A few months ago I was on a One Young World call with UK and Ireland Ambassador Roos Bruggink, and Nicole Parkinson-Kelly from the Washington Ireland Programme was speaking. Nicole mentioned that it’s difficult to find lists of organisations that third-level students can get involved with. So that sent me down a rabbit hole of research. Which is why this year I wanted to focus on programmes that second-level or third-level students can apply to. All of these programmes are extracurricular programmes that are designed to enhance the students’ educational experience and give them a more rounded view of the world, their industry or awards they can apply to receive external approval for their work. This is part 1. If you prefer to view a summary, please view this video
Ahead Ireland – The WAM Programme for third-level students applying to companies
AHEAD (Achieving Higher Education, Access and Disability) is an independent Irish non-profit working to make education and employment more inclusive for people with disabilities. Its core focus spans further education, higher education, and graduate employment, and it supports not just students but also teachers, guidance counsellors, and parents by providing information and research on disability issues in education. AHEAD also contributes to national policy discussions and delivers professional development so that staff across the further education and higher education sectors are better equipped to support disabled students and graduates.
For 3rd level students and graduates specifically, AHEAD offers clear, practical pathways to progress a career.
Through the WAM (Willing Able Mentoring) Programme, participants can secure paid, mentored work placements of at least six months with inclusive employers, gaining real workplace experience. Students and graduates can also join the GET AHEAD Graduate Forum, attend the Think Twice employability workshops, or go to Building the Future, an annual Dublin careers fair to meet employers, get CV feedback, and practise interviews. Opportunities and updates are shared through WAMworks
AIB Student Impact Awards For all students
The AIB Student Impact Awards, presented by AMLÉ, are a prestigious initiative dedicated to recognising and celebrating the exceptional contributions of students and student-led organisations across Ireland. The awards highlight excellence in activism, innovation, and community engagement, offering a total prize fund of €15,500 across 27 diverse categories. By honouring projects that range from financial wellbeing and environmental sustainability to student media and social justice, the programme provides a significant platform for students to showcase their initiative, leadership, and commitment to making a positive difference within their campus communities and beyond.
The programme features a wide array of accolades, including specific honours for Student Unions, societies, and individual students who have excelled in areas such as Irish language promotion, mental health advocacy, and entrepreneurialism.
Each category is designed to reward resourcefulness, creativity, and measurable impact, with many awards carrying a cash prize of €500 or more. By identifying those who have gone above and beyond to improve student life or address pressing social challenges, the AIB Student Impact Awards not only provide well-deserved recognition but also inspire future generations of student leaders to continue driving meaningful change through their projects and campaigns.
AIESEC for third-level students
AIESEC Ireland is a premier, youth-led non-profit organisation operating actively across third-level campuses to empower students and recent graduates through transformative international mobility, structured professional development, and immersive cultural exchanges. Functioning as an integral part of the world’s largest youth-run network, the organisation connects ambitious young people with high-impact work placements, professional internships, and international volunteering projects abroad. Through its flagship Global Talent and Global Leader initiatives, participants gain invaluable hands-on experience, significantly enhance their long-term career prospects, and build a robust, diverse professional network spanning well over one hundred countries worldwide.
Locally, active AIESEC chapters throughout Ireland provide members with comprehensive training in team management, strategic marketing, event coordination, and corporate relations
By directly managing exchange operations and national projects, students cultivate essential entrepreneurial, communication, and leadership competencies. Ultimately, AIESEC successfully bridges the critical gap between theoretical academic learning and the fast-paced demands of the modern global workforce, actively shaping resilient, globally-minded young leaders equipped to tackle complex challenges. Furthermore, participating in these local and international initiatives fosters deep personal growth, lifelong friendships, and a profound appreciation for cross-cultural collaboration, ensuring that every member leaves university fully prepared to make a meaningful, positive impact in their chosen professional and personal lives.
Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), formerly known as the Union of Students in Ireland, for third-level students
Founded in 1959, AMLÉ functions as a democratic, confederal membership organisation that unites affiliated students’ unions from universities, colleges, and technological institutions. It operates as the authoritative collective voice for students, lobbying government bodies and education authorities on critical national issues, including third-level funding, the student accommodation crisis, mental health services, equality, and broader welfare. By taking a stand on these pressing societal matters, the organisation ensures that the student perspective is consistently heard at the highest levels of national policy-making.
