€1.4 million in training funds for Shannon Region
Seven new training and re-skilling programmes at UL, MIC, IT Tralee and LIT are to be funded by the Labour Market Activation Fund. The University of Limerick (UL) and the Shannon Consortium have welcomed the award of €1.4m in funding as part of the national Labour Market Activation Fund announced by the Tanaiste and Minister for Education & Skills, Mary Coughlan TD.
Speaking at a major Regeneration Conference which takes place at UL today, President, Professor Don Barry said that this significant award will assist the University in funding a number of programmes designed to facilitate young people who are long-termed unemployed to up-skill and re-skill and to support them in their re-entry to the labour force. 'We are delighted that all seven Shannon Consortium programmes for which funding was applied, have been approved as part of the Fund which will facilitate 27 projects nationally,' said Professor Barry.
Professor Paul McCutcheon, Vice President Academic and Registrar also welcomed the announcement and stated that the courses which will be facilitated by this Fund at UL range from programmes offered through the Kemmy Business School, to options in the area of health & fitness through the National Council for Exercise and Fitness based on campus, as well as Foundation Certificate programmes which will be delivered in Shannon Consortium's Downtown Centre in Limerick City and its Regional Learning Centre in Ennis.
'These options will be complimented by a range of programmes offered by the other partners in the Consortium. I am particularly pleased by the success of the bid to offer the Foundation Certificate at the Shannon Consortium's base in Ennis, Co. Clare. It is worth noting that these programmes would be available to people who may already hold a qualification or trade but who wish to re-skill for the new employment opportunities that are beginning to emerge as the Mid-West Region experience the first ripples of recovery. This significant funding together with that which is available under the European Globalisation Fund ensures that the training and development needs of the unemployed in the region can and will be met,' said Dermot Coughlan, Director of Lifelong Learning & Outreach at UL.
100 training places will be available at the Kemmy Business School on the following five programmes: BBS (Level 6 or Level 7 Diploma); Level 6 Certificate in Management; Level 7 Diploma in Management; Level 6 Certificate in Personnel Practice and a Certificate in Project Management. 50 training places have also been funded in the Faculty of Science and Engineering on a Certificate in Health and Fitness and 80 training places are available to undertake the Foundation Certificate at both the Shannon Consortium Downtown Centre in Limerick City and the Regional Learning Centre in Ennis Co Clare.
