The Irish Computer Society (ICS), has reported a 40% increase in the number of applicants to its Scratch programming competition for 2014.
The competition gives students an understanding of how software is built and how it works, challenging students to create stories, games and animations using software, encouraging innovation and creativity; and giving them a taste of possible future careers in IT.
Over 3,000 students from 599 schools and coder dojos participated in the ICS Scratch programme this year. While the number of projects entered into the competition rose to 960. Uptake and interest in Scratch is increasing as more schools become aware of the programme and its benefits. This is good news for Ireland’s IT sector as an estimated 44,500 new ICT professionals are going to be needed by 2018.
Organised by ICS, Scratch is sponsored by Lero – the Irish Software Engineering Research Centre, and supported by IT Tallaght and IT Sligo.
Jim Friars, CEO of the Irish Computer Society, said: “The Irish Computer Society is delighted to run this competition so that students of all ages can channel their creativity and explore their technical ability. This year it is part of the first Tech Week Ireland which aims to show students how technology can be fascinating and fun. Scratch is a perfect model for this.”
The Scratch finals will be held in Dublin Castle on 2 May as part of the Tech Week Ireland Finale.
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