Description
Country
Focus area
The Springboard+ upskilling initiative in higher education offers free and subsidised courses at certificate, degree and masters level leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy. Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 will extend the approach currently in place for ICT under Springboard+. It will offer incentivised places for graduates to reskill in areas of skills shortage and emerging technologies e.g. ICT, High End Manufacturing, Data Analytics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, via graduate conversion courses. The HCI Pillar 1 funding will provide funding for full-time graduate conversion courses. Courses at level 8 Higher Diploma and level 9 Postgraduate Diploma on the National Qualifications Framework will be funded under this Pillar.
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
Department of Education and Skills
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
2011
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
n/a
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded by national government
Funded by the EU
Other
Springboard+ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF programme for employability, inclusion and learning 2014-2020.
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
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?
Free and subsidised courses at certificate, degree and masters level leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy
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
Career management skills
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
When training providers are tendering to deliver courses for the Springboard they are encouraged to draw on data from reports published by the EGFSN (e.g. http://skillsireland.ie/all-publications/2016/springboard-2016-guidance-for-he-providers-web-final.pdf) and consultations with industry bodies and the enterprise development agencies (Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland). See: http://skillsireland.ie/all-publications/2016/guidance%20for%20higher%20education%20providers%20on%20current%20and%20future%20skills%20needs%20of%20enterprise%20springboard%202016.html
Expert panels
See above for details of the Expert Group on Future Skill Needs (EGFSN)
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
National ministry
Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 courses are managed by the HEA on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
National agency
Funding
Regional agency
Delivery
Social partner: employer organisation
Demand
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Young people making the transition from education into work
Offer incentivised places for graduates to reskill in areas of skills shortage and emerging technologies e.g. ICT, High End Manufacturing, Data Analytics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, via graduate conversion courses. The HCI Pillar 1 funding will provide funding for full-time graduate conversion courses. Courses at level 8 Higher Diploma and level 9 Postgraduate Diploma on the National Qualifications Framework will be funded under this Pillar.
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
All of the courses offered lead to either certificate, degree and post-graduate level certificates and the vast majority have been one-year or less in duration and part-time. All are aimed to reskill people in areas where there is evidence of job opportunities in the present and future.
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?
Springboard has been continuously monitored since its launch in 2011, with the latest report available on their website covering 2011-16.
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
Yes
ICT courses began one year in to the programme in 2012, and became the most successful course by graduate employment.
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
By 2014/15 53% of participants 3-6 months after graduation, 53% were in employment, 19% further study, 28% looking for work. ICT skills coversion courses boasted the highest employment rates after graduation. 90% of respondents to a 2015 survey agreed that Springboard+ had a positive impact on their live. 69% of respondents said their career has developed or grown since completing a course, this rises to 77% for ICT course graduates.
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
Non completion of courses successfully fell from 35% to 13% during 2011-2014, showing an increase in engagement with the courses on offer. The average cost per place by sector for 2011-2016 was 4,264EUR.
Other instruments in Ireland
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