Beyond high-level advocacy and nationwide campaigns, the organisation plays a vital role in empowering the student movement at the grassroots level.
AMLÉ provides comprehensive training programmes, leadership development, and networking opportunities, such as national training for sabbatical officers and targeted empowerment initiatives, to ensure that student representatives are fully equipped to support their peers. By uniting students across the island, AMLÉ continues to shape educational policy, foster an active student community, and champion the rights of the next generation.
AI Tinkerers for all students
AI Tinkerers is a thriving global meetup community designed exclusively for technical practitioners, machine learning engineers, and entrepreneurial builders actively developing applications with foundation models and generative AI. Rather than functioning as a traditional networking group, pitch-heavy conference, or high-level academic forum, this grassroots initiative focuses entirely on hands-on creation, technical depth, and peer collaboration among individuals who write code and ship products.
To maintain its high technical standard, participation is rigorously screened to ensure attendees are active software developers, researchers, or technical founders capable of demonstrating working workflows. Events eschew corporate marketing and sales pitches in favour of live, unfiltered product demonstrations, deep dives into complex tech stacks, and practical troubleshooting sessions covering topics like retrieval-augmented generation and agentic systems.
Operating across numerous cities worldwide, including active regional chapters, the community connects thousands of builders to share raw code, exchange practical insights, and accelerate rapid prototyping.
All Ireland Programming Olympiad (AIPO) For all students
Organised by the School of Computing at Dublin City University, the competition invites students under eighteen to solve complex algorithmic problems using languages like Python, Java, and C++. Participants compete in a multi-hour programming challenge, with top qualifiers advancing to an intense training camp where they are selected to represent Ireland on the international stage. The event is supported by industry partners, reflecting its importance in fostering high-level computational thinking and technical excellence among the next generation of Irish software engineers.
Beyond recognising elite programming talent, the initiative encourages young people to treat coding with the same discipline and determination as a competitive sport. By providing a platform for students from all over the country to test their skills against live scoreboards, AIPO helps identify promising young problem solvers early in their education.
The programme plays a vital role in building a national community of competitive coders, offering a clear development path from regional participation to representing the country at prestigious global informatics championships.
Amnesty International Ireland — Activism Academy For third-level students
Amnesty International Ireland runs an immersive Activism Academy specifically designed to empower students and young adults who are deeply passionate about human rights and social justice. Participants are comprehensively trained by experienced human rights activists, campaigners, and guest speakers hailing from both Amnesty International and various international organisations across a dynamic series of collaborative meetings, educational seminars, and hands-on workshops. Through this structured programme, attendees build a thorough understanding of systemic advocacy, campaigning strategies, and international law, equipping them with the practical tools needed to drive meaningful social change within their local communities and on a broader global stage.
Locally and nationally, the academy fosters a vibrant community of young advocates who learn how to effectively organise public demonstrations, manage awareness campaigns, and engage with policymakers.
By bridging theoretical human rights concepts with real-world activist campaigns, the initiative cultivates essential leadership, public speaking, and critical thinking competencies. Ultimately, the Activism Academy serves as a vital launchpad for the next generation of human rights defenders, ensuring young people in Ireland are prepared to champion justice, equality, and fundamental freedoms throughout their academic and professional lives.
Ashoka Young Changemakers Ireland – for third-level students
Ashoka Young Changemakers in Ireland is a prestigious national network dedicated to identifying, selecting, and celebrating teenage social innovators who are actively building innovative solutions for the good of all citizens. Operating under Ashoka’s inspiring core vision of an ‘Everyone a Changemaker’ world, this vital initiative highlights extraordinary young individuals aged thirteen to eighteen who have successfully founded or co-founded impactful social ventures, community projects, or grassroots advocacy campaigns across the entire country.
Rather than viewing youth merely as the passive leaders of tomorrow, the network champions teenagers as powerful co-leaders today.
