Inspiring the
NextGeneration
of Problem-Solvers

BEACONS is a national education project led by the Irish Computer Society in partnership with University of Limerick, supporting teachers and students to explore computational thinking and problem-solving in engaging ways.

Get involved as a teacher Learn about BEACONS
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A teacher and a group of young students gather around a laptop at a classroom table, including a girl seated in a wheelchair.
A young girl holds a marker and concentrates as she solves addition and subtraction problems on a classroom whiteboard
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Find the right information for you

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For Teachers

Access training, classroom resources and project information.

Visit Teacher Hub
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For Students

Explore challenges and learn about computational thinking.

Visit Student Hub
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For Parents

Understand how these skills support learning and development.

Visit Parent Hub

Building problem-solving skills for the future

Computational thinking helps students break down challenges, recognise patterns and develop clear solutions. BEACONS supports teachers in bringing these skills into a wide range of subjects.

About the Project

A collaborative project for schools across Ireland

BEACONS supports the development of computational thinking in primary and secondary schools through practical resources and teacher support.

Register Today

Introducing the Bebras challenge

The Bebras competition helps students develop computational thinking skills through fun, accessible problem-solving tasks.

Visit the Bebras Website
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A teacher leans over a desk to help two young students working on a laptop in an elementary classroom.

Latest News

Catch up on the latest BEACONS updates, stories and resources

  • 23 October 2026

    BEACONS Teacher Participation

    Having launched our online teacher toolkit in September, we are delighted to see people from around the country engaging with the content. Check out the stats on the interactive dashboard below!
  • Member Only
    A teacher sits at a laptop surrounded by young students, including one boy trying a VR headset and a girl in a wheelchair, in a primary classroom.
    3 August 2026

    Celebrating Ireland’s Young Computational Thinkers

    Congratulations to all the students and schools that participated in this year’s Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge.
  • A close-up of a hand holding chalk while working through an algebra equation written on a blackboard.
    3 August 2026

    New Coordinator Guide Available for Teachers

    The updated Bebras Coordinator Guide is now available to help teachers prepare for this year’s challenge.
  • Overhead view of a child pointing at a savings goals app on a phone, with coins, a calculator, and a jar labeled Save on the table.
    3 August 2026

    Registration Opens for the 2026 Bebras Challenge

    Schools across Ireland can now register for the 2026 Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge.


What’s Coming Up

Discover upcoming challenges, events and important dates for students and teachers.

  • Science Week UL
    8 – 15 November 2026
    All day
    Workshops TBC
    View details about the [event title] event

  • Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge 2026
    9 – 20 November 2026
    10:00 am – 2:00 pm
    Participating schools throughout Ireland
    View details about the [event title] event

A collaborative
education initiative

Led by the Irish Computer Society in partnership with University of Limerick, BEACONS is jointly funded by Research Ireland and the Department of Education & Youth through the Discover Programme (Grant No. 25/DP/13894)

Register Today
Irish Computer Society logo
Irish Computer Society
Irish Computer Society
University of Limerick
University of Limerick
Research Ireland logo
Research Ireland
Research Ireland
Department of Education & Youth logo
Department of Education & Youth
Research Ireland

Bring BEACONS to your school

Register to access resources, training and project updates.

Register as a Teacher