Xplore Your Future TY Expo helps set thousands of TY students on path to success

The Fingal Skills Strategy has hosted a major event at The Helix in DCU which attracted over 2,200 students from schools across Fingal. The event aimed to inspire students to imagine future career possibilities and explore the wide range of education and training opportunities available to them.

The Xplore Your Future TY Skills Expo, now in its second year, is an immersive and interactive event saw students from 21 schools across the county get live demonstrations, virtual reality experiences, and take part in hands-on learning activities with exhibitors. Xplore not only inspires students to explore diverse educational and career paths, but also sparks their curiosity about future career possibilities which they may not have previously considered.

The Xplore Expo is supported by the Council, DCU and the Department of Further & Higher Education through the Dublin Regional Skills Forum (DRSF). The Expo this year featured 83 different exhibitors from institutes of further and higher education, vocational schools and industry.  

During the event, students had the opportunity to interact with exhibitors from different fields, ask questions, gain insight into careers in that sector and get valuable advice to help shape their future prospects.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, highlighted the significance of the event, saying: "Xplore is testament to Fingal's commitment to shaping the future of our young people. It is targeted events like this that can help open the doors to many new career possibilities and give students insights into how they can make informed decisions about their career prospects."

Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, also remarked on the event’s impact: “This year’s Expo has once again demonstrated the power of engaging, thought-provoking initiatives in shaping our youth's future. I am proud that Fingal remains at the forefront of creating opportunities that spark curiosity and foster a love for learning. This event underscores our commitment to working in collaboration with stakeholders as part of the Fingal Skills Strategy and our dedication to empowering the next generation, providing them with the tools and inspiration needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.”

Exhibitors included, among others, DDLETB (Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board), CDVEC (City of Dublin Education and Training Board), the National Apprenticeships Office, TUDublin (Technological University Dublin), Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT), Irish Rail, the Irish Institute of Music & Song, An Garda Síochána, Dublin Fire Brigade, Air Corps, Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Aramex and Wylde International eSports Club.  A diverse range of sectors were represented, from Creative Arts & Media, Technology and Gaming, Transport & Logistics, Engineering, Food, Farming & Hospitality, Construction, Local Government, Public Services and Sports.

Delivery of the Xplore Expo is a vital part of Fingal's Skills Strategy and provides students with valuable insights to future career opportunities. Having expanded its presence this year, Fingal hopes that Xplore will continue to expand its reach in the future, ensuring that schools and students can benefit from this innovative initiative.

The Xplore Expo comes as the Council gets ready to launch the latest version of the Fingal Skills Strategy. The new Strategy builds on the successes of recent years, and incorporates key lessons learned from the implementation of the first Strategy and incorporating international best practice from the Council’s European partners on the Interreg SKYLA Project. The new Strategy establishes an ambitious shared vision to ensure that Fingal has a pipeline of talent with the skills required to meet the demands of industry and business today, and to anticipate the challenges of tomorrow.