It provides these emerging visionaries with a robust support community, tailored professional mentorship, and a prominent public platform to scale their initiatives, tackle complex systemic challenges, and influence institutional decision-makers. Ultimately, Ashoka Young Changemakers works to transform the wider cultural and educational ecosystem across Ireland. By spotlighting peer role models who embody empathy, new leadership, and collaborative teamwork, the initiative inspires a nationwide shift, ensuring every young person feels equipped, empowered, and fully confident to drive meaningful, lasting social change in their local communities and wider society every single day.
Bank of Ireland Begin Together Awards – for all students
The Bank of Ireland Begin Together awards programme champions grassroots projects and community-led initiatives that foster resilience, capability, and inclusion across the island of Ireland. Delivered in vital partnership with Community Foundation Ireland, the initiative provides crucial financial support, multi-year grants, and national recognition to not-for-profit organisations, charities, and social enterprises. While the broader programme supports wide-ranging town regeneration and local enterprise, its dedicated community streams place a powerful emphasis on empowering under-served demographics. This includes funding youth development, improving physical and mental wellbeing, and championing specialised programmes that tackle systemic social challenges, reduce isolation, and foster belonging for vulnerable young people.
By investing directly in future-focused projects, these awards celebrate the local leaders and organisations building stronger, more connected societies. They provide essential resources to help youth-focused initiatives thrive, bridge opportunity gaps, and create a lasting, positive impact for the next generation. The ongoing collaboration highlights the vital role of corporate social responsibility in strengthening community cohesion, while successful recipients share best practices to build a collaborative network of changemakers dedicated to long-term youth empowerment nationwide.
The B!G Idea – For Second Level Students
The B!G Idea is a multi-award-winning creative education initiative driving systemic change in and beyond the classroom, through a suite of programmes for Transition Year, Youthreach, Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) and SEN students – particularly those from disadvantaged communities – at an all-Ireland level. Working both in the classroom and beyond it – training the teachers who will shape thousands more students to come – the charity delivers systemic, lasting change through structured full academic year, curriculum-aligned programmes to micro-learning interventions that challenge young people from all backgrounds and learning abilities to harness creative problem-solving and tackle the issues shaping their world, from climate action to inequality, AI and mental health.
Since launching in 2021, more than 17,500 young people have taken part, proof of the demand – and the untapped potential – in every community. By fostering an inclusive environment where experimentation and resilience are actively encouraged, the programmes equip the next generation with the collaboration, communication, and critical thinking skills they need to shape their own future.
One of the initiative’s greatest strengths is its direct connection to industry. Participating student teams have received guidance and feedback from more than 1,300 volunteer mentors to date, spanning design, technology, sustainability, and enterprise, who share their real-world expertise through their bespoke EdTech platform. This direct connection not only grounds students’ thinking in practical reality but opens young people’s eyes to future career pathways, culminating in the national Think B!G Fest that spotlights inclusive youth-led innovation on a national stage. The result is young people who leave not just with a challenge solved, but with the belief that they can shape what comes next – a ripple effect that strengthens families, communities, and the future of Ireland, for generations to come.
CoderDojo – for second-level students
Park of CoderDojo, Code Club is a global movement of free, volunteer-led, community-based coding clubs, founded in Cork in July 2011 by James Whelton and Bill Liao. Anyone aged seven to seventeen can attend a local Dojo to learn programming, build websites, apps, or games, and explore technology in an informal, social environment. The movement grew rapidly by open-sourcing its model, expanding from Ireland into North America and Italy and eventually to well over a thousand Dojos across dozens of countries. In 2017, CoderDojo merged with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, joining Code Club under one umbrella to make digital-making more accessible to young people worldwide.
In Ireland, CoderDojo Ireland acts as the regional body supporting local Dojos, Champions, Mentors, and “Ninjas” (the young participants), and promotes networking and collaboration across the national community.
It’s worth noting that participation skews toward secondary-school-aged and younger children rather than 3rd level students, and some sources report a decline in active Dojos across Ireland since the pandemic, with local groups working to relaunch chapters in areas like Kerry. Given the age range and volunteer-led, informal club structure, CoderDojo functions more as an ongoing community activity than a formal application-based programme.
