Galway Mayo Institute of Technology is offering 120 free part-time places on six courses as part of this year’s Springboard initiative for jobseekers announced at the weekend.
Together the institutes of technology in the Connacht-Ulster Alliance, which comprises Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo, and Letterkenny Institute of Technology, are offering almost 540 free part-time places for jobseekers on an exciting range of courses starting in September.
The places are being made available as part of the Government-funded Springboard initiative, supported by the Higher Education Authority, designed for jobseekers who are considering changing career paths to get back into sustainable employment. It was launched as part of the Government’s job initiative in 2011 and since then more than 10,000 people have been supported to undertake higher education courses in areas of identified skills needs.
More than €1.7 million in funding has been secured by the CUA this year under the programme for the Connacht and Ulster region. Places are being made available on courses which are directly linked to immediate local employment opportunities, such as computing, international financial services, medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, and the green economy.
Places are available at the three institutes and all courses are designed to enable students to study part-time while retaining their Department of Social Protection benefits. The courses offered by IT Sligo are all delivered online.
GMIT is offering 120 places on six courses, IT Sligo is offering over 250 places on seven online courses, while Letterkenny IT is offering 166 places on 10 courses.
The Connacht-Ulster Alliance was formed in July 2012 with the ambition of achieving Technological University status for the Connacht Ulster region. “By working together, the alliance will ensure that the economic development of the region is supported by providing opportunities for individuals to acquire skills in emerging fields, with sustainable employment opportunities,” said Martin Cronin, chairman of the alliance.
Applications are now being invited and all the courses will commence in September. Applicants can apply online at www.springboardcourses.ie
Further details on the courses available can be viewed on the CUA websites at www.itsligo.ie, www.lyit.ie, and www.gmit.ie/lifelong-learning/lifelong-learning-programmes/springboard html
