Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 October 2021
175. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to specifically target the areas of key demand in the economy with particular reference to science, information and communications technology and engineering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50148/21]
View answerThe further and higher education sectors have a number of key strategies in place at all levels to ensure that the educational opportunities being offered specifically target the areas of key demand in the economy. These include policies designed to ensure a pipeline of suitably qualified higher education graduates and apprentices, and initiatives to equip young people and the working population more generally with the skills and capacity to meet these demands.
The identification of skills priorities to help inform and shape planning for graduate output from higher and further education, including in relation to apprenticeships, is guided by the National Skills Strategy. The Strategy provided for the establishment of the skills architecture that we have today, the National Skills Council and the nine Regional Skills Fora. Underpinning both the skills agenda and architecture are the skills forecasting and intelligence systems, made up of the contribution of a number of public bodies including, at present, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit in Solas and the statistical analysis and assessment carried out by the HEA. The detailed research and analyses carried out by these bodies feed into the work of the Skills Council in defining the priorities and delivering responses in the area of skills needs.
Two key initiatives in the higher education system which ensure that places are funded in courses in identified areas of skills need are Springboard + and the Human Capital Initiative (HCI). Springboard+ 2021 was launched on 14th June 2021. As a result of multi-annual funding of graduate conversion courses, there is a combined total of 13,444 places on 408 courses available in the 2021/22 academic year under Springboard+ 2021 and HCI Pillar 1. This year, there is a broad range of courses in Engineering, ICT and Science. There are 46 Springboard+ 2021 courses with 1,657 places in total in engineering. In ICT and ICT-related areas are there are 81 Springboard+ 2021 courses with 2,910 places and in Science and Science related areas, there are 14 Springboard+ 2021 courses with 354 places.
A broad range of engineering courses are provided through Springboard+, with approximately 27% of all places falling within the engineering, manufacturing and construction category, 29% in ICT and 4% in Science related disciplines.
Under HCI Pillar 1, places are available on courses in a wide range of skills areas, including artificial intelligence, smart factory technology, sustainable energy, medical device technology and cybersecurity. In 2021, year 2 of the Pillar 1 programme funding is being provided to create 1,768 conversion course places. 432 (24%) of places on Pillar 1 are in the engineering, manufacturing, and construction category, with a further 710 (40%) in ICT. 14 HCI Pillar 1 courses are in science related disciplines offering 323 places (18%).
The new Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 which was launched on 19th April last sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The actions set out in the plan seek to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. A key strength of the apprenticeship model, is that it is a demand-led approach to meeting workforce and skill requirements in our economy. Therefore the number of places is determined by employers with off the job training delivered to all registered apprentices.
There are currently 62 different apprenticeships leading to qualifications at level 5-10 on the National Framework of Qualifications, with over 7,500 employers employing almost 22,500 apprentices.
Of the 62 apprenticeship programmes, 25 are craft apprenticeships with a standardised seven phase programme of on-the-job and off-the-job training. Off-the-job training is delivered in phases 2, 4 and 6 of a craft apprenticeship.
The expansion of apprenticeship across all sectors of the economy has widened the range of impact of apprenticeship in areas of skills shortage such as Engineering, Retrofitting, Technology Skills, Engineering and FinTech. Under action 5.1 of the plan the online visibility of apprenticeship engagement and apprenticeship development processes for employers/sectors who wish to assess the potential for new apprenticeship development will be increased. Applications for new apprenticeship development are now open on an ongoing basis, allowing employers to progress the development of programmes in response to emerging skills needs on an as-needed basis in all sectors including engineering, ICT and Science.
My Department will continue working with enterprise agencies and industry groups, as well as the higher education institutions, to assess the future demand for higher education graduates and apprentices as well as our ability to meet this demand, and ensure we are prepared for the challenges ahead.
