GMIT awarded €2.2m to deliver 14 HEA Springboard courses from September

Tuesday, June 11, 2019 Press Office
Press Release

Open evening on all Springboard upsklling and reskilling courses to take place 19 June, 6pm

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) has been awarded €2.2m from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to deliver 14 Springboard courses in its campuses in Galway and Mayo from September. An open evening about all Springboard courses will take place in GMIT’s Dublin Road (Galway) campus on Wednesday, 19 June from 6pm to 8.30pm. In addition, the Mayo campus will also host a separate open evening in Castlebar on Thursday 12 September, 5pm to 8pm.

Approximately 500 free or subsidised places are available on 14 courses in both campuses in disciplines such as Business, Computing & Science, Engineering, and Digital Media under the national HEA Springboard+ 2019 Programme.

In Galway, the School of Science & Computing offers the online L8 Higher Diploma in Science (Data Analytics) and the classroom-based L8 Quality for the Medical Device Industry;
The School of Business offers three online courses, the L8 Certificate in Business Analytics, L8 Certificate in Business of Blockchain, and L7 Certificate in Family Enterprise;
The Galway International Hotel School offers two classroom-based programmes, the L7 Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts and L6 Certificate in Culinary Skills.

The Mayo campus offers seven courses (blend of online and classroom) such as:
L8 Certificate in Sustainable Building Technology (Springboard SPA);
L9 Post graduate Certificate in Digital Media and Marketing (Springboard SPA);
L6 Certificate in Greening Enterprise Skills (Springboard SPA);
L7 Certificate in Information Technology Project Management (Springboard SPA);
L7 Certificate in Network Cybersecurity (Springboard SPA);
L8 Certificate in Climate Resilience for Business (Springboard SPA); and
L6 Certificate in Digitalisation for SMEs (Springboard SPA).  

Many of the courses are brand new, developed in response to industry demand. In Mayo the new courses support businesses in meeting the challenges presented by climate change and focus on areas where businesses can have an operational impact, while in Galway the focus is on emerging skills of the future.

Applications for all Springboard courses are made through the HEA Springboard website https://springboardcourses.ie/ or freephone 1800 303523.

Dr Deirdre Garvey, Senior Lecturer, Lifelong Learning, GMIT Mayo Campus, says: “The funding of these programmes in areas identified nationally as of critical importance is key to developing skills in the region. We have worked closely with the Regional Skills Forum also in understanding the needs of employers in the region. We hope that the blended mode of delivery will also provide flexibility to individuals in managing their commitments and developing their skills”.

Dónal Loftus, Director, Graduate and Professional Development, GMIT Galway campus, says: “The Graduate and Professional Development unit at GMIT is really pleased to be part of the Springboard+ initiative for 2019/2020. Once again, our team of academics have responded to the needs of industry in designing a menu of innovative programmes. Our collaboration with local, national and international industries ensures that our offerings provide our students with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Our flexible modes of teaching also accommodate the increasing demands on our students’ time”.          

Nationally, over 9,000 free or subsidised places are available on 285 upskilling and reskilling courses, with emphasis on the digital economy. 90% of previous participants who were previously on the Live Register are now in employment having completed Springboard courses.

The Springboard+ 2019 was launched by the Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD and the Minister of State for Training, Skills Innovation, Research and Development John Halligan TD. Government identified four areas of critical importance: digital skills, soft skills, management and leadership and the workplace of the future. Many courses focus on future-proofing the skills of people already in employment, particularly in roles that may be impacted by digitalisation. This strategy is aligned with the priorities set by the National Skills Council and Future Jobs Ireland 2019.

Springboard+ courses are free for people who are unemployed, those who were previously self-employed and those returning to the workforce. Courses are also free for people in employment, on NFQ Level 6 courses. For employed participants on courses NFQ level 7 to 9, 90% of the course fee is funded by the Government, with participants required to contribute just 10% of the fee. Applications are through https://springboardcourses.ie/

ENDS

Galway-Mayo IT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT are working towards becoming a Technological University for the west and northwest of Ireland.

Regina Daly
GMIT Communications Officer
GMIT, Dublin Road, Galway
Tel. 091 742826 / 087-9618355 (m) regina.daly@gmit.ie www.gmit.ie/news