Young economists could win placement at Central Bank of Ireland

• Central Bank of Ireland teams up on new award in the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST)’s Young Economist of the Year (YEOTY) competition
• Central Bank Award invites students to submit research on Brexit, the Irish economy or monetary policy
• Central Bank sponsorship includes cash prize and opportunity to work at the Central Bank

The Central Bank of Ireland will sponsor a new Central Bank Award as part of the PDST Young Economist of the Year competition in 2019. Hundreds of second-level students compete each year with projects on a range of economic topics, which in 2019 have been expanded to include a focus on the euro area economy and the work of the Central Bank of Ireland.

The Central Bank Award invites students to explore issues relating to Brexit, the Irish economy or monetary policy. Entrants submitting to this award are encouraged to be innovative in how they address their topics, potentially submitting visual presentations, video, poetry or essays, each of which will be assessed by economists from the Economics and Statistics Directorate of the Central Bank.

Students across the country are already hard at work as they prepare their submissions to PDST YEOTY and entrants should indicate if they wish to be considered for this award on their submission forms by the deadline of 26 March.

Eligible entrants will be shortlisted and invited to the PDST YEOTY celebration day on 2 May in UCD where the winners of the Central Bank Award will be announced. Winners will receive a specially designed commemorative medal along with a €500 cash prize and a two-week work placement at the Central Bank.

Mark Cassidy, Director of Economics and Statistics at the Central Bank of Ireland said ‘It is always interesting to see new perspectives on the work we do and the Central Bank wants to recognise outstanding work in areas of particular relevance to our mandate. We are looking forward to reviewing projects relating to Brexit, the Irish economy and monetary policy.

‘While these are complex issues, they are central to how our economy works and in turn impact on all our daily lives. I expect that when we review projects from the PDST Young Economist of the Year, there is a very good chance we will be reading early research from our future colleagues – the central bankers and financial regulators for the next generation.’

Ciara O’Donnell, National Director of the Professional Development Service for Teachers, said ‘The PDST is delighted to see our YEOTY initiative enter its sixth year as we aim to continue the promotion of economics as a leading discipline for 21st century learners. This initiative is first and foremost rooted in projects that are driven by student inquiry about ever-present and real contemporary issues that impact on our daily lives. To that end, we welcome the development of this partnership with the Central Bank of Ireland, whose contribution to this project further recognises the powerful role that student voice can play in investigating and articulating issues that are of particular relevance to the Irish economic context.’

Entries to PDST YEOTY 2019 must be received by 26 March; full details can be found at https://pdst.ie/youngeconomist

Notes

Young Economist of the Year (YEOTY) is an initiative of the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) supported by UCD School of Education; UCD School of Economics; Department of Economics, Accounting and Finance, Maynooth University; School of Business and Economics NUI Galway; School of Education NUI Galway; the Irish Economic Association (IEA); Laois Education Centre; the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) and the Central Bank of Ireland. The PDST is funded by the Teacher Education Section (TES) of the Department of Education Skills (DES) and managed by Dublin West Education Centre.