skills - higher education authorityict skills action plan 2014 - 2018 government, education and...

ICTSKILLSAction Plan

2014 - 2018

Government, Education and Industry working together tomake Ireland a global leader in ICT talent

action plan ICT 2014 4FINAL (s)pr_Layout 1 13/03/2014 08:30

This Action Plan is a collaborative effort by Government, the education system andindustry to meet the goal of making Ireland the most attractive location in the world

for ICT Skills availability.

Government agencies and State-supported bodies involved in thedevelopment and implementation of the Action Plan include:

HIGHER EDUCATION AUTHORITYHEA

The education system plays a critical role in delivering skilled graduates andpromoting interest in ICT

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ForewordThere are few drivers which will be more important to global job creationin the coming years than the development of ICT skills. Ireland already hashuge strengths in this area: a thriving ICT enterprise base, both indigenousand multinational, the quality and responsiveness of our education systemand the talent and flexibility of our workforce; all poised to develop theopportunities opened up by new technologies. But we also recognise thatIreland is part of a global race for talent and that we are increasinglycompeting for inward investment and export opportunities on the basis ofthe quality of our workforce.

This Action Plan builds on our strengths and is intended to meet theGovernment’s ambition, set out in the Action Plan for Jobs that Ireland willbecome the most attractive location in the world for ICT Skills availability. In developing this new Plan we have worked extensively with industry,including a Ministerial consultation with industry representatives and theeducation sector, and have heard first-hand the opportunities andchallenges in the sector. This Plan is also informed by the detailed work ofthe Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.

Before the publication of the first Action Plan in 2012, domestic supplyfrom higher education programmes only met 45% of demand. That figureis now estimated at over 60%, and we are setting out an ambitious targetof meeting three quarters of demand through domestic supply by 2018.This will be met through a range of actions in the education systemincluding enhancing core provision and retention, continuing to provideconversion programmes and focusing the skills of our young people,especially young female students, on ICT careers.

Given the global nature of this industry, inward migration will always play akey role in meeting the demand for high-level ICT skills. In this Plan, we setout actions designed to make Ireland a destination of choice for ICTprofessionals, both expatriates and international talent, through a range ofmeasures to promote Ireland internationally as a destination for highlyskilled ICT professionals and a targeted and user-friendly employmentpermits system.

These collaborative actions will complement the key role which theindustry itself has as a “skills producer”, through improved talentmanagement systems to attract, upskill and retain the best ICT talent andthe development of career pathways for new graduate entrants. Taking all these actions together, and by working in a collaborative wayacross Government, State agencies, the education sector and industry, wewill ensure that the ICT sector in Ireland continues to thrive with benefitsfor everyone in our society.

Ruairi Quinn T.D. Richard Bruton T.D.Minister for Education Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Skills and Innovation

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1. ICT: A strategic sector for Ireland

The ICT sector is of vital strategic importance toIreland, both in terms of the numbers of high skilledprofessionals employed and its significant contributionto export performance, accounting for €70 billion perannum. ICT is also widely used across other sectors ofthe economy. Around 60% of ICT professionals areemployed in the broad ICT sector, while 40% areemployed across other sectors of the economy.

Globally, the sector is in the midst of a disruptivegrowth and innovation phase. This includes theadoption of cloud computing, the penetration ofmobile devices and technologies and the Internet ofthings, the emergence of Big Data analytics, IT security,micro- and nanoelectronics and the adoption of socialtechnologies in both the personal and businessenvironment.

This disruptive change presents challenges in terms ofthe supply of ICT talent. However, the opportunitiesare enormous for those countries that respond best inmeeting these new skills needs.

2. Identifying the skills needs of the industry

The skills demand for ICT talent is a global one. By2015, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of upto 864,000 ICT professionals across the EU and theEuropean Economic Area (EEA).

Ireland is likely to face an average increase in demandfor high-level ICT skills of around 5% a year out to2018 with the employment of ICT professionalsanticipated to rise to just over 91,000.

Meeting the continuing strong domestic demand forICT professional skills will require an increase in thenumbers of high-quality computing andelectronic/electrical engineering graduates,supplemented by higher education conversion andupskilling programmes for jobseekers, furtherinvestment by business in employee training as well asthough the enhancement of the skills pool here inIreland by the attraction of appropriately skilledprofessionals from across Europe and beyond.

The development of the new ICT Skills Action Plan hasbeen informed by the EGFSN report Addressing FutureDemand for High Level ICT Skills which examines thepotential demand for high–level ICT skills at NationalFramework of Qualifications (NFQ) Levels 8 and aboveover the period 2013 to 2018 and at progression levelsNFQ 6/7, arising both within the broad ICT sector andacross other sectors of the economy.

