Springboard+

Name of the instrument - Local language: Springboard+
Name of the instrument - English translation: Springboard+
Scheme ID: 294
Country: Ireland
Reporting year: 2020
Type of instrument: Grant for individuals
Sub-type of instrument: Cost-related support
Type of entry: Single instrument

Short description: The aim of the scheme is to reskill people in areas where there is evidence of job opportunities, including ICT, high-level manufacturing, international financial services, skills to trade internationally, cross-enterprise skills, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital marketing, and project management. Springboard+ was formed in 2014, with the incorporation of ICT Skills Conversion Courses. A feature of Springboard+ is the mixture of provision from the public and private higher education sectors. Providers are higher education colleges with established quality assurance systems, including Irish universities, institutes of technology, and private higher education colleges. For people in employment, a 10% course fee contribution for Level 7, 8, and 9 courses is applicable, payable directly to the provider. There are no tuition fees for DEASP customers or Returners. All Level 6 programmes are free to all participants.

Level of operation

National

Name of a part of the country

Not applicable

Name of the region (for regional instruments)

Not applicable

Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)

Not applicable

Relevance

Key instrument

Legal basis

2012. Action plan for Jobs and the Pathways to Work Strategy

Objective(s) and target(s)

The Springboard+ upskilling initiative in higher education offers free and subsidised courses at certificate, degree and masters level leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy

Year of implementation

2011

Operation/management

Springboard+ is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of The Department of Education and Skills. All courses approved for funding under Springboard+ are selected by an independent panel with experts from industry and education following a competitive tendering process.

Eligible group(s)

Returners, people in employment, unemployed or formerly self-employed.

Education and training eligible

Courses at Levels 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the Ireland NQF in areas that are identified as having employment opportunities.

Source of financing and collection mechanism

Springboard+ is co-funded by the Government of Ireland through the National Training Fund and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.

Financing formula and allocation mechanisms

For people in employment, a 10% course fee contribution for Level 7, 8 and 9 courses is applicable, payable directly to the provider. There are no tuition fees for DEASP customers or Returners. All Level 6 programmes are free to all participants.

Eligible costs

Course fees or charges.

Volumes of funding

2019: EUR 34 300 000 2018: EUR 29 928 000 2017: EUR 26 552 000

Beneficiaries/take up

2019: 8 053 2018: 6 045 2017: 5 694

Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation

The Higher Education Authority (on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills)

Monitoring/evaluation reports available

Higher Education Authority (2016), 'Developing Talent, Changing Lives: An Evaluation of Springboard+, 2011-16': https://springboardcourses.ie/pdfs/An-Evaluation-of-Springboard+-2011-1…

Most relevant webpage - in English