Mr. Tim Horgan:

I thank the committee for providing me the opportunity to speak about the future expansion of craft apprenticeships and new-generation apprenticeships. Munster Technological University is the largest provider of craft apprenticeship programmes in the country, with a total of 1,872 craft apprentices due to complete their off-the-job phases in the university this academic year.

Craft apprentices in electrical, refrigeration, plumbing, carpentry and joinery, plastering, pipe fitting, metal fabrication, fitting, motor, construction plant fitting and agricultural mechanics complete phases 4 and 6 in block release mode in MTU. In addition, MTU delivers post-2016 apprenticeship programmes which offer university degree qualifications. Currently, over 200 students are registered across six programmes such as the BEng in manufacturing engineering and the BSc in engineering services management.

MTU has a long history of delivering programmes using online learning. The use of a rich and user-friendly online learning portal has led to an increased uptake in the number of students in our post-2016 apprenticeship programmes. The flexibly and availability of this service provide blended learning opportunities which enable us to extend the reach of new apprenticeship programmes.

Apprenticeships are central to the mission, strategic remit and activities of the technological university and institute of technology sector. As a TU it is very important for us to continue our strong partnership and leadership in apprenticeship delivery. The Technological Universities Act 2018 also highlights this need and sets out our role in this area.

The level of engagement of higher education in apprenticeship provision is significant, as is the level of annual and capital investment. Higher education providers across the TU and IoT sector provide 60% of all craft apprenticeship off-the-job training, which currently equates to over 8,000 training places. Furthermore, 65% of all new consortia-led apprenticeships are provided in the higher education sector. The annual investment in craft and consortia-led apprenticeships in higher education is currently in excess of €55 million. Some €35.5 million has been invested in capital programmes to deal with expansion requirements in the higher education sector over the past five years.

Apprenticeships are offered at all levels of the national qualification framework, from level 6 to 10. It is a mode of learning built around an employment opportunity with the learning provided by both higher education and further education depending on the level of the award.

I fully support the new action plan for apprenticeship. I also welcome the establishment of the national apprenticeship office which is a joint venture between the HEA and SOLAS and reflects the collective participation of the higher education and further education sector in the provision of apprenticeships.

Higher education can play a key role in the transition of current SOLAS co-ordinated craft apprenticeship to a consortia-led model. The existing collaborative partnership between further and higher education sectors should continue and be enhanced through the new opportunities we now have in the transition process.

The further and higher education sector has great knowledge of the existing centralised craft apprenticeship system and also the existing consortia-led programmes. The sector is looking forward to the development of a single apprenticeship model and can play an important part in this evolution. The TU sector though delegated authority is well placed to offer leadership as a result of its experience in programme development, assessment, validation, quality control and the international recognition of university awards.

The main challenge facing MTU in addressing the skills shortage when it comes to apprenticeships is the lack of facilities, such as classrooms, laboratories, workshops and offices. We receive capital funding for equipment when new curricula are introduced but no funding is provided for new buildings or the upgrade of existing buildings and services to install this new equipment. Targeted funding to upgrade buildings to support existing and new apprenticeships is essential for the delivery of the apprenticeship targets. Opportunities also exist to develop new shared facilities with the further education sector.

Finally, I mention the World Skills Ireland event which will be held in the RDS in September 2022. It is a showcase event for apprenticeships. It promotes skills and apprenticeship at a national level. In October 2022, a team from World Skills Ireland will travel to Shanghai in China to compete at the highest international level.