The 2026 BSTAI National Conference “Building Conference and Collaboration” will take place on Saturday 10th October 2026 in the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Ennis Road, Limerick, V94 YA2R.
There will be a pre-conference dinner at 7.30pm on Friday October 9th, which will be an ideal opportunity to network with Business teachers from all over Ireland.
Conference Programme
08.30 – 09.15: Registration, tea/coffee, networking and opportunity to view sponsors stands
09.15 – 10.00: Welcome and opening remarks from Honorary National President, Julie O’Keeffe, followed by a plenary presentation by Keynote Speaker, entrepreneur Ciarán Stone, Founder and CEO of Square Root Solutions.
10.00 – 10.15: John O’Connor Awards Presentation
10.15 – 10.45: Tea/Coffee, networking and opportunity to view sponsors’ stands
10.45 – 11.45: Workshops, Session 1 (see below for choice of workshops)
11.45 – 12.45: Workshops, Session 2 (see below for choice of workshops)
12.45 – 13.45: Lunch, networking and opportunity to view sponsors’ stands
13.45 – 14.45: Workshops, Session 3 (see below for choice of workshops)
14.45 – 15.30: Plenary Sessions
NCCA: Update on the next stages of Senior Cycle Reform in the Business Suite of subjects
Oide: Key developments in Oide’s Business Subject supports, with a focus on priorities for the coming year, recent highlights and future plans
DEY: Assessment in the Business Classroom: A reflective approach
15.30 – 15.45: Conference resources and evaluation, raffle and closing remarks.
Keynote speaker: Ciarán Stone, Founder and CEO of Square Root Solutions
Ciarán Stone is the Founder and CEO of Square Root Solutions, an award-winning Irish software development company specialising in custom software, EdTech, artificial intelligence and digital transformation. As the company’s founder, Ciarán brings first-hand experience of entrepreneurship and of building and growing a technology business.
Under his leadership, Square Root Solutions has worked with SMEs, large organisations and education providers in Ireland and internationally, developing digital platforms and practical AI and automation solutions. The company has particular expertise in EdTech, building digital learning, content and education management platforms, and has been recognised as a Business All-Star Software Development Company of the Year, achieving its fifth consecutive Business All-Star accreditation in
2026.
Ciarán is also a qualified Business teacher, giving him a distinctive perspective on entrepreneurship, business education and the evolving role of technology and AI in business.
Workshops
Please read the details of all workshops before choosing your three preferred workshops when purchasing your tickets on Eventbrite. The organisers will endeavour to ensure as many attendees as possible can access their three preferences, but due to timing clashes, this may not always be possible.
- Ideas for your Transition Year Modules
a. Exploring Insurance in TY
Discover how the Insurance Institute’s free online TY programme can be incorporated into your classroom. Teachers will explore its real-world content and interactive resources, designed to engage students with financial literacy, sustainability, the role of insurance and related career opportunities.
Presenter: The Insurance Institute of Ireland
b. Design Thinking and TY Student Enterprise
Explore how Design Thinking can be incorporated into TY Student Enterprise to support creative problem-solving, innovation and student-led learning. Teachers will consider classroom approaches that help students develop their enterprise ideas while building a valuable foundation for Leaving Certificate Business.
Presenter: Caroline McHale, Business education author and national judge for the Student Enterprise Programme. - Leaving Certificate Accounting – Incomplete Records and Marginal Costing
Effective approaches to teaching Leaving Certificate Accounting, with a particular focus on supporting students in tackling Incomplete Records and Marginal Costing.
Presenter: Alan Ryan, Accounting teacher in St. Augustine’s College, Dungarvan. - Leaving Certificate Economics – The Research Study
Classroom strategies for supporting students through the Leaving Certificate Economics Research Study, with particular emphasis on developing an effective Reflection section.
Presenter: Pat O’Leary, Economics teacher in Coláiste an Chraoibhín, Fermoy, and Leaving Certificate Economics examiner. - Leaving Cert Economics – From Current Affairs to Classroom Assessment
Explore approaches to designing effective classroom assessments and engaging, cross-strand resources based on topical issues. Teachers will consider question design and leave with classroom-ready exemplars to support student learning.
Presenter: Diarmuid Canning, Economics teacher in St. Andrew’s College, Dublin. - Junior Cycle Business Studies – Supporting Inclusion in the Classroom
Ideas and resources for creating an inclusive Business Studies classroom that supports all learners, with particular attention to EAL students and those following Level 2 Learning Programmes. The workshop will also consider ways to encourage students to reflect on their studies and the world around them.
Presenter: Kim Deens, Business teacher in St. Kevin’s Community College, Clondalkin. - Junior Cycle Business Studies – Success Criteria in the Classroom
A classroom-focused approach to using success criteria to address common challenges experienced by Junior Cycle Business Studies students. Teachers will explore a resource designed to support learning and encourage students to achieve their potential.
Presenter: Padraig Doherty, Business teacher in Moyne Community School - Leaving Certificate Business – Building the Skills for Successful Engagement with the AAC
Classroom strategies to support students in completing the Leaving Certificate Business AAC. The workshop will explore interpreting the brief, developing effective investigative questions, and embedding research, analysis, evaluation and independent learning skills into everyday classroom practice.
Presenter: David Walsh, Business teacher in Ratoath College, Co. Meath. - Leaving Certificate Business – Applying Models in the New Specification
An interactive exploration of applying STEEPLE and Porter’s Five Forces to real businesses within the new Leaving Certificate Business specification. Participants will work through guided exercises that demonstrate how these models can be brought to life in the classroom.
Presenter: Joseph Coughlan, Head of School of Business at Maynooth University. - Leaving Certificate Business – Design Thinking
Discover how Design Thinking can support teaching and learning within the new Leaving Certificate Business specification, particularly across Enterprise, Managing and Business in Action. The workshop will provide classroom-ready approaches for developing creativity, problem-solving, student agency and entrepreneurial thinking.
Presenter: James Moynihan, Programme Director of the MA in Innovation through Design Thinking at UCC. - AI across the Business Subjects Suite
An introduction to generative AI and its potential applications across the Business subjects. Participants will explore waysto use AI effectively in classroom practice while considering its limitations, ethical implications and responsible use.
Presenter: Oide Technology and Leaving Certificate Business teams
Parking
Free parking is available at the hotel.
Accommodation
B&B in Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa €159 single occupancy, €170 double occupancy. Please quote BSTAI when booking should you wish to avail of these rates.
Other hotels, B&Bs and AirBnBs are available in Limerick.
Tickets
Tickets available for sale from 6pm on Monday 21st September until Sunday 4th October at midnight.
Please note that after you purchase your tickets, you must complete the order form selecting your workshop and providing the name of your school, etc. before the tickets will be issued to you. If you do not fully complete the order form, your tickets will be cancelled within 48 hours.