Annual Report 2023 Entire Book - Flipbook - Page 170
Career Skills Competition with CareersPortal.ie
In 2023, PPLI collaborated with CareersPortal.ie to grow a dedicated category for languages in the national
student Career Skills competition, encouraging students to obtain work experience where languages are
required. Career Skills is a national competition developed by CareersPortal.ie to encourage second-level
students to reflect on the career skills developed during work experience placements and to investigate a
career of their choice. In 2023, Languages Connect sponsored a new category in the competition based on
language skills. Other enterprise partners include AIB and Failte Ireland. The competition was promoted at
various career and education events.
Meetings with Enterprise agencies
PPLI conducted meetings with members of enterprise agencies to gain insights into the current language
skills required in the business sector, in general but also with consideration for the review and interim report
of the Languages Connect Strategy. Discussions included the evolving demands for multilingual talent, and
strategies for promoting language learning within organisations and within education settings, including
possibly providing ambassadors from within the enterprise sector to support awareness-raising activity,
particularly #ThinkLanguages.
Impact:
•
Students are becoming more aware of the importance of language skills in business and enterprise,
leading to increased interest in developing these skills
•
Practical exposure to language use in business settings has enhanced students' understanding of the
relevance and application of language skills in professional contexts
•
Engaging with industry stakeholders has facilitated a better understanding of language skill
requirements, enabling PPLI to better understand and align relevant student-facing programmes and
messaging with industry needs
•
The inclusion of a language category in the Career Skills competition has provided students with
validation and recognition for their language abilities, motivating them to further develop these skills
Next Steps:
•
Continue collaboration and innovation in this area to prepare students to thrive in a globalised and
multilingual professional landscape.
•
Continue to grow current partnerships and look to other relevant stakeholders who can support.
•
Work with the Enterprise agencies to coordinate messaging around the importance of foreign languages
to client companies
•
Facilitate engagement with companies in the enterprise sector for the purpose of research, to determine
the value of language skills and language learning for employers.
•
Seek to increase opportunities for post-primary students to engage in work experience where they can
use languages
•
Continue to promote the Partnerships with Employers Resource, World of Work Resource, and the Working
with Languages Activity Pack in schools
•
Work with employers to develop a complementary Partnerships with Schools Resource
•
Increase opportunities for the enterprise sector to raise awareness of the value of languages for jobs e.g.
through video content, school visits, and seminar
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- PPLI ANNUAL REPORT 2023 -
