Over 13,000 People Undertake Digital Skills Upskilling with Skillnet Ireland

Each year Skillnet Ireland provides digital upskilling supports to over 13,000 people in businesses, through the delivery of cutting-edge programmes and initiatives and supporting SMEs to embrace digitalisation. Skillnet Ireland and its technology Networks have developed a wide range of academic programmes in partnership with enterprise in areas such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, blockchain, and data analytics. 

Through 70 Skillnet Business Networks, and national initiatives - including Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, Skillnet Innovation Exchange and MentorsWork – Skillnet Ireland works with businesses in each industry sector and region across Ireland, putting enterprise in control of their upskilling and talent development. 

This year, Skillnet Ireland will take part at the Dublin Tech Summit, which is expected to draw a crowd of tens of thousands from across Ireland and further afield to the two-day event in Dublin’s RDS, on May 29th and 30th. 

Mark Jordan, Skillnet Ireland Chief Strategy Officer, who will be speaking at Dublin Tech Summit said: “Working in partnership with industry and the tertiary sector, Skillnet Ireland is continuing to develop the key digitalisation supports needed to ensure businesses can stay ahead of the curve, embrace the digital transition, and utilise the potential of modern technologies. Our highly skilled workforce is what gives us our competitive edge in Ireland. By upskilling their workforce in key digital skills, Irish businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth and expansion.” 

Many of the 70 Skillnet Business Networks providing business supports to specific sectors or within a given region, specialise in digital and technology skills, including the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet; Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet; Tech Industry Alliance Skillnet; ITAG Skillnet; Cobotics Skillnet; Connected Health Skillnet; Cultural & Creative Industries Skillnet; Irish Medtech Skillnet, MIDAS Electronic Systems Skillnet and CITA Skillnet. These technology-based Networks provide upskilling solutions to help businesses to be the best they can be, and to maintain Ireland’s position as a leading global technology hub. 

Some of the upskilling programmes offered in the digital space include the National MSc in Artificial Intelligence offered by Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, in partnership with the University of Limerick, Dublin City University and University of Galway which were the first AI Masters qualifications in Ireland. 

The MSc in Leadership, Innovation & Technology designed by Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet in partnership with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) has been delivering essential skills to industry for over a decade, while a new Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation from the Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet and TU Dublin was launched recently. This pioneering new programme is designed to equip participants to become a leader in the emerging SportsTech industry, fusing data with insight from top SportsTech industry figures and unparalleled peer learning. 

Skillnet Business Networks that provide supports to businesses across multiple sectors, also deliver a range of digital literacy programmes such as digital marketing, word processing and data analysis tools which all focus on raising the baseline of digital skills to ensure Irish businesses position themselves with the right skills to take advantage of digital innovation. 

In a recent report from Skillnet Ireland in partnership with IDA Ireland focussing on ‘Data and Digital Skills for Non-IT Roles’, it was found that the demand for data and digital skills within Ireland’s key industries is rapidly increasing, across all types of roles. This demand is set to increase into the future. Industry leaders identified particular skills as requirements for all non-IT roles including data input, analysis, validation, manipulation and visualisation, as well as digital problem solving, digital presentations and communications. 

Any business of any size, across multiple sectors, can access Skillnet Ireland supports and join relevant Skillnet Business Networks. Sector-specific and regional upskilling supports can be viewed on the Skillnet Ireland website, www.skillnetireland.ie/sectors.