Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
99. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he has examined the impact of initiatives designed to respond to emerging skill needs, such as Springboard, Human Capital Initiative, and Skillnet; and the lessons that can be drawn for policy development from them. [26606/23]
View answerInvestment in people and the skills and capabilities they hold is a priority for Government. Skills and continuous learning are vital for enabling individuals and countries to thrive in an increasingly, interconnected and rapidly changing world.
In devising our overall policy response to meeting skills needs there is a balance to be struck between investment in core funding to support the capacity and capability of institutions to respond in an agile and sustainable way to skills demands, including by strengthening graduate competences and outcomes as well as more targeted initiatives including Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative, and the work of Skillnet, in supporting individuals to upskill, reskill and learn, with a positive impact across society and the economy.
Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative Pillar 1 continue to support those who are unemployed or returning to the workforce to gain sustainable employment. In addition, they are providing opportunities for workforce development, enhancing the skill levels of those in employment. Collaboration between enterprise and higher education providers is key to the design and delivery of the programmes. Most programmes are delivered either fully online or in a blended format making them fully accessible. Since 2011, over 100,000 people have benefited from Springboard+.
Ensuring that we make our interventions based on sound evidence and evaluations is critical, and the HEA is currently undertaking a mid-term review of the 24 HCI Pillar 3 projects. Each project has been subject to a review process and a detailed report will be published in June 2023, focused on the implementation, management, impact and alignment of HCI Pillar 3 projects against their stated objectives and overall programme objectives.
In late 2022, the Government designated Skillnet Ireland to lead workforce development for small and medium businesses to stimulate increased engagement of enterprise in the skills agenda, and to facilitate a more targeted approach to workforce development to advance their competitiveness, productivity and innovation.?The European Commission and the OECD have identified the Skillnet Ireland model as a best practice public-private cooperation example for workforce development and a means of incentivising SME investment in skills.? The recent Government White Paper on Enterprise Strategy also highlighted the need to build on Skillnet Ireland’s enterprise networks to drive workforce development. To support this, my Department will develop a policy framework for delivering on Skillnet Ireland’s mandate for enterprise skills and workforce development priorities in partnership with the university system.
Finally, the recently completed OECD Review of Ireland's Skills performance provides important external validation and learning for the continued development and implementation of skills policy.