Coding Grace is a not-for-profit organisation, founded in 2013 by Vicky Twomey-Lee, Michael Twomey, and Andrea Magnorsky, dedicated to promoting diversity in Ireland’s technology sector. It primarily supports underrepresented groups, including women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and ethnic minorities, by running inclusive, accessible programming workshops and events. These sessions cover a range of programming languages and technologies and are designed to suit different skill levels, from complete beginners to more advanced learners, ensuring everyone has a genuine opportunity to build confidence and improve their coding skills in a supportive environment.
Beyond technical training, Coding Grace hosts networking events, hackathons, and talks that help build community among participants and encourage collaboration
It partners with companies, educational institutions, and community groups to widen access to resources and opportunities that support diversity in tech. For students looking to progress a career in technology, joining Coding Grace’s workshops and events offers a low-barrier entry point to learn coding fundamentals, meet mentors and peers, and build a network, all while contributing to a broader push for a more inclusive, equitable tech industry in Ireland.
Codú describes itself as the community for AI builders and indie hackers, a space where developers can learn to build with AI, share what they’ve shipped, and grow alongside others doing similar work. The platform functions as a curated feed of articles, tips, questions, and links, drawing content from its own community as well as partner publications such as Hacker Noon, freeCodeCamp, and Towards Data Science.
Topics span AI agents, prompt engineering, vector databases, and building in public, reflecting a shift toward AI-focused development content rather than general coding education.
Membership is free, allowing users to read, post, upvote, save, and follow other builders, with a weekly newsletter rounding up notable AI tools, releases, and ideas worth following. While Codú was previously positioned around accessible coding education for underrepresented groups in tech, its current framing is broader and less structured: a general-purpose hub for developers and founders building AI products and side projects.
Concern Worldwide runs an inspiring Youth Climate Ambassador programme that selects talented Irish students to travel to major international events such as the UN Climate Change Conference (COP), advocate fiercely for global climate justice, and share impactful stories about how the worsening climate crisis disproportionately affects communities across the Global South when they return home to Ireland. Through this unique initiative, participants receive specialised training in environmental advocacy, public speaking, and grassroots campaigning, transforming them into powerful catalysts for ecological change within their schools, universities, and broader local communities.
Operating at the intersection of international development and environmentalism, the programme equips young advocates with the critical knowledge needed to engage with senior policymakers, environmental experts, and international delegations.
By witnessing global negotiations firsthand and amplifying marginalised voices, delegates cultivate essential leadership, communication, and strategic planning competencies. Furthermore, ambassadors build lasting international networks with fellow changemakers, empowering them to drive sustained climate action and raise public awareness long after the conference concludes. Additionally, participants gain ongoing mentorship from experienced humanitarian workers, enabling them to design impactful local sustainability projects that extend the reach of their advocacy work and create lasting, positive ecological change within Irish society.
Founded on a philosophy of fostering collaboration and hands-on innovation, the community operates as a private, high-energy space for practitioners to share their work, troubleshoot technical hurdles, and discuss the evolution of their ventures. Meetings are held at Dogpatch Labs and feature a rotating schedule of presenters who share everything from custom hardware and robotics prototypes to sophisticated software agents and niche research projects.
By keeping the format focused on live, unfiltered demos rather than theoretical panels or sales pitches, the event encourages attendees to pursue more ambitious side projects and helps build a stronger, more connected ecosystem of hackers and creators in Dublin.
Participation is curated to ensure that attendees are active builders, maintaining a collaborative environment where attendees can exchange practical insights and inspiration. The organisation is sustained by community organisers and supported by sponsorships, ensuring that the sessions remain accessible and focused on the work itself. Through this consistent rhythm of technical sharing, Demos Anon serves as a critical local hub for individuals pushing the boundaries of technology, helping to bridge the gap between early-stage experimentation and real-world application.
The Dublin Legacy Programme is a premier high-impact experiential leadership initiative run by Common Purpose as part of their global Legacy campaign today. Specifically designed for ambitious young people, university students, and early-career professionals aged eighteen to twenty-five, the programme brings together diverse emerging leaders from across the capital city region. Participants tackle the central civic question of how to make Dublin a vibrant city for all, focusing heavily on themes like cultural intelligence, social inclusion, intergenerational leadership, and authentic allyship.
