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National Skills Council meets with OECD on plans to drive Ireland’s ambition for skills and talent and announce roadshow across the country


OECD skills roadshow and National Skills Council meeting

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris has today encouraged businesses, employers, individuals, community groups, education and learning providers, and all stakeholders, to have their say on the future of skills and talent in Ireland, ahead of today’s meeting of the National Skills Council.

The OECD is currently examining Ireland’s skills strategies to address skills shortages in Ireland and prepare us for future global shocks.

Today, the OECD will meet with the Skills Council with a view to finalising its recommendations, and will travel the country over the next two weeks meeting with businesses and educators on the next steps forward.

Speaking today, Minister Harris said:

“Ireland emerged from the pandemic in a robust manner, but with the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, international tax changes, and soaring energy prices creating a cost-of-living crisis, never has it been more important that Ireland maintains our global advantage, with our people as our best asset and a future facing skills agenda at the core of Ireland’s response to these challenges.

“We need to ensure that Ireland's skills system stands as a central and effective enabler for Ireland’s competitiveness and economic and social sustainability while we accelerate digitalisation and the transition towards a climate-neutral economy.

“That requires us all and over the next two weeks, the OECD will be going across the country to hear from enterprises on the ground about what you need. Our door is open and the OECD wants to hear from you on how we can improve our workforce and become more resilient in the face of great change.”

Areas of focus emerging from the project include the need to work towards more dynamic, granular data, to inform how we respond effectively and rapidly to skills needs; the need to continue to expand short, flexible and blended skilling options for people entering and transitioning through the workforce; our ambition to further support and enable individualised, continuous learning journeys through the workplace and lifecycle, through a progressive and dynamic tertiary education and training system, and more.

Minister for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins added:

“The future wellbeing of our skills ecosystem and its ability to continue to provide sustainable development for individuals, enterprises, and our economy and society both regionally and nationally will be shaped now. This is the final moment to engage."

Andrew Bell from the OECD Centre for Skills added:

“The discussions that we will have in the meetings and several workshops in the upcoming weeks, will be very important for the development of policy recommendations that truly reflect the needs of Ireland.

“The levels of engagement that we have seen so far show a lot of willingness and commitment to further strengthen the skills system in Ireland, and it makes us optimistic about its future.”

Additionally, the National Skills Bulletin 2022, published today, provides rich data on labour market trends which will help drive forward our response to priority skills needs.

Everyone is encouraged to engage in Ireland’s OECD Skills project.

OECD Skills Strategies

OECD Skills Strategies provide a strategic and comprehensive approach to assess countries’ skills challenges and opportunities, and build more effective skills systems. The OECD works collaboratively with countries, states and regions to develop policy responses that are tailored to each one’s specific skills challenges and needs.

The foundation of this approach is the OECD Skills Strategy framework, the components of which are i) developing relevant skills over the life course, ii) using skills effectively in work and in society, and iii) strengthening the governance of the skills system.

OECD Skills Strategy Project for Ireland

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science leads in partnership with the OECD, 2022 Skills Strategy Project, working across Government via a cross-departmental project team, and through the primary skills infrastructures, the National Skills Council and nine Regional Skills Fora.

There are 4 priority areas of the project:

  • securing balance in skills through a responsive and diversified supply of skills
  • fostering greater participation in lifelong learning in and outside of the workplace
  • strengthening the governance across a joined up skills ecosystem
  • leveraging skills to drive innovation and strengthen the performance of firm

Phases of engagement

The review is being undertaken over around 15 to 18 months and has four phases:

  • scoping - mapping and engagement (Q4 2021 to Q1 2022)
  • assessment - (Q2 2022)
  • recommendations - (Q3 to Q4 2022)
  • publication of final report - (Q1 2023)

Public consultation

As part of their extensive programme of stakeholder engagement, the OECD conducts surveys during all phases. The assessment phase survey is now closed. You can complete the final recommendations survey until 17 November.

Engagements in October

Extraordinary Meeting of the National Skills Council (ENSCM)

  • 19 October
  • 2pm to 4pm
  • virtual meeting

The ENSCM, led by the OECD, will inform the NSC on project progress and facilitate stakeholder discussion paying particular attention to priority area three : 'strengthening the governance to build a joined up skills ecosystem.'

OECD Workshop – National Focus

  • 24 October
  • 10am to 4pm
  • Morrison Hotel, Ormond Quay Lower, Dublin 1, D01 K5X5

This workshop is aimed at discussing, prioritising and further refining the draft policy directions. Each workshop session will cover one of three priority areas of the project:

  • Session 1 (Priority area 1)- Securing a balance in skills through a responsive and diversified supply of skills
  • Session 2 (Priority area 2)- Fostering greater participation in lifelong learning in and outside of the workplace
  • Session 3 (Priority area 4)- Leveraging skills to drive innovation and strengthen the performance of firms

The workshop will be led by the OECD and will consist of ENSC invitees, CDPT Members, and additional stakeholders, most of whom were invited to the National workshop in June.

OECD Workshops – Regional Focus

The regional workshops will be led by the OECD and will bring together RSF Members, Managers and Chairpersons, and representatives of enterprises (MNCs, SMEs and Micro Plus).

Dublin, West and Midlands

  • 25 October
  • 10.30am to 1pm
  • Radisson Blu Hotel, Northgate St, Athlone, Co Westmeath, N37 A8X9

South-West, South-East and Mid-West

  • 26 October
  • 10.30am to 1pm
  • Limerick Strand Hotel, Ennis Rd, Limerick, V94 03F2

North-West, Mid-East and North-East

  • 27 October
  • 10.30am – 1pm
  • Cavan Digital Hub, Kilmore Business Park, Dublin Rd, Pollamore Far, Cavan, H12 PD82