Exploring Advanced Manufacturing Through Real-World STEM Experiences
The Ideas Made Real: Transition Year Programme is delivered by Irish Manufacturing Research (IMR), Ireland's leading independent research and technology organisation, connecting over 150 companies and a national network of industry, education and public sector partners. The Ideas Made Real Programme draws on that expertise to give students hands-on exposure to innovation, design thinking and the future of advanced manufacturing.
Running from September 2026 to May 2027, the programme supports schools with curriculum-aligned content and genuine industry engagement, building core STEM and soft skills while opening up the career pathways behind them.
What to Expect
- Teacher Training (In-person)
Professional development and classroom-ready STEM teaching resources.- Design & Prototyping Modules (Blended)
Students work through the design-thinking cycle, then move from low-fidelity prototypes made with everyday classroom materials to digital 3D models built in TinkerCAD. Hosted on our online learning platform and paired with hands-on classroom activity.- A Glimpse into Advanced Manufacturing (In-person)
Students see advanced manufacturing as it happens and hear from the professionals working in it.- Critical Thinking with AI (In-person)
A workshop with Examinaite, giving students the tools to question and test what AI produces rather than simply accept it. Built around IMR's guiding principle: here, we learn how to think, not what to think.
This programme empowers students with the skills and motivation to engage with STEM careers, while supporting schools with a structured and impactful TY offering.