The report indicates a continuing strong demand forhigh-level ICT skills with 44,500 job openings forecastto arise over the period to 2018 from both expansionand replacement demand. It concludes that allpotential policy levers will need to be utilised to buildup the ICT skills supply pipeline including througheducation, conversion and reskilling programmes,continuing professional development and attractingexperienced international talent, including expatriatetalent.

ICT Skills Action Plan


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3. Responding to industry needs: the 2012Action Plan

The first ICT Action Plan was developed in 2012 as acollaborative industry-Government approach tobuilding the domestic supply of high level ICTgraduates. In line with the emerging skills gaps beingidentified, the Plan’s key targets included doublingoutput of level 8 mainstream graduates by 2018, andsteps to increase supply in the short term throughconversion and reskilling programmes.

Significant progress has been made in meeting targetsin the Plan.

• Doubling of NFQ level 8 graduate output is nowexpected to be achieved by 2015 - 3 years ahead ofschedule.

• There has been a 58% increase in the number ofstudents presenting for higher level maths over thepast 3 years.

• 2,000 graduates on ICT reskilling/conversioncourses at NFQ level 8/9+

Before the publication of the Plan, only 45% of theskills demand was met domestically from highereducation programmes. The situation has beentransformed, with the education system expected tomeet over 60% of industry demand in 2014.

4. Building on the momentum: scope of thenew Plan

The focus of the new Plan is to build the supply ofgraduates and skilled professionals with core ICT andelectronic/electrical engineering qualifications athonours degree level and above. It is at these levelsthat the majority of new job openings are expected tobe created and which are critical to the expansion anddevelopment of ICT business activity within both theICT sector itself and across other sectors of theeconomy.

The scope of the new Plan is being broadened toencompass measures to increase the supply of highlyskilled ICT professionals from abroad to complementthe increase in the domestic supply of high level ICTgraduates from the education system. This includesmeasures to streamline the operation of theemployment permit regime and measures to promoteIreland as a destination for skilled ICT professionals.


ICT Skills Action Plan

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5. Developing the Plan: A collaborativeapproach between Government andIndustry

The Plan has been developed as a collaborationbetween the Department of Education and Skills andthe Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, aswell as a range of State agencies, including the HEA,IDA, EI, Forfás and SFI, together with the highereducation institutions and a range of industrystakeholders.

A series of consultations took place with stakeholdersin the preparation of the Plan in November andDecember 2013. In January 2014, the Minister forEducation and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, and the Minister forJobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, co-chaired a consultation with industry representativesand representatives of the Higher Education sector, aswell as the relevant State Agencies.

6. Making Ireland a global leader for ICTtalent

Our ambition is to make Ireland as global leader forICT talent and skills. Our overarching target is to meet74% of forecast industry demand for high-level ICTskills from the education system by 2018, up from thecurrent level, estimated at over 60%.

In line with industry norms, it is envisaged thatremaining demand will be met by continuing to attracthighly skilled people from abroad. The continuedupskilling and development of existing employees inthe sector by industry will also make a vitalcontribution to achieving our goals.

We will meet our ambitious targets by focusing onthree strategic priorities. We will:

• Increase output of high-level graduates• Incentivise additional 1,250 ICT undergraduate

places in higher education institutions per year, with a target of 1,037 additional graduates per annum from the end of 2018.

• Continue ICT upskilling and NFQ Level 8 conversion courses, in collaboration with industry in the design of programmes and the provision of structured work placements

• Enhance ICT capacity and awareness in theeducation system.• Support maths and ICT skills development

through promotion and attraction measures, where possible facilitated by industry inputs, allied to curriculum reforms. This will include industry in “adopt-a-school” programmes;

• Increase in retention rates on higher educationICT programmes from 80% to 83% over the life time of the Plan;

• Support measures to align programmes with enterprise needs.


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ICT Level 8 Graduates by Field of Study 2008 to 2018

Springboard/ICT Conversion Level 8 ICT Graduates(481) Computer Science

ICT action Plan 2014- 18 Incentivised Level 8

(482) Computer Use

(523) Electronics and automation

• Ensure Ireland maintains a strong ICT talent pooland promote Ireland as a centre for high-levelICT Skills

• Increase efficiency in the employment permits process, to attract highly skilled individuals andintroduce new legislation and associated enhancements to the application process;

• Facilitate the issuance of up to 2000 employment permits per year to experienced ICT professionals with skills in high demand. Given the rapidly evolving nature of the industry, these high-level ICT occupations will be reviewed on a six-monthly basis;

• Promote Ireland internationally as a destination for Highly skilled ICT professionals including through the development of a singlewebsite portal to attract international talent;

• Organise careers fairs abroad with the active participation of companies which have open vacancies.

