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 have today (Wednesday, 25^th May) launched 10,697 places on 275 courses under Springboard+ 2022.

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.

Minister Harris said: “As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and in the current economic climate, where new technologies and business practices are on the rise and issues such as climate change must be urgently addressed, lifelong learning is essential to ensure employability, meet societal needs and enable personal fulfilment.

“Upskilling is important for everyone in employment, regardless of their occupation or current skill levels. Springboard+ and the graduate conversion courses under the Human Capital Initiative are a key part of the Government’s strategy to ensure we are planning for the future skills needs of our economy, which is critical to delivering on our ambitions as a nation.”

Springboard+ 2022 courses are in the areas of new and emerging technologies such as Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence. Other programmes include Climate/Sustainability, Construction, and Energy, Health Innovation, Logistics, Online Retail and Creative Industries. All of these areas demonstrate the responsiveness of the higher education sector to advances in technology and changes in our environment.

Now entering its twelfth year, over 90,000 people have benefitted from the programme to date. The Springboard+ programme is managed by the Higher Education Authority, on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Funding is allocated to Springboard+ from the National Training Fund (NTF) on an annual basis.  €41.4m has been allocated to Springboard+ for the calendar year 2022. Since 2011, over €330m has been spent on Springboard+.

Minister Collins said: “Springboard+ training programmes provide people who are unemployed, those looking to return to the workforce and those in employment with a great opportunity to upskill or reskill in areas in which employers need skilled workers.

“I am particularly pleased that courses provided under Springboard+ 2022 will continue to be delivered in a flexible manner – in excess of 95% of the courses will be delivered in a flexible format which will enable more people to engage in upskilling and reskilling around the country.”

Springboard+ provides higher education courses in areas of identified skills needs. Courses are free for the unemployed, previously self-employed and returners to the workforce. Courses are also free for employed people on NFQ Level 6 courses. For employed participants on courses NFQ level 7 – 9, 90% of the course fee is funded by the state, with participants required to contribute just 10% of the fee.

Dr. Alan Wall, CEO of the HEA, said: “The Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 initiatives, continue to support the delivery of higher education courses in key skill need areas of the Irish economy.

“The initiatives have enabled over 95,000 participants to upskill in their current role or re skill to pursue a new career path. The unique feature of the initiatives is that their content is responsive to and reflective of the changing needs of industry in an era of significant technological advances.”

In addition, under Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1, 2,341 places on 90 graduate conversion courses will be funded in 2022/23, together with 890 places on 27 ICT courses funded on a three year basis in the 2020/21 academic year. This leads to a combined total of 13,928 places under Springboard+2022 and HCI pillar 1 in 2022-2023.

HCI provides additional capacity across the Higher Education Sector to meet priority skill needs for enterprise. Graduate Conversion Programmes under the HCI offer 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.

Candidates who wish to participate in Springboard+ 2022 or HCI Pillar 1 courses will find full details on the approved courses on the dedicated information and applications website www.springboardcourses.ie.

Applications will open this afternoon, and a helpline for applicants will be available on 1800 303523 from early June.

(Fiona Davis HEA, Sorcha Carthy HEA, Minister of State Niall Collins, Minister Simon Harris, Dr Vivienne Patterson HEA, and Ciara Manning and Ross O’Connor, both past Springboard participants.)

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 heavily subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. 

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+ 2022 will start later in 2022 and in early 2023.

Springboard+ Courses and Places by Academic Category Approved in 2021

27 further ICT Conversion courses, amounting to 890 places, which were approved as part of a multi-annual funding call in 2020 will also be available in 2022/23.

Human Capital Initiative – 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 2022/23 academic year, as part of the approval process last year.  2,341 places on 90 graduate conversion courses will be funded in 2022/23.

Full details on Springboard+ and HCI courses, the eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the website: www.springboardcourses.ie.

ENDS