Bite-sized upskilling courses receive 80% fee subsidy [Video]

Further and Higher Education minister Simon Harris has announced €9.7m funding to subsidise fees for up to 13,880 learners across 654 micro-credential courses offered by colleges.

All the courses are being offered by State-run universities and colleges, with no participation by private sector colleges. Typical course duration ranges from six to 12 weeks.

The Micro-Credential Course Learner Subsidy offers a subsidy of 80% for courses addressing skills in government priority areas such as renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, ICT, and electronic engineering.

Other courses will provide a 50% learner subsidy rate.

The courses, ranging from 1 to 30 ECTs and Levels 6-9 on the National Framework of Qualifications, are designed to enhance participants’ employability upon completion.

Some courses offer the potential for ‘stackability’ encouraging learners to return for further qualifications.

The HEA said 21 applications were received from education providers.

Minister Harris commented: “As part of the Year of Skills, we have been encouraging …