These collaborative actions will serve to complementthe ongoing work by industry itself to upskill its owntalent base.

7. Making it happen: Implementationstructures

Overall implementation of the Plan will be driven by aHigh Level Steering Group under the auspices of thetwo Ministers. Three cross-sectoral delivery teams willdevelop and implement work programmes covering theactions in each of the strategic priority areas. A vitalfeature in the approach to implementation will be thecontinued central engagement of industry as a keypartner in the process. The delivery teams and HighLevel Steering Group will have appropriate regard to thework of other groups, including the recommendationsof the STEM Education Review Group. The High LevelSteering Group will review the effectiveness of theimplementation structures after 18 months.


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Implementation Structures

WORKPROGRAMMEActions: 1 – 7

Oversight and Advice

HIGH LEVELSTEERINGGROUP

DJEI, DES &INDUSTRY

ANNUALSTATEMENT

ANNUALMINISTERIALINDUSTRY

CONVENTION

DELIVERY TEAM 2

ICT AWARENESS ANDCAPACITY IN THE

EDUCATION SYSTEM

DES/SFI/INDUSTRY

WORKPROGRAMMEActions: 8-20

DELIVERY TEAM 3

ICT TALENT POOL &INTERNATIONALPROMOTION

DJEI/IDA/EI/INDUSTRY

WORKPROGRAMMEActions: 21 - 22

DELIVERY TEAM 1

OUTPUT OF HIGH-LEVELGRADUATES

HEA/SKILLNETS/INDUSTRY


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Table of Actions


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Actions/Tasks

1. Incentivise provision ofan additional 1,250 ICTundergraduate places peryear in higher educationinstitutions

Issue call for expressions ofinterest in providingadditional places in identifiedICT skills areas leading to fulllevel 8 award

Undertake an audit ofcapacity in ICT disciplineareas in higher educationinstitutions

2. Increase in retentionrates

Additional measures to besought from higher educationinstitutions to increaseretention of ICT students,drawing on research andpractice that demonstratessuccess of additionalinterventions in Mathematics,learning to learn andcommunications. Measureswill be made a requirement inorder to access targeted skillsfunding

National Forum forEnhancement of Teaching andLearning to conduct a projectwhich co-ordinatesevaluation, sharing andpromotion of good practiceon retention of ICT studentsat NFQ Levels 6-9.

LeadResponsibility

HEA/HEIs

HEA/HEIs

HEA/HEIs

SuccessCriteria/Output

Timeframe

2018+

2014

3% increase in Level 8completion by Q42018

Level 6/7 5-7%increase by Q4 2018.

Industry inputs

Commitments to provideundergraduate workplacements forincentivised course places

Support promotion ofinitiative and raiseawareness ofemploymentopportunities.

Contribution in the formof industry guidance;review and contributionto course design;participation inmentoring; promotion ofICT careers and workplacement

Number of additionalplaces provided eachyear

Additional 1,037graduates each year

Potential capacityissues identified andconsidered

Steady increase inlevel 8 ICT retention:up from 80% currentlyto 83%, as per HEAICT numbersprojections

Targeted improvementin level 6/7 retentionfrom 63%-65% to70% by 2018

Enhanced studentengagement in termsof classroomattendance andparticipation andoverall programmeoutcomes.

Strategic Priority One:Increase output of high-level graduates


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3. Launch new rounds ofconversion/upskillingprogrammes in 2014

Issue a call for further ICTconversion/upskilling coursesin February 2014

EGFSN guidance on targetskills areas prepared inadvance with input fromenterprise agencies andindustry reps

Launch new round of ICTskills conversion/upskillingprogrammes

4. Delivery of Skillnets ICTconversion programmes

Delivery of:ICT Ireland Skillnet ConversionProgrammes in Software Engineering, JavaFundamentals and CloudComputing & Virtualisation.

ISA Software Skillnet CloudCareers & UX ConversionProgrammes

ITAG Skillnet Software TestingConversion Programme

Animation Skillnet GameProduction & AnimationProduction conversionprogrammes

DES/HEA

Skillnets/ICTIreland/ISA/ITAG/DBIC

Tender for the deliveryof the programme tobe issued February2014 with courses toroll out from June2014

Programmes deliveredfrom Q1 – Q4 2014

Input to call via guidancematerial/briefings

Promotion of call byindustry associations

Industry/educationpartnerships with highereducation institutions insubmitting courseproposals and delivery,including work placements

Participation inassessment and selectionpanel(s)

Engagement withgraduates via workplacement and hiring

Promote awareness andengagement withinitiative by participantsand employers

Input to the developmentof ICT conversionprogrammes

Provision of suitable workplacements opportunities

Provision of trainingfacilities for conversionprogrammes

Promotion of ICTprogrammes

Number of ICT courseplaces filled

No of workplacements provided

Graduate output

Employmentoutcomes

240 unemployedparticipants on ICTconversionprogrammes

Progression outcomesof participants.