Through immersive workshops and collaborative problem-solving teams, attendees build deep connections with established city leaders and civic pioneers everywhere.
Typically free for selected applicants thanks to dedicated corporate sponsors, this intensive multi-day experience combines interactive training with direct community engagement. Participants gain practical skills in personal branding, collaborative storytelling, and empathetic problem-solving while exploring complex real-world urban challenges together. The programme culminates in an exciting Ideas Marketplace where emerging leaders pitch creative solutions directly to senior stakeholders and city officials. This creates tangible pathways for civic participation, ensuring that passionate young voices actively shape Dublin’s long-term future, economic prosperity, cultural growth, and inclusive community development for many generations to come today without any doubt moving forward right now today.
ECO-UNESCO runs a prominent youth delegate programme that sends talented Irish students to major international climate conferences, including the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP) and Conference of Youth (COY) events. Past delegates have successfully represented Irish youth on critical environmental and sustainability issues at global levels, attending landmark summits such as COP26 and COY12. Through this initiative, participants are given a direct platform to voice environmental concerns, engage with international decision-makers, and contribute to worldwide discussions on ecological preservation and sustainable development.
Operating at the forefront of youth environmental education, the programme provides delegates with rigorous preparation in policy analysis, public advocacy, and media communication. By participating in international negotiations, young delegates cultivate vital leadership, diplomacy, and critical thinking skills.
Furthermore, they bring invaluable insights back to Ireland, inspiring local eco-action and empowering peer networks to address the climate crisis. Ultimately, the initiative ensures that young Irish voices actively shape international environmental policies and future sustainability frameworks, while also fostering lifelong professional connections with global environmental leaders, activists, and international stakeholders dedicated to preserving our planet for future generations.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) runs a landmark Youth Delegate to COP initiative designed to institutionalise youth engagement within European climate governance. Established following pioneering calls for structured youth participation in EU decision-making, the programme selects a dedicated young representative on a two-year mandate through a transparent, collaborative process alongside the European Youth Forum (YFJ) and Generation Climate Europe (GCE). The chosen delegate acts as a full member of the EESC’s official delegation, holding observer status at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) summits.
Operating at the vital intersection of grassroots activism and high-level institutional policymaking, the youth delegate takes part in official committee preparations, contributes to EESC consultative opinions, and coordinates side events during the international conferences
Before, during, and after global summits, the delegate works closely with a specialised Youth Task Force and international networks like YOUNGO to bridge the gap between frontline community realities and formal legislative frameworks. Ultimately, the programme ensures that diverse, ambitious European youth perspectives actively shape international climate agreements and long-term sustainable development strategies.
Founded in 2023, EirSpace serves as a vital bridge between academic study and the growing Irish aerospace industry. By bringing together students from third-level institutions nationwide, the organisation provides a collaborative platform to work on real-world projects, including rocket development and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). Its primary mission is to create a national pipeline for young engineers, offering the practical, technical, and professional development opportunities that are often limited in existing university curricula.
The initiative is entirely student-led, focusing on fostering innovation through tangible engineering challenges and real launches.
By uniting talent across multiple universities, EirSpace empowers its members to build essential expertise in aerospace design and systems, ensuring they are well-equipped to contribute to the future of Ireland’s technological landscape. Through these hands-on projects, the organisation not only advances students’ technical skills but also plays a significant role in fostering a vibrant, collegiate aerospace community that promotes sustainable growth and excellence within the Irish engineering sector.
Enactus Ireland operates as part of the world’s largest experiential learning platform dedicated to creating a better world while developing the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. Through campus-based chapters across major Irish universities and technological institutes, including Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, DCU, TU Dublin, and MTU, students collaborate across academic disciplines to design and implement community outreach projects and commercial social enterprises. These initiatives tackle pressing local and global issues, ranging from climate action and environmental sustainability to financial inclusion, mental health awareness, and homelessness support.
