“THE PANDEMIC HAS accelerated digital transformation, and it’s just going to keep progressing.”
As Chief Commercial Officer at Dublin Business School, Cliona O’Beirne has clearly seen how the events of the last two years have changed the world of study and work. This sped-up transformation has led to a “huge” demand from employers for workers who are skilled in areas such as tech, manufacturing and production.
If these are areas you’re interested in, you might be in luck. To encourage people to upskill and to study in these fields, government initiative Springboard+ offers the opportunity to have your studies fully or 90% funded.
So, what’s it all about? We spoke to Cliona to find out what Springboard+ courses are available at DBS, how funding works and what the eligibility criteria is. Here’s all you need to know…
1. What is Springboard+ and how does it work?
“Springboard+ is a government initiative that was set up to reskill and upskill people in areas where we are experiencing skill gaps shortages,” says Cliona.
“At the moment, there are a lot of job opportunities in fields like tech, manufacturing, production and pharmaceutical. In order for Ireland to remain competitive on the global stage, we need to upskill and cross-skill to meet the demand for all these jobs. Ireland has the top 10 ICT (Information and Communications Technology) companies here with their European headquarters, and the top 10 pharmaceuticals, so there’s a constant demand for skills and retraining.”
The programmes offered by Springboard+ are specifically designed to meet the need for these skills, and give people the opportunity to study for free or to have 90% of the funding covered. “We’re looking to the future,” says Cliona. Courses range from six months to two years in length, with both part-time and full-time options available.
2. Are the fees really covered?
To encourage people to train in these areas, the courses are either fully or 90% funded by the government. “There are eligibility rules, so applicants do need to fall into a number of categories,” says Cliona. “If you’re unemployed and meet that criteria, it’s 100% funded for you. It’s a great opportunity to upskill or even cross-skill if you find yourself in that situation.”
If you’re in employment and meet the criteria, the courses are 90% funded. The remaining 10%, then, is paid by the participant or – in some cases – your employer. This may be particularly appealing to those who are looking to move into other sectors, says Cliona.
“The courses are ideal as well for people who may have been out of the workforce and want to return and upskill,” she says.
3. Am I eligible to apply for Springboard+?
While the academic entry requirements vary depending on each course, there are a number of other criteria all applicants have to meet. The full list of eligibility criteria – including the need to be living full-time in Ireland, have a PPS number and to meet the nationality/visa requirement – is available here.
4. What level qualifications are available, and what are the modes of study?
There are a range of qualifications and modes of study available for the Springboard+ courses at DBS, says Cliona. “All DBS Springboard+ programmes are fully accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland and span Levels 6, 7 and 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications.
“We have a combination of full-time and part-time courses, mainly part time,” she says. Classes for part-time courses are held in the evenings, meaning you can attend after work and your day-to-day responsibilities. “For the academic year 21/22 and programmes commencing March 2022, students will have a combination of on-campus and online delivery for modules. Should students opt to take the classes wholly online, this will also be permitted for the remainder of the programme.”
5. What Springboard+ courses are on offer at DBS?
Applications are currently open for the Springboard+ courses available at DBS, which start in the middle of March. These courses focus mainly on “business and digital skills”, says Cliona.
One of the available courses is a Springboard+ Diploma in Big Data for Business, which is “ideally suited for people who are interested in data savvy skills as opposed to technical.” For ICT skills programmes, there are post-graduate courses in data analytics, software development, web and cloud technologies, and digital marketing.
“There are huge job opportunities in these fields,” says Cliona. “You only have to go on LinkedIn and do a search of available roles in these fields and you’ll see the demand that’s out there for the type of skills from graduates.”
Upskill in industry-relevant subjects and transform your career with Springboard+ courses at Dublin Business School. Limited places available, courses begin mid-March. Find out more and apply here.
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