Ó An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan TD and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins TD today announced the delivery of more than 11,400 free or subsidised places on Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 Graduate Conversion Programmes.
The courses are in areas such as cybersecurity, virtual reality, health innovation, logistics as well as climate, sustainability and energy, aligning with Ireland’s strategic priorities.
Courses are free for the unemployed, previously self-employed and returners to the workforce.
For others, 90 per cent of the course fee is funded by the Government, with participants required to contribute just 10 per cent of the fee.
Speaking today, Minister O’Donovan said:
“There are now more than 350 free or subsidised courses offering people incredible opportunities to upskill or reskill in areas where businesses are crying out for workers.
“The courses are designed to empower individuals and allow them to thrive in the evolving job market. They offer not just an exciting and valuable education but also pathways to sustainable employment.”
The 11,471 places consist of 8,225 places on 248 courses under Springboard+ and 3,216 on 107 courses under Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 Graduate Conversion Programmes for the academic year 2024/25.
Minister Collins said:
"Today’s announcement helps us ensure that our workforce is ready to respond to the changes happening in the world of work, and also provide the country with the skills to deliver in key areas such as climate, sustainability and renewable energy.
"It’s vitally important that the programmes are accessible to everyone, and that’s why most of them are delivered either fully online or in a blended format.
"While the Year of Skills has just ended, it offered us a valuable reminder of the importance of lifelong learning and why we must remain committed to delivering the skills needed to meet the needs of a rapidly-evolving economy."
The Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 are European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) operations that are co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union. The courses are managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department and are tailored towards the unemployed, self-employed, returners to the workforce and individuals seeking to upskill or reskill. This aligns with the priorities of the ESF+ Employment , Inclusion, Skills, and Training (EIST) programme which aims to improve access to employment and skills and training opportunities.
Alan Wall, CEO of the HEA, said:
"The subsidised nature of Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 programmes ensures accessibility for a diverse group of learners, contributing to a more resilient and adaptable workforce."
With applications opening for Springboard+ today and applications to HCI Pillar 1 open, applicants will find full details on the approved courses on the dedicated information and applications website www.springboardcourses.ie .
Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 represent vital funding investments in Ireland’s human capital, reinforcing the country’s commitment to education, innovation, and economic growth.
Background to Springboard+
Springboard+, which is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free and subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. Since 2011, over €360m has been spent on Springboard+ and over 100,000 people have benefited from the programme to date.
Springboard+ courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and are delivered by public and private higher education providers around the country. Courses are not all a full award at each level – they may also be minor awards or special purposes awards. All courses provide job-readiness training and most offer the opportunity for work placement, project-based learning, or industry site visits where appropriate.
All courses approved for funding under Springboard+ are selected following a competitive tendering process. In particular, courses with a proven track record in getting people back into employment are recommended for funding.
The majority of courses approved under Springboard+ 2024 will start later in 2024 and in early 2025.
Human Capital Initiative (HCI) – Graduate Conversion Courses
The Human Capital Initiative (HCI) was announced as part of Budget 2019. The initiative provides additional capacity across the Higher Education Sector to meet priority skill needs for enterprise. Graduate Conversion Programmes under the HCI offers incentivised places for graduates to reskill in areas of skills shortage and emerging technologies. These are being run alongside, and complementary to, the Springboard+ offerings.
Approval has already been granted for courses under HCI Pillar 1 to run for the 2024/25 academic year, as part of the approval process in 2023.
Full details on Springboard+ and HCI courses, the eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the website www.springboardcourses.ie .
European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)
The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the EU's key instrument for investing in people, focusing on improving employment and education opportunities as well as enhancing social inclusion and tackling poverty.
ESF+ is a shared management programme and the ESF+ Managing Authority (MA) in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science holds responsibility for implementation of ESF+ in Ireland.
The ESF+ supports a range of courses, schemes and projects across the country and this assistance is channelled through a number of Government Departments and Agencies, which were selected following a comprehensive consultation exercise.
The ESF+ Managing Authority in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science led on the Ireland’s ESF+ Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme for 2021-27.
The priorities of the EIST Programme are:
The EIST Programme has a total allocation of €1.081bn which is made up of €508.4m in EU funding and €572.6m in national co-financing.