Operating at the intersection of business and social impact, Enactus equips student participants with essential hands-on skills in project management, leadership, design thinking, and financial planning through workshops, national mentorship programmes, and virtual accelerators like Enactus Ignite.
Teams regularly showcase their impact at the annual Enactus Ireland National Competition, where the winning team earns the prestigious opportunity to represent Ireland on the global stage at the Enactus World Cup. Ultimately, the organisation bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world execution, developing socially conscious leaders capable of driving long-term positive change
The Student Entrepreneur Awards (SEA) is a national competition run by Enterprise Ireland for full-time third-level undergraduate and postgraduate students on the island of Ireland, open to individuals or teams across all academic disciplines. It is sponsored by Cruickshank, Grant Thornton, Local Enterprise Office and Enterprise Ireland, and aims to help students with commercially promising business ideas take their first steps toward entrepreneurship, offering mentoring and specialist advice alongside cash prizes.
The competition runs in three stages: students first submit a two-minute video pitch outlining their idea’s commercial and export potential; the top 50 entries are then shortlisted and asked to submit a full business plan; and ten finalists go on to present to a judging panel at a live final, which concludes with an awards ceremony.
The timeline runs from January to May, with video applications opening in January, evaluation and the top-50 shortlist in March, and the top 10 finalists and winners announced in May. In total, €35,000 in cash prizes is on offer, with an overall winner receiving €10,000, plus three €5,000 merit awards and additional Enterprise Ireland runner-up and academic awards.
Erasmus+ is the European Union’s comprehensive funding programme designed to support educational, professional, and personal development across education, training, youth, and sport. Operating with a substantial multi-billion euro budget, the initiative facilitates international mobility and cross-border cooperation for learners, educators, and youth workers of all ages and backgrounds. In Ireland, the programme is jointly managed and administered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for higher education opportunities and Léargas for vocational, school, adult education, and youth sector activities.
The programme focuses heavily on four core priorities: inclusion and diversity, digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and active participation in democratic life.
Through Key Action funding streams, participants engage in diverse activities such as higher education study semesters, vocational traineeships, youth exchanges, professional staff training, and collaborative partnerships. Ultimately, Erasmus+ bridges the gap between different cultures and educational systems, equipping participants with vital global competencies, language skills, and practical experience necessary for modern personal and professional success.
Engage in Education serves students in Limerick City by providing tailored financial and non-financial support to help them overcome social, cultural, and psychological barriers. Through its three core programs, Nurture, Compass, and Engage, the organisation offers a comprehensive support system that includes mentoring, extra tuition, career guidance, and networking opportunities. By fostering self-belief and raising career expectations, the charity empowers motivated young people to progress through the education system, ultimately bridging the gap between potential and opportunity.
Beyond direct student assistance, the organisation collaborates closely with parents, schools, and community agencies to create a supportive, inclusive environment. Established in 1991, the charity works to dismantle the labels often associated with “disadvantaged” status, ensuring that students have the resources necessary to succeed on their own merits. By providing both the practical tools for academic success and a community of shared understanding, Engage in Education acts as a vital bridge, enabling students to pursue their ambitions from secondary education through to PhD-level studies that might otherwise remain out of reach.
The EU Careers Student Ambassadors programme is a pan-European initiative managed by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO)—the central recruitment service for the European Union. The programme appoints motivated university students to act as the primary point of contact for institutional job openings, graduate schemes, and traineeship opportunities (such as the European Commission Blue Book traineeships) directly on their home campuses. In Ireland, the network operates across participating third-level institutions—including University College Dublin, Dublin City University, University of Limerick, and Maynooth University—in close collaboration with national government departments and university career services.
As brand representatives, student ambassadors undertake diverse responsibilities, including hosting campus presentations, managing dedicated online and social media channels, distributing informational materials, and answering student inquiries regarding application processes for EU careers.
In exchange for committing a minimum of two hours per week, participants receive comprehensive professional training, coaching from senior officials, and access to an exclusive international network. Ultimately, the programme bridges the gap between European institutions and ambitious young graduates, equipping student leaders with practical skills in public speaking, marketing, and human resources while fostering greater civic engagement with the EU.