Transform Education—Through SEEK
This AbbVie science education programme was piloted in Ireland and launched globally across the company in 2014. It aims to spark a child’s interest in science and, hopefully in time play a part in creating Ireland’s next generation of leaders in this field. In 2016, it was complemented by an engineering-focused module entitled SEEK Engineering, which was developed specifically for sixth-class pupils.
Since its introduction in 2016, almost 300 children in Ireland have participated in this new initiative.
Young Social Innovators (YSI)
Since its launch in 2013, AbbVie has partnered with Young Social Innovators (YSI) to run a series of school-based Social Innovation Workshops across Ireland. These specially designed events challenge teenagers to consider harnessing their unique creative potential to play an active role in addressing societal issues that affect them and their peers.
In 2015, AbbVie began a new initiative with YSI called the AbbVie Experience Day. It gave employees the chance to interact with students from their local communities at our offices and manufacturing sites across the country.
A number of schools from Dublin, Cork and Sligo visited our workplaces and interacted with employees from a wide range of professional backgrounds. This exercise provided participating students with insight into the work we do at AbbVie and also encouraged them to consider STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines as Leaving Certificate, university and career options.
Since 2014, more than 150 AbbVie volunteers have assisted 65 Innovation Workshops and Exchange Days involving 1,500 students at more than 35 schools in Cork, Dublin and Sligo.