Pause carousel
Play carousel
Tayside pupils gain first-hand insight into studying and working in the technology sector
School pupils from across Tayside visited Abertay University for the 2026 Ada Scotland Festival, taking part in a programme that showcased opportunities in computing and encouraged more young people to consider careers in the sector.
Taking place on Wednesday 30 September, the Dundee Schools Hub Games and Cyber Day brought together more than 50 pupils from primary and secondary schools across the region to meet industry professionals, hear from current students and explore different pathways into technology-related careers.
Hosted at Abertay for the second-year running, the event gave pupils direct insight into studying and working in technology through conversations with industry professionals and current students.
Organised by Abertay University’s Faculty of Design, Informatics and Business, the day featured a varied programme including a careers fair, industry talks, practical workshops and a student panel discussion.
At the careers fair, pupils met representatives from employers, professional networks and student societies, including NCR Atleos, Systal, Gamemaker, the Abertay Games Development Society, Women in Games Society and HackSoc.
Games developers, students and graduates also showcased their projects and spoke to pupils about their experiences of studying and working in the industry.
Across the programme, pupils took part in interactive sessions led by Abertay staff, alumni, students and industry contributors.
The event concluded with a student panel, during which current Abertay students spoke about their backgrounds, their journeys to university and their experiences of studying at Abertay. They also answered questions about student life, higher education and career pathways.
Dr Lynn Love, Senior Lecturer in Computer Arts at Abertay University and Academic Lead for the event, said:
Giving young people the opportunity to try new things, meet people working and studying in technology and ask questions in a welcoming environment can have a really positive impact, especially for diverse groups who often might not see a place for themselves in these industries. We want pupils to recognise that their ideas, creativity and problem-solving skills are valuable, and that there is a place for them via a range there are of many different routes into games, computing and cyber security. We hope the day helped them picture themselves studying or working in these areas in the future.
The event builds on Abertay's longstanding support for the Ada Scotland Festival and its wider commitment to encouraging greater diversity across games, computing and technology. In 2025, more than 70 pupils from eight schools attended a similar programme of workshops, talks and activities at the University.
This year's Dundee Schools Hub Games and Cyber Day is supported by Robertson Construction Tayside, Ninja Kiwi and NCR Atleos.
Kris Sparks, Pre-Construction Director at Robertson Construction Tayside said:
Giving young people the opportunity to discover new interests, explore future pathways and learn more about STEM subjects is hugely important. Helping young people progress into education and employment is one of the key themes in our social impact policy, and supporting the Ada Scotland Festival through our ongoing relationship with Abertay University reflects that focus.
Denise Leadingham, Corporate Vice President of Engineering at NCR Atleos, said:
NCR Atleos is delighted to be supporting the Ada Scotland Festival again this year. We know that innovation thrives when people with different perspectives and experiences come together. The festival is a fantastic opportunity for young people to discover the variety of careers available in STEM, and we hope our involvement will inspire the next generation to consider careers in areas such as engineering, product design and device testing.
The 2026 Ada Scotland Festival runs until 5 November, when it will conclude with the Ada Scotland Festival Awards and Closing Celebration at Abertay cyberQuarter.
