Applications will open for Springboard+ on Wednesday 7th June.
National College of Ireland offers a wide range of Springboard+ programmes, from a 12-week Certificate in Computing to Postgraduate Diplomas in Data Analytics, Cybersecurity and Artificial intelligence, through Higher Diplomas that are ideal as 'conversion courses', allowing people with no prior technical experience to pivot to a computing specialisation.
On Monday June 5th, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins TD launched more than 11,000 free or subsidised places on college courses, in areas that have been identified as of critical importance such as Software Development, Blockchain and Web Development.
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 Harris said: “This is providing brilliant opportunities for people to upskill and reskill in areas of skills shortages, futureproof their career, and progress in, or re-enter the workforce. “Most programmes are delivered either fully online or in a blended format making them fully accessible, meeting the rapidly-evolving needs of our economy and our commitment to lifelong learning.”
“Today’s announcement help us to ensure that our workforce is equipped to respond to the rapid changes in the world of work brought about by digitisation, with courses spanning areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Financial Technologies.
“In this, the European Year of Skills, it is vital that we all consider the opportunity to learn a new skill. Skills and continuous learning are vital for enabling individuals and countries to thrive in an increasingly, interconnected and rapidly changing world.”
The 11,000 courses consist of 8,291 places on 252 courses under Springboard+ 2023 and 2,922 places on 105 courses under Human Capital Initiative Pillar 1 Graduate Conversion Programmes for the academic year 2023/24.
This leads to a combined total of 11,213 places on 357 courses across Springboard+ 2023 and HCI Pillar 1 to be delivered by public and private higher education providers around the country.
Minister Collins said: “Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 are government initiatives – managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science– that provide free and subsidised courses for people who are unemployed, returning to work, or those who would like to upskill or reskill in areas of skills shortages and emerging technologies.
Funding is allocated to Springboard+ from the National Training Fund (NTF) on an annual basis. Now entering its thirteenth year, over 100,000 people have benefitted from the Springboard+ programme to date.”
Alan Wall, Chief Executive Officer of the HEA, said: “2023 marks the European Year of Skills, where stakeholders across Europe will work together to promote investment in training and upskilling.
“In this important year, the HEA and the Higher Education providers are delighted to offer courses that will put reskilling and upskilling centre-stage.
“The subsidised nature of Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 programmes means that the funded courses are accessible to a diverse group of people across the economy. The programmes on offer will appeal to those looking to obtain new skills to get back into the workforce, as well as those seeking to develop their skillset as our economy grows.”