Student Slingshot Academy was launched today at its future home in Filmbase, Temple Bar. It It is a new initiative developed to change how transition year students approach education and career prospects.

Once a month, beginning on March 15th, some of Ireland’s leading third level students will work alongside industry professionals to create immersive and interactive sessions for transition year students.

Patrick Guiney, founder of Student Slingshot, stated: “Just over 54,000 students sit the Leaving Certificate every single year. Of those 70% of them will be lucky enough to go onto 3rd level. Through a mentoring and support programme, led by some exceptional college students, we want to ensure that students pick the right course, learn a new skill and bring their focus back to what they want to do, not what the CAO dictates.”

The initiative has garnered support from some of the most prominent institutions for Irish second level students including Spunout.ie, Schooldays.ie, Irish Second Level Students Union and the Digital Youth Council

Fiona Farrell of Schooldays.ie, stated: “At Schooldays.ie we provide an online resource for parents and teachers and we are delighted to support Student Slingshot Academy, an innovative forum for Transition Year students aged 15 to 17. It is a wonderful initiative by some of Ireland's undergraduates to provide the next generation with an insight into future career paths.”

Rebecca Dempsey, Student Engagement and Development Officer for the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, stated: "This is a fantastic and fresh initiative. We love how third level students will be able to share their experiences and knowledge with second-level students in a way that hasn't been seen before. We believe that Transition Year creates an opportunity and space for second-level students to learn and to be creative in their learning ways. The Student Slingshot Academy can add positively to this unique year of study. We encourage TY students nationwide to apply".

The first Student Slingshot Academy takes place on Sunday, March 15th in Filmbase, located in Temple Bar. Transition Year Students will have the opportunity to learn from and meet college students from computer programming, medicine, law, journalism, finance, language and art, among further areas yet to be announced. A selection of industry professionals in these fields will support the students to develop new and inspiring sessions. Student Slingshot is a student-run organisation focused on maximising prospects for Ireland’s students.

Further details can be found at: www.studentslingshot.com. Applications for Transition Year Students close at 5pm on March 7th, 2015

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