Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The Irish economy is dependent upon international trade to a greater extent that most other developed countries. Ireland has benefitted much through the opening up of EU and world markets in terms of having access by indigenous firms to bigger export market and also through multi-national firms setting up here to export into them. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation together with its enterprise development agencies and bodies such as the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs is engaged in a continuous process of scanning the external environment for changes in technology, business models and enterprise requirements and developing policy responses to ensure Ireland remains at the forefront internationally as a location from which to trade and to invest and grow jobs.

There are several global drivers of change impacting on the international market for goods and services including:

- Globalisation which has led to a growth in global manufacturing value chains sited in different locations world-wide in the pursuit of the most competitive costs.

- Technological advances including advanced materials, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and advanced manufacturing which are giving rise to a wider range of innovative products and processes.

- Shifting demographics which is resulting in a strong demand for health and lifestyle products and services.

- Changing consumer preferences which are raising the complexity of demand for manufactured goods, particularly for electronics, communications and transport.

- Energy and environmental concerns and rising energy prices are resulting in firms striving for greater efficiencies in energy and waste.

The globalised nature of the world economy requires employees to acquire a range of international business and technical skills and an understanding of cultural differences and working practices. The ongoing globalised nature of the world economy means that Ireland has to continually establish its niche as a high performing, productive and innovative country. For Ireland to compete effectively in the global market place, it is important to enhance the skill levels of the working population. World class skills, education and training have been identified in the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) as a key area where Ireland can continue to develop competitive advantage in building sustainable enterprises.

The standard of living achieved in Ireland can only be maintained and improved upon, through high productivity and innovation which in turn is supported by high levels of education and training attainment. The skills requirements of the economy are not static. This has implications for the skill profile of those at work – with a need for all to upskill.

All occupations are becoming more knowledge-based, requiring an increasing breath of knowledge, rising technical, qualification, regulatory requirements and continual learning. There is an increasing emphasis on generic skills in both new and existing jobs. There are basic skills which everyone will require to access the labour market and increasingly to participate in society. These include literacy, numeracy, and using technology. There is also an increasing emphasis on people related skills such as communication, interpersonal skills, team working and customer service skills, and for conceptual skills such as problem solving planning and organising and learning to learn. The trends show that an Increasing breadth of knowledge will be required. For example software engineers now need more than just programming skills; they also need an understanding of the business domain that their research is intended to target. Food operators are increasingly required to update their skills to meet food safety requirements.

The development of appropriate skills for the workplace has implications for curricula, programme design and teaching methodologies at all levels of the further education and training and third level education system. The programme of reform which is being rolled out across all the education and training system seeks to further improve the quality of the teaching and learning experience for job seekers and students and to ensure the ongoing supply of high quality entrants for the workforce. It also seeks to improve the employability prospects of those unemployed in re-entering the workforce. At the primary education level a key focus of reform is on developing the key skills of literacy and numeracy through the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy and at second level Junior Cycle reform is embedding key skills throughout the curriculum.

Ireland has led the way in developing a National Framework of Qualifications that incorporates vocational and academic qualifications into a single framework. There is a need to ensure that state funded education and training leads to accreditation and qualifications. Qualifications help the labour market communications process. Individuals can communicate to employers the skills that they have. Employers can identify the skills available and do a better job of skills matching.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs plays a key role in advising on future enterprise skills needs. The head of the EGFSN secretariat responsible for the groups research, analysis and publications is within the Strategic Policy Division, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Industry representative bodies companies and senior executives from IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland along with officials from the Departments of Education and Skills and Jobs Enterprise and Innovation, the HEA and further and higher education and training providers participate in the EGFSN. Specific sectoral studies are advised by a steering group which is comprised of companies from within the sector. The EGFSN research provides a valuable input to education policy and the development of course curricula by individual institutions.