23 June, 2020

CIT is to provide almost 800 course places for those seeking to reskill or upskill under the 2020 Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiatives. 

Funded places are available in a broad range of disciplines including Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Data Science and Analytics, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying and Culinary Skills, as well as in Automation & Control, Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Practices & Systems, Information Design & Development and Leadership Development.

Courses range from Level 6 to Level 9 and will be delivered in flexible, blended learning modes to suit the needs of learners as they acquire industry relevant skills and valuable qualifications. Approximately 550 of these places will become available in September 2020 with the balance becoming available over the following two years.

The full list of CIT courses and eligibility criteria is available at www.springboardcourses.ie which is open for applications on June 25th. Springboard+ has also produced a series of podcasts providing prospective students  with lots of information.

The Springboard+ initiative provides free higher education courses in areas of identified skills needs to unemployed people, those previously self-employed and those returning to work. Courses are also opened to employed participants wishing to upskill with 90% of course fees being funded by the Government.

The Human Capital Initiative (HCI) offers incentivised places on a range of newly developed courses for graduates to reskill in areas where there is evidence of skills shortage and emerging technologies.

Designed and developed in close collaboration with our local and regional employer partners, all CIT courses address areas of immediate and future growth to ensure a dynamic pipeline of job-ready graduates.

According to Prof Irene Sheridan, Head of CIT Extended Campus, “With a focus on sustainable employment, all courses respond to digitalisation and the future world of work ensuring that future-proofed graduates are equipped with management and leadership skills as well as transversal skills to meet the needs of growing and emerging sectors of the economy”.

Michael Loftus, Vice President for External Affairs at CIT, said, “As CIT moves forward with IT Tralee to establish the Munster Technological University (MTU), we are 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”, he added.

*Details on available courses, eligibility and the application process for the various initiatives are available at www.springboardcourses.ie

Springboard+ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF programme for employability, inclusion and learning 2014-2020.