Engineers Week is a week long programme of nationwide events with the aim of celebrating the world of engineering in Ireland. The aim of the week is to create a positive awareness and spark enthusiasm about the engineering profession to people of various ages with little or no engineering background.

STEPS to engineering plays the role of coordinator for Engineers Week and is responsible for the national promotion and the development of resource and promotional materials and partner liaison and communication. Event hosts then organiser activities on a local level. Host organisations vary from universities, IT’s, libraries, CSETS, educational centres, industry, community groups, Engineers Ireland regional committees, divisions and societies.

There are a number of reasons why people get involved with Engineers Week. These reasons include;

Corporate Social Responsibility- Involvement can be an integral part of your organisations corporate social responsibility and can act as a medium to interact, engage and network with other organisations in the community.

Publicity – The national and regional publicity will enhance an organisations corporate image

Shape the Future – Your organisations involvement in Engineers Week can help inspire students to consider engineering as a career choice and help to ensure the future pipeline of engineers.

There are no limits to the things you can do and organise during Engineers Week. Events can vary from a small lunchtime quiz , site visits to hands-on engineering workshops. The list is endless and depends primarily on the resources you have available. STEPS to engineering will work with you to advise what event will meet your needs best.

Here are the steps an organisation takes…

• Contact Caitríona Geraghty on 01-6651307 or at cgeraghty@steps.ie
• Discuss and brainstorm event ideas together
• Work together to plan the activity
• Place event details on the website
• Take the bookings for the event
• Event takes place during Engineers Week
• Participants gain an interest and passion for engineering
• Organisation benefits from regional and national publicity

Ideas and inspiration for events can be found almost anywhere. Any format of event is welcome.

Here are some potential ideas:

- Open up your business or university for a public tour

- Run a series of hands-on workshops or activities

- Host an exhibition/talk/lecture/seminar or debate

Join together with local companies, societies and communities and look at what engineering companies or feats are in your area. Have a chat about how you can turn an element of these into an activity.

- Challenge your audience to a quiz or competition

- Discover what it’s like to be an engineer – hold one of the following engineering challenges for the people in your locality

K’NEX Challenge Activity Sheets

- Rocket K’NEX Challenge
- Design & Make a Quadricycle
- Design & Make a Marine Turbine to supply energy in your town!
- Design & Make a Digital Camera
- Design & Make a bridge for your Local Town!
- Design & Make an Aircraft

- How to run a K’NEX Challenge

Events take place on nationwide in a range of different venues including castles, libraries, heritage centres, engineering organisations, parks. Simple ‘click on your county‘ to find out what other events are taking place in your area.

Promoting your event and getting people interested in attending your event is just as important as organising the event. Once the details of your event have been planned, it should be clear which audience the activity is most suitable for. Once you know the relevant audience, it is a good idea to inform any key contacts of the dates and times of your activity/activities so they have enough time to organise a group to attend.

There are many ways to promote your event; place posters of the event in local schools, local businesses, cafes, shopping centres and local notice boards. A poster for use is available on this website in the resources section. Simply, insert your company logo and the relevant event details.

Another way to get people interested is by way of email. This ecological means of informing people is also extremely efficient and cost effective.

Once you have firmed up all the details of your activity such as the date, venue and how the activity will run, it is then a good time to contact the local radio and newspapers and inform them about your event. See our sample press release on the resources section along with the event checklist on the resources section for more details.

STEPS to Engineering can provide you with expert event management assistance and a series of resources to help you plan, organise and promote your event effectively.

The resources listed below are also available and will unite all activities that are organised during the week. Your use of the branded materials will ensure that your event is recognised as part of the established week

• Make the difference
• Posters
• Stickers
• Certificates
• Engineers Week Logo
• Event Checklist
• Sample Press Release