NEFHEA Conference

20 May 2011

Marie Bourke

Challenges & Opportunities for Further & Higher Education

Ireland’s Future Skills Needs for Enterprise

Outline of Presentation

1. Role of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs

2. The National Skills Strategy & Progress

3. Enterprise Policy & developing sectoral skills

4. Changing Nature of Skills

5. The Future Challenge

Role of the EGFSN

Advise Gov. on

1. Projected skills requirements at national & sectoral levels & make recommendations on how best to address identified needs

2. Priority education & training requirements

3. Skill requirements that cannot be met internally that must be met through inward migration

4. Developments in content & delivery systems that support excellence in education & training quality elsewhere & on adaptations into training provision in Ireland

5. Recommend how existing systems & delivery mechanisms might be adapted

6. Convey views/recommendations on programmes supported by the National Training Fund to the Minister

7. Ensure that recommendations made are assessed by stakeholders & inform on progress made in the implementation of such recommendations

National Skills Strategy (NSS)

The National Skills Strategy- vision of Ireland in 2020 a well-educated & highly skilled population which contributes to a competitive, innovation-driven, knowledge-based, participative & inclusive economy

• By 2020:

• 48% of labour force should have qualifications at NFQ Levels 6-10

• 45% should have qualifications at Levels 4 & 5

• Remaining 7% will have qualifications at Levels 1-3

• Ireland should aim to build capability at fourth level & double its PhD output by 2013

Progress on National Skills Strategy Targets

Enterprise Policy

Exports Investment

Government Spending

Consumer Spending

Enterprise is the engine that will drive economic recovery & job creation

Exports are the key driver of sustainable growth

Buildin

g on

Strength

s &

Convergence

Emerging

Opportunities &

Untapped

Potential

A Renewed

Focus on

Mature Sectors

Compe

titiv

e

Loca

lly T

rade

d

Activ

ities

Building a Strong Enterprise Mix in

Sectors

Sectors

EGFSN Reports

The Green Economy - Six Sub-Sectors

Innovative, High-Value Products & Services

'Smart Green Solutions

Housing

Environment

Transport

Industry

Consumer Products

Bio Diversity

Sustainable development delivering economic, social & environmental benefits

Anticipated Total Sector Employment – two Scenarios

Skills Gaps

• 60% of cos. had a skills gap - arising from drive for new products & services - can be met by up-skilling. Examples are:

Across Companies : Managers – Export Marketing & Sales, finance,

project management, foreign languages, environmental management systems, international environmental standards & regulations

Renewable Energies: Power Engineers – for the dev. of electricity grid into a ‘smart distribution network’- core engineering skills with a bias towards electrical engineering combined with ICT/business skills

Efficient Energy Use & Management: Skilled Workers require system knowledge of full range of energy efficient heating & lighting systems & advising customers on the optimum economic payback

Green Economy Sub-sectorsKey Competency Requirements

Recommendations

(1) Align Education & Training provision to Enterprise Needs - Optimise the use of existing resources (approx €25m – €30m pa)

• Focus on development of core Business/ Engineering/ ICT Skills Acquire specialism knowledge through ‘add-on’ modules within undergraduate programmes , Masters Degrees or Post Graduate Diplomas

• Build-up expertise within specific education & training institutions for design of new modules & qualifications – draw upon learning from abroad - then share knowledge within system

• Strengthen collaboration and links with business around programme provision requirements for emerging skills

• Integrate development of generic competences into curricula eg entrepreneurship, commercial awareness, math proficiency, foreign languages, creativity & innovation, problem solving, communication skills

Recommendations

(2)Enhance Management Development - Export Marketing & Sales,

Finance, Languages, Awareness of Cultural Differences, Knowledge of

Environmental Regulations/Standards

(3) Engineers & Scientists - Focus on the development of Core Business,

Engineering and ICT Skills – offer ‘add on’ specialism modules – wind,

wave, solar, geothermal, biomass energy. Meet demand for ‘power

engineers

(4) Develop Technician’s Skills Capability- electro-mechanical/enhanced

ICT skills –high demand re installation & servicing of wind turbines; small

scale renewable technologies, electric cars charging points, biomass

installations

(5) Develop Sales & Marketing Staff Skills - re green procurement /

foreign languages-meet demand for technical staff to sell internationally

Recommendations contd..

(6) Develop Skilled Workers Capability - system knowledge of lighting

and heating systems. 400 jobs arising from installation of water meters

(7) Develop Operatives Skills Capability – retrofitting – customer service

skills –anticipate demand for 100-150 operators in anaerobic digestion.

(8) Enhance Graduate Placement & Internship Opportunities – improve

graduate employability

(9) Communicate Career Opportunities on offer within Sector –

especially to attract more women into STEM disciplines

(10) Enhance Mathematical & Science skills of the Workforce – key

requirements – develop mathematical skills modules at each NFQ levels

OECD – Investing in Human & Social Capital: New Challenges

• Skills easiest to teach & to certify are the ones rapidly disappearing from advanced economies.

• Increases in demand for tasks requiring complex communication, involving interacting with people to acquire information, explain it or persuade others of its implications for action

• Increases in the demand for non-routine analytical skills, involving solving problems for which there are no rule-based solutions requiring individuals to develop skills of problem-solving / inquiry-based learning throughout their education

• Skill shortages do not translate efficiently into curricula & learning provision, - because education / training systems lack means to identify & communicate required skills from those who use them, to the institutions who develop them, or

- because they do not have the staff & instructional methods to develop them

Conclusion

To meet these challenges, countries need to

1. Develop flexible educational pathways

2. Promote skill acquisition & equity of access to learning

3. Anticipate key sectoral trends & the evolution of labour demand

4. Identify essential skills for growth

5. Improve the match between skill supply and demand

6. Develop efficient approaches to the financing of lifelong learning

shift the focus from “life-long employment” to “life-long employability”

learning needed to prepare learners to conquer the unforeseen challenges of tomorrow

Thank you!

Expert Group on Future Skills Needs

www.skillsireland.com

Forfás

www.forfas.ie