Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1150. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the annual training and innovation fund designed to encourage training and education relevant to future skills and issued through his Department is only available to educational institutions and or educational training boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15284/21]
View answer1151. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the annual training and innovation fund designed to encourage training and education relevant to future skills and issued through his Department is available to all businesses and organisations involved in the provision of training and education in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15285/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1150 and 1151 together.
The Human Capital Initiative (HCI) programme was announced as part of Budget 2019, with a primary objective of underpinning the provision of additional capacity across the Higher Education Sector to meet priority skill needs for enterprise. It aims to increase capacity in higher education in focused programmes designed to meet priority skills needs, incentivise continued reform and innovation in third level provision and promote innovative and responsive models of programme delivery, to enable the higher education system to respond rapidly to changes in both skills requirements and technology. Engagement with enterprise was a key requirement of all elements of the HCI.
The HCI consists of 3 main pillars. The funding under each was awarded through a series of challenge based competitive call models.
The three Pillars are as follows:
Pillar 1 – Full-Time Graduate Conversion Courses
Pillar 2 – Additional Places on Existing Full-Time Undergraduate Provision
Pillar 3 – Projects in Innovation and Agility
Eligibility for each pillar differed due to the nature of the initiatives.
Pillar 1: Graduate Conversion Courses
Public and private HEIs were eligible to submit proposals for Pillar 1 courses provided that the courses led to a higher education and training award on National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) at Levels 6 to 9, made by one of the following Irish awarding bodies:
- Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
- Institutes of Technology with delegated authority to make awards,
- Universities,
- Technological University Dublin (TUD),
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Courses which led to a higher education and training award that is a comparable award based
on recognition advice available from QQI, were also eligible.
Pillar 2: Expansion of Existing Places on Undergraduate Courses
HEA designated HEIs, and privately funded HEIs whose quality assurance procedures have been approved under the 2012 Act (reengagement process) by the 31st of December 2019 were eligible to submit proposals for funding under this pillar. Only courses that are available through the CAO system were eligible for funding.
Pillar 3: Innovation and Agility
HEA Designated HEIs and privately funded HEIs whose quality assurance procedures had been approved under the 2012 Act (reengagement/QA approval process) by the date of the HCI Pillar 3 letter of award offer were eligible to apply.
Providers who did not meet the above criteria were not eligible to apply under this call as lead partners, however, they could be involved as partners in a project.
