16/06/2016

Springboard+ 2016 Offers 5,825 Education Places For Jobseekers

Almost 6,000 jobseekers are to benefit from the latest offering of free part-time and full-time higher education places under Springboard+ 2016.

Springboard is designed to encourage a response by educational institutions to meet the emerging skill needs of enterprise. All courses approved for funding under Springboard+ are selected by an independent panel following a competitive tendering process.

Almost half the places (2,752) are on ICT courses, reflecting the continuing demand for skills in this area. Skills for manufacturing are also significant (1,298), reflecting the strong performance of this sector.

There are 180 courses, both full and part-time, in 36 educational institutions across all of the regions.

Announcing the 5,825 free places, Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, said: "Today's announcement reflects a commitment in the Programme for Government to deliver a step change in our capacity to educate, develop, deploy and retain talent. The competitive tendering model used to select Springboard+ courses is a good one.

"I will be considering how this model, along with other incentives, can be developed and utilised to encourage further responses to skill needs and partnership between the third level sector and enterprise.

"Springboard+ embodies the core ambition set out earlier in the year in the National Skills Strategy – to ensure that we have a system that is flexible; responsive to the needs of enterprise and adult learners; and that delivers the maximum impact for our public resources.

"I am delighted to announce that this year, the ICT Conversion courses will also be available to eligible participants on a pilot part-time, two year option. This is due to the continuing demand for high quality ICT graduates."

(MH/JP)

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