Springboard, now referred to as Springboard+ to include the ICT skills conversion programme, was launched in 2011. It is a specific initiative that strategically targets funding of higher education courses to enable jobseekers to upskill or reskill in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) manages Springboard+ on behalf of my Department.
The following tables, provided by the HEA, outline the total number of approved Springboard+ courses and the number of specific courses available and availed of in Galway since 2011.
Springboard+ Galway PQ 5/10/2015
Springboard Places Approved by Year and Enrolment Rate
National Total
Initiative
|
Places Funded
|
Participants
|
Enrolment Rate
|
Springboard 2011
|
5,883
|
4,911
|
83%
|
Springboard 2012
|
6,074
|
5,610
|
92%
|
Springboard 2013
|
6,403
|
5,534
|
86%
|
Springboard 2014
|
6,104
|
5,515
|
90%
|
Springboard 2015
|
9,109
|
TBC
|
|
Number of Springboard Courses approved in Galway
Provider
|
Total Courses
|
Courses 2011
|
Courses 2012
|
Courses 2013
|
Courses 2014
|
Courses 2015
|
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
|
55
|
7
|
26
|
6
|
3
|
13
|
National University of Ireland, Galway
|
36
|
6
|
14
|
5
|
3
|
8
|
Total
|
91
|
13
|
40
|
11
|
6
|
21
|
Number of Springboard Places approved in Galway
Provider
|
Total Places
|
Places 2011
|
Places 2012
|
Places 2013
|
Places 2014
|
Places 2015
|
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
|
710
|
84
|
146
|
120
|
70
|
290
|
National University of Ireland, Galway
|
548
|
140
|
172
|
75
|
60
|
101
|
Total
|
1,258
|
224
|
318
|
195
|
130
|
391
|
Number of Springboard Enrolments in Galway
Provider
|
Total Participants
Springboard 2011 - 2014
|
Participants Springboard 2011
|
Participants Springboard 2012
|
Participants Springboard 2013
|
Participants Springboard 2014
|
Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
|
354
|
38
|
132
|
120
|
64
|
National University of Ireland, Galway
|
350
|
127
|
103
|
65
|
55
|
Total
|
704
|
165
|
235
|
185
|
119
|