14,000+ subsidised higher ed places on offer
Over 14,000 free or subsidised higher education places have been announced to help people get back to work and upskill workers.
Costing over €30m in total under the Jobs Stimulus package, it also aims to build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of Covid-19. The funding has been approved to support the provision of 11,597 places on short, modular courses together with an additional 2,555 postgraduate places.
Successful applicants will receive funding from 90-100 per cent of their course fees. Funding is available to returners to the workforce, employed, former self employed and recent graduates. Those in receipt of social welfare payments, including PUP, will be eligible to undertake part-time courses free of charge.
In Cork, there will be places in CIT and UCC with UCC having been awarded funding of €1.8million which will provide the opportunity for 241 students to engage in postgraduate studies.
A significant portion of the funding which was allocated to UCC provides opportunities for students to engage in executive education. Places will be offered on a suite of IMI Professional Diploma programmes starting later this year and in early 2021.
CIT is offering a greater range of courses in a broader range of disciplines.
The 2,555 postgraduate places will be on 207 existing courses in 23 public and private higher education institutions. The places are available on courses in a wide range of skills areas, including data analytics, environmental sciences, engineering, tourism and hospitality, ICT and health and welfare including medical technology.
Modular courses are short and focused and will be offered in a flexible manner, allowing people to gain important skills without taking a considerable period away from the labour market.
Each module will be stand-alone so that participants can gain skills and put them into practice immediately in the workplace, but modules are also accredited in such a way as to provide building blocks to a full qualification should the student so wish.
Details of these courses will be available on the HEA website, and anyone interested in applying should contact the higher education institution directly for further details.