IKC3 at Munster Technological University(MTU) and Microsoft have launched the Dream Space TV series, Code Green, aimed at empowering teachers and supporting students to develop green and digital skills. Code Green is a collaboration between Ireland’s Knowledge Centre for Carbon, Climate and Community Action (IKC3) at Munster Technological University (MTU) and Microsoft Dream Space supported by RTÉ Learn.
The Code Green on-demand series provides hands-on educational resources designed to help young people understand their role in creating a more sustainable future.
In addition to the digital series, the IKC3 project at MTU are seeking to recruit 20 primary schools that will receive the Code Green Schools Resource Bundle, a suite of resources including Micro:bit Class Packs, Sustainability Skills Passports and reward stickers for each pupil, educator guides with one-to-one supports from the IKC3 team as classes complete the series.
The initiative challenges students to develop both their knowledge of sustainability and STEM skills and apply them to advance sustainability in their schools and communities. Aligned with the EU Green Deal 2050, the six freely available Code Green episodes focus on various aspects of sustainability, including building eco-friendly vehicles, coding energy-saving programs, using AI tools to monitor biodiversity, and creating sustainability plans for schools.
Codesigner of the programme, Eve Savage of MTU, says, “Code Green is a real step change in the merging of sustainability and digital skills for our primary school children. Great attention to detail ensures that each episode is mapped to the existing curriculum and can easily be integrated by their teachers into the school day.
We are so excited to recruit 20 schools to join forces with us in order to capture feedback on the content and resources, and we have an amazing bundle of goodies to offer. Not only this, but all schools will have the opportunity to enter the Code Green Challenge and submit their projects with support from the IKC3 team for the Code Green Showcase event, scheduled for June 2025 at Microsoft’s campus in Leopardstown, Dublin.”
This program fully aligns with the Government’s Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development, emphasizing the importance of empowering and mobilizing young people to take action for a sustainable future. This initiative reflects the collaboration between IKC3 and Microsoft, aiming to promote STEM and sustainability education while building essential green and digital skills for students across Ireland.
Dr Helena McMahon, Director of Ireland’s Knowledge Centre for Carbon Climate and Community Action (IKC3) at Munster Technological University, said: “MTU is delighted to partner with Microsoft on the development and roll-out of Code Green. The IKC3 and Microsoft Dream Space team collaboration has brought together the brightest of minds in programme design, sustainability, and STEM education.
This new educational resource for teachers and students nationwide aligns with the EU Green Deal 2050 themes and supports our joint commitment to promote both STEM and sustainability education that build green and digital skills. We encourage every primary school throughout Munster and across the island of Ireland to join us in this exciting learning journey towards a more sustainable future.”
James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre said: “With digital technology transforming our lives, work, and education, it is crucial that every young person can engage in STEM and AI learning and think critically about the world around them. Through Microsoft Dream Space and its many initiatives, we are helping the next generation to develop the skills that are required amid the twin – digital and green – transitions.”
Speaking about the initiative, Suzanne Kelly, Group Head of Children’s & Young People’s Content at RTÉ, said: “RTÉ are thrilled to be once again teaming up with Microsoft Dream Space, this time to explore how technology can be a force for good in tackling climate change. The Dream Space team have developed engaging and free-to-use learning materials that will help students and schools to do just that, and we’re proud to be helping to deliver these resources nationwide.”
Visit www.ikc3.ie/codegreen to find out more and get involved. Contact [email protected] for more information on accessing the Code Green Schools Resource Bundle. IKC3 is funded by the HEA under the Human Capital Initiative.
