Description
Country
Focus area
An initiative to support those who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19, to re-enter the workforce. Skills to Compete offers free reskilling and retraining opportunities for people who may have lost their jobs or people seeking to upskill. These courses focus on improving employability and a person’s ability to compete for job opportunities.In support of the Programme for Government and the post-COVID recovery plan, the Further Education and Training (FET) sector are prioritising the reskilling and retraining of those unable to return to their previous employment following the COVID19 crisis. Skills to Compete is a SOLAS initiative that will lead this reskilling and retraining response by combining and ramping-up three strands of FET provision, linked to tailored advice and support.
Link
Reference/weblink
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
The programme is administered by SOLAS the government agency responsible for the FET sector
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
n/a
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
2020
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
These upskilling opportunities would be supported by the Education and Training Board (ETB) Information and Guidance Service and INTREO Guidance and Activation. Each ETB - these are area based organisations that have a responsibility for the delivery of education and training services - will shape its own Skills to Compete provision to reflect the labour market characteristics of its region and the responses that will be most effective for their local community. There are a wide range of data that can be drawn upon provided through SOLAS's labour market research, data analytics, and evaluation units.
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded by national government
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Skills to Compete identifies the skill needs of individuals to get them back into employment and then provides access to training that will deliver those skills. It is undertaken at the ETB level so that there is alignment with local labour market needs.
Underqualification (individuals' qualifications/credentials are below their job's needs)
Skill underutilisation (individuals' skills are not well used in their jobs)
Skill shortages (employers cannot fill their vacancies due to a lack of skills in the labour market)
Skill gaps (worker's skills are below the level of proficiency required by their employers and jobs)
Skills matching focus
How does the initiative address skills mismatches?
Through a combination and ramping up of the three strands of FET provision - transversal skills development to help employability, building the digital capabilities now required for almost every job; and specific Level 4-6 courses targeting growth sectors and occupations - and linking this to tailored advice and support. Note the emphasis on identification of growth sectors and occupations - data which are available via SOLAS and the Expert Group on Future Skill Needs.
See above
Skills delivered
What types of skill does the initiative deliver?
Basic literacy and numeracy skills
Basic digital skills
More advanced digital skills
General employability skills (team working, communication, etc.)
Job search skills
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Skills forecasting
SOLAS hosts the Skills and Labour Market Research Market Research Unit, which produces the majority of majority of Ireland’s labour market intelligence and skills data.
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
Training providers tender to be included on a register containing courses funded by the programme.
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
National ministry
Department of Education and Skills
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
National agency
SOLAS
Regional agency
Education and Training Boards
Social partner: employer organisation
Employers register their interest
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Young people with low levels of basic skills /early leavers from education or training
Adults with low basic skills
Adults in employment with upskilling potential
Adults in employment with reskilling potential
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
It is interesting to note that both modular provision and a greater use of digital methods of delivery and micro and digital credentialing within the certification mix are key elements of the transformational agenda set out in the new draft strategy for FET provision. Indeed, they are an increasing hallmark of the focused, modular provision in the rollout of Skills to Advance since 2019 for employees and are currently being implemented at considerable pace in order to respond to the remote working and learning world which we now face.
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
An evaluation Report is expected in the future
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
Under the Government's July Stimulus Package, it was announced that 35,000 additional places in FET and HE will be funded, including via Skills to Compete .Additionally, 12,500 places will be funded through the Training Support Grant for short term skills training, with the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme providing a €2,000 payment to support employers to take on new apprenticeships in 2020.
Yes
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
Places have been successfully created with long term effects yet to be seen.
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
Specifically, in FET during 2020, 15,000 places will be refocused through Skills to Compete with and additional 4,000 fulltime paces will be provided. The skill to Compete will continue in 2021 with plans in development for and additional 50,000 places over 2020 provision.
Other instruments in Ireland
On this page: