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80 Waterford Jobseekers Boost Prospects with Free Springboard Courses in High-Growth Areas(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) WATERFORD, Ireland, Sept. 10 -- Waterford Institute of Technology issued the following news release: With 53,159 people on the Live Register in the southeast in July, some 80 jobseekers from Waterford and elsewhere in the region are boosting their prospects of returning to work by starting third-level courses at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) over the next two weeks. Offered through the State-funded Springboard programme managed by the Higher Education Authority for the Department of Education & Skills, the courses are free to those who qualify and are delivered part-time, allowing jobseekers to retain their benefits and continue their search for employment. These programmes have been specifically developed to produce graduates who have developed the skills required in the labour market and focus on areas with current and projected jobs growth. At WIT, the part-time Springboard-supported courses beginning this month are Diploma in Computing with Security & Forensics (Level 7); Higher Diploma in Business Systems Analysis (Level 8) and MSc in Global Financial Information Systems (Level 9). WIT has also won Springboard funding for a January 2015 intake on a proposed new Higher Diploma in Production Management for Digital Animation (Level 8). The HEA has also funded a further intake in January of 25 students to WIT's highly successful ICT Skills Higher Diploma in Science in Computer Science (Level 8) accelerated conversion course. The intensive ICT skills course is designed to allow honours graduates from other disciplines to reskill as software developers/ programmers, a skills area in critically high demand. While Springboard programmes are targeted at jobseekers specifically, the ICT Skills programme is open to applicants generally and is delivered on a full-time basis. Dr Derek O'Byrne, Registrar, WIT, said: "We are very conscious of our social responsibility to work with jobseekers who are keen to get the skills they need for the jobs market in 2014 and beyond. There is also a measurable economic impact from these programmes in that the graduates help meet the skills needs of employers in the southeast who have opportunities in their growing organisations once there are candidates available with the appropriate skills." Barry McMenamin who completed the HDip in Business Systems Analysis in 2013/'14 has strongly praised the experience and how it has helped him professionally. "Coming from an architectural background, I wanted a change of career and to work towards a role in information and communications technology. Having family and other commitments, a part-time course was the best option for me and I was lucky to find the Springboard Higher Diploma in Business Systems Analysis at WIT. "The course is intense at times but, with great support from the lecturers, it is manageable. It has been hugely rewarding and given me a great platform on which to start my new career. One of the course benefits is how it prepares you to move up the ladder or set you up for your ideal job by fine-tuning your interview skills and building your portfolio. The lecturers and support staff go to great lengths to organise interviews and job opportunities for the work experience module. I have thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of my work experience as a Business Systems Analyst." Offering an employer viewpoint, Nick Donnelly, CEO, Waterford Chamber, added: "The biggest single selling point of Springboard from our perspective is that it offers those out of work a well-defined pathway back to employment as the courses being offered are in areas where companies in Waterford and the southeast are hiring. Indeed, some employers in these sectors report real challenges in filling vacancies with skilled people so those who graduate from the Springboard courses at WIT will be very well-placed to secure sustainable work in a growth area. This is part of a pragmatic response to the jobs crisis and is to be welcomed." Dr Mary-Liz Trant, Head of Skills and Enterprise Engagement, Higher Education Authority, said: "The HEA on behalf of the Dept of Education & Skills is delighted to work with higher education institutions like WIT to provide education opportunities that support unemployed people in getting back to work. A feature of Springboard is that the courses we fund through the programme are in disciplines where there are job opportunities and where employers tell us they have a skills shortage and anticipate further recruitment. "For those out of work in Waterford, I would encourage them to visit http://www.springboardcourses.ie or free-phone 1800 303523 later this year to check what's on offer in the area from January onwards. The programme offers a great opportunity to quickly get the skills employers want but also to have a formal qualification that reflects what you have learned. In a competitive labour market, this can make all the difference." TNS 30TagarumaMar-140916-4859700 30TagarumaMar (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |