shifting expectations about work and careers, are fundamentally transforming how people learn, work and collaborate.

Drawing direct links to education, Winkless emphasised that future success will depend less on specific job knowledge and more on mindset, adaptability and the ability to continually learn and evolve – skills that must be nurtured from an early age.

Speaking at the event, CEO of Junior Achievement Ireland, Helen Raftery, said the organisation’s work is designed to complement and strengthen the work already taking place in schools, “Junior Achievement Ireland is proud to work alongside the fantastic educators in the Mid-West and throughout Ireland, bringing practical, real‑world experiences into classrooms so students can connect theory with practice and see how their learning applies beyond school.”

She added, “As the future of work continues to evolve, young people in regions like the Mid‑West deserve access to the skills, experiences and role models that help them adapt and thrive. Our programmes help students build confidence, creativity and resilience early, ensuring they can make informed choices about further education, training and careers.”

Each year, JAI works with more than 64,000 students across Ireland, including thousands in the Mid‑West, supported by teachers and volunteers from over 160 partner organisations. This collaborative model reflects the region’s strong tradition of partnership between education and enterprise, helping to ensure students can navigate multiple career changes over their lifetime.

As the Mid‑West continues to grow as a hub for education, innovation and industry, today’s celebration highlighted the vital role that sustained collaboration plays in preparing young people for the future – and reaffirmed Junior Achievement Ireland’s long-standing commitment to supporting students, educators and communities across the region.