New Microsoft Dream Space initiative empowers students to apply STEM skills in creating a more sustainable future in collaboration with Munster Technological University & RTÉ Learn
Code Green is being rolled out to mark Sustainable Development Goals Week 2024 taking place from September 20th to 29th
Microsoft has announced the launch of its latest Dream Space TV series, Code Green, aimed at providing teachers across Ireland with new STEM teaching resources to inspire young students to become sustainability champions in their schools and communities. The release of the Code Green series coincides with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week 2024, a Government of Ireland led initiative, taking place from September 20th to 29th.
Developed by Microsoft, in collaboration with Irelands Knowledge Centre for Carbon, Climate and Community Action (IKC3) at Munster Technological University and supported by RTÉ Learn, Code Green provides hands-on educational resources designed to help young people understand the role they can play in creating a more sustainable future. Furthermore, students are given the opportunity to develop their STEM skills and are challenged to apply those to advance sustainability in their school community.
Aligned to the EU Green Deal 2050, each of the six freely available on-demand Microsoft Dream Space TV Code Green episodes focus on a different aspect of sustainability, from building eco-friendly vehicles and coding energy-saving programs to using AI tools to monitor biodiversity and creating sustainability plans for schools. The series is being rolled out on RTÉ Learn over a six-week period from September 27th.
Upon completion of the six episodes schools will have the opportunity to enter the Code Green challenge and submit an entry to participate in the Code Green Showcase event, which will take place at Microsoft’s campus in Leopardstown, Dublin in June 2025.
The Code Green resources being unveiled today align fully with the Government’s Second National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development and its priority of empowering and mobilising young people to upskill and take action for a more sustainable future. Each Code Green episode is designed for easy integration into the classroom, with detailed teacher guides, worksheets, and curriculum links to support the Irish primary curriculum.
Commenting on today’s announcement, James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader, and Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre, said: “We are delighted to be marking SDG Week 2024 by rolling out the new Microsoft Dream Space TV series – Code Green. With the help of the latest series available on RTE Learn, young people will have the opportunity to develop their STEM and AI skills and put them to the test to advance sustainability in their own school community.
“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.”
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.”
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.”
This latest series of Microsoft Dream Space TV is the sixth to be produced and made freely available on RTÉ Learn, with previous episodes focusing on developing digital and AI skills through themes of inclusivity, sustainability, and health and wellbeing. Of the 300,000+ students that have already engaged in Microsoft Dream Space, more than 47,000 have done so by way of Microsoft Dream Space TV. Microsoft Dream Space TV is one of a number of initiatives that Microsoft is rolling out as it looks to provide every student across the island of Ireland – almost 1 million in total – with the opportunity to develop their STEM and AI skills.
The IKC3 Project at MTU is funded by the Higher Education Authority under the Human Capital Initiative.
To get started and learn more, visit aka.ms/CodeGreen or Code Green: The sustainability series from Dream Space TV (rte.ie).
