In 2015 260,000 young people created student companies across Europe as part of the Junior Achievement Company competition. In Ireland, of the thousands of students that entered this year, 10 projects were selected through a series of regional finals to compete in UCD Ryan Academy in City West this week.
The students had to prepare a portfolio as well as submit to interviews at their stands and in boardroom conditions by a series of judges, representing some of Ireland’s top companies over two days. Day two of the competition saw the students having to pitch their idea to a packed auditorium. The Junior Achievement Company Programme helps young people appreciate and better understand the role of business in our society. With the support and guidance of business volunteers from the local business community, the Programme provides basic economic education for secondary students.
Representing Ireland in the European finals of this the biggest competition of its kind will be five Desmond College students, Emma Herbert (Managing Director), Seamus Hurley, Eoin Considine, Diamuid Curtin and Eamonn Browne were elated when there company “Guide A Key” was announced as the National Winners of this prestigious competition. The students have invented a simple device that can be affixed to the outside of doors that allows people with manual dexterity issues to easily insert their key in locks. Emma speaking about their success was quick to point out that it has come after months of hard work by her fellow Transition Year students in Desmond College. The students now prepare to go globally as they take their project to Berlin in July, where they will represent Ireland along with companies from 27 other European countries.