Munster Technological University has secured €2,210,980 in funding to provide 837 places under the Government’s Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiatives for the academic year 2021/2022. In total, MTU is offering 28 Springboard+ courses as part of its suite of part-time offering. A further €616,400 was received to offer 106 places across a range of culinary and food service operations programmes to address the significant shortage of qualified staff in the tourism and hospitality sector as Ireland looks to reopen following the COVID19 pandemic.

These funded places are spread over 28 courses in a broad range of disciplines including Cloud Computing, Data Science and Analytics, Quantity Surveying, Culinary Skills, Pharmacy Management, Circular Economy as well as in Sustainable Agriculture, Automation & Control, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Practices & Systems, Information Design & Development, Building Information Modelling (BIM) with Revit, Leadership and Transformational Change and Automotive Operations.

Michael Loftus, Vice President for External Affairs at MTU stated “MTU is fully committed to the development of graduates who have the skills, positive attitude and overall ability required by industry. While this focus has always been centrally important to our work, it is now more vital than ever that we work to support industry at a time of unprecedented challenge associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will enable us to reskill and upskill those seeking employment, as well as those who are currently in employment, at their time of greatest need. MTU is committed to industry engagement and our partnerships with enterprises and representative groups, such as the South-West Regional Skills Forum, ensure that our courses are current and relevant. The work-based learning approach which has been designed into these courses will maximise the employability of the graduates.”

Brid Mc Elligott, Vice President for Development, Research and External Engagement at MTU, said: “The Springboard+ initiative offers free, or subsidised, part-time courses leading to qualifications that are in demand by employers. Many courses focus on future-proofing the skills of people already in employment, particularly in roles that may be impacted by digitalisation. To date MTU has worked with over 6,000 Springboard+ students, resulting in many graduates now pursuing rewarding careers. All courses selected for funding under Springboard+ 2021 are in areas of identified skills needs.”

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

Staff will be available over the coming weeks to advise potential students looking at a return to education. Further information on course availability, eligibility criteria and the application process is available by visiting www.springboardcourses.ie