GMIT 146 Springboard places on Science and Engineering courses

GMIT has been awarded HEA funding for 146 unemployed people to undertake Science and Engineering programmes and some special purpose awards in GMIT from this September, under the 2012 Springboard initiative.

The latest Springboard offerings were announced in Dublin today (Monday 21 May 2012) by the Minister for Education and Skills Minister Ruairi Quinn. All third-level institutions will be offering free, part time courses as part of the Government's Jobs Initiative. Over 3,500 people are due to graduate this month from the first round of Springboard programmes which were put in place last year.

The Springboard places in GMIT are in the areas of Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computing, Medical Device Technology, Pharmaceutical Science, Biopharmaceutical Science, Food Science, Building Information Modeling and German language & culture.

The programmes will be delivered in the main Galway campus (Dublin Road) apart from the language module which will be delivered in the Castlebar campus. All funded programmes will commence in September 2012 and will be completed in either one or two years depending on the programme

Michael Hannon, GMIT Registrar, welcomes the inclusion of previously self-employed people to the eligibility criteria. "This group has no State entitlements when they become self-employed. While the focus of Springboard is on upskilling there is also a conversion opportunity as the Higher Diploma in Software Development will be offered to graduates from other Engineering and Science disciplines."

Peter Butler, GMIT Lifelong Learning Coordinator, GMIT Galway, says the HEA Springboard initiative helps people who are out of work get back on their feet: "Having the right qualification is crucial to unemployed people getting back into employment. The Springboard initiative enables people to get qualifications in sectors that have been identified as growth areas for the future, such as information technology, medical and biomedical, pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical sectors and sustainability.

In order to qualify for the Springboard places, the HEA stipulates that a person be either (1) in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, One Parent Family, Disability Allowance, Qualified Adults of Working Age, Carers Allowance, Farm Assist/Fish Assist, Widow(er)s Contributory or Non-contributory Pension, Blind Pension, Deserted Wives Allowance. He/she must be in receipt when the Springboard programme commences; or (2) signing for social insurance contributions credits; or (3) be previously self-employed. Applicants must also be actively seeking employment.

All applications must be made online using the HEA website www.springboardcourses.ie where full details of the GMIT programmes can be found including entry requirements, application process, application deadlines and the syllabus of each GMIT offering.

For further details on GMIT's Springboard 2012 offerings, please contact Peter Butler peter.butler@gmit.ie or telephone 091 742270.