Twenty free and subsidised higher education courses have been announced for Galway as part of the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1Â scheme.
The courses are open to people who may be interested in upskilling or reskilling in areas where skills are most needed in the Irish economy.
The programmes in Galway will be run through GMIT and NUI Galway, with courses ranging from business analytics and cybersecurity to biopharmaceutical science.
Additional courses at GMIT and NUIG will become available in the coming months, under the same scheme.
“As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, there are a number of areas within the economy that have an immediate skills shortage,” said Dr Vivienne Patterson, Head of Skills and Engagement at the Higher Education Authority.
“HCI Pillar 1 courses aim to address these by upskilling and reskilling people in areas that industry have identified as a priority.”
She said that the courses are an excellent opportunity for people who may be considering a change in career, or returning to the workforce, to upskill in an area that has future job prosperity – such as ICT, data analytics, and technology.
The HCI Pillar 1 scheme is run by the Higher Education Authority and courses are open to graduates, those returning to education, professionals and unemployed candidates.
All courses are free for people who are unemployed and people who have taken time out of work or education to raise their families or care for loved ones. For those in employment, 90% of the cost of a HCI Pillar 1 course is funded.
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