Actions/Tasks LeadResponsibility


Timeframe Industry inputs


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5. Deliver Skillnets ICTprogrammes to industry

Skillnet networks to deliver awide range of ICT technicaland managementprogrammes to increase thenumber of ICT skilledprofessionals e.g. Big dataanalytics, UX DesignPrinciples, Cloud Computing,Product Management.

Key programmes include;ISA Software SkillnetPostgraduate Diploma andMSc in Product Management

ICT Ireland SkillnetPostgraduate Diploma andMSc in Technology &Innovation

Introduce three new ICTtraining courses underSkillnets Future Skills NeedsProgramme (FSNP)

6. Implement the higher Education System Performance Framework2014-16

Implementation of systemobjective 1:

To meet Ireland’s humancapital needs across thespectrum of skills by engagedinstitutions through a diversemix of provision across thesystem and through both corefunding and specificallytargeted initiatives

Skillnets/ICTIreland/ISA/ITAG/DBIC

HEA

1700 employedparticipants completingrange of ICT technicaland managementprogrammes

Provision of places for200 unemployedparticipants on theseprogrammes

100 employedparticipantsundertaking level 9programmes designedby Skillnet networks

New programmeslaunched.

Level of achievementagainst high levelindicators in relation toICT/STEM skills.

Publication of AnnualSystem Performancereport

Report Q2 2014

Promotion andparticipation in ICTprogrammes

Investment in ICTprogrammes jointly fundedby Skillnet Networks andIndustry

Leadership of enterprisenetworks andidentification of trainingneeds.

Industry experts input tothe development of thenew level 9 programmesfor industry practitioners.

Participation in IBECEmployers Survey

Strategic Priority One:Increase output of high-quality graduates

2014





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7. Work Placements

Support developmentof web portal tofacilitate workplacements forparticipants/graduateson targeted ICTinitiatives and toassist in job seekingand recruitment.

Feasibility workincludes review andcollaboration withemployment supportservices of theDepartment of SocialProtection

EI/HEIs/HEA/DSP/Industry

Number of employersengaged and using theportal

Number of placementopportunities featuredon portal

Number ofplacements facilitatedvia web portal

Number of CVs activeand number ofemployer contactsmade

Subject to feasibilitybeing confirmed, portaloperation for targetedICT initiatives(eg.Springboard/ICTskills conversionprogramme) Q1 2015

Input to the initial andongoing development ofthe web portal

Provision of suitablework placementsopportunities

Use of portal inrecruitment processes





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Strategic Priority Two:Enhance ICT capacity and awareness in the education system

8. Promote careeropportunities toprimary and secondlevel students

Highlight and promoteSTEM careeropportunities andcareer pathways opento students,particularly those inICT fields; encouragestudents to retain theirSTEM subjects at post-primary level andpursue STEM coursesat third level. Specificactions will include:

Carry out a nationalsurvey ofundergraduatestudents to identifywhy they did or didnot choose STEMcourses after school

Develop and manage adatabase of trainedSTEM volunteersincluding people witha variety of ICTbackgrounds, toengage with schoolsand teachersnationwide and givecareer talks (focusedon Junior Cycle & TYstudents)

SFI (SFI Discover:Smart Futuresprogramme)

Increased awarenessof STEM careeropportunities amongpost-primarystudents, parents,guidance counsellorsand teachers asevidenced by:

- Detailed analysis ofresults of nationalsurvey ofundergraduates

- Training of 450+STEM volunteers togive careers talks(50% industry – 50%research)

- The development ofan online bookingsystem for schools

Q2 2014

Q1 2014 to Q4 2016

Q1 2014 to Q4 2016

To make sufficientnumbers of industryemployees available forcommunications trainingto enable them to carryout school/teacherengagement

To allow industryemployees time to carryout school visits





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Launch a mediacampaign with a highprofile STEMAmbassador tocommunicate careersmessagesencompassing ICT , tostudents, teachers,parents, guidancecounsellors etc.

Deliver careerpathways informationin an easily accessiblemanner online

Deliver a series ofcareer profileshighlighting femalerole models in STEM,including those withICT backgrounds, onSmart Futures.ie

Work with SFI-fundedResearch Centres todevelop workplacementopportunities fortransition yearstudent. As well assupporting establishedprogrammes such asthe STEPS ‘Engineeringyour Future’ scheme,CareersPortal ‘WorkXperience’ and CRANNCool Jobs programmes.

Support and promotecompetitions aimed atpost-primary studentsencouraging them todevelop STEM skillsusing innovatecommunicationsmethods

- To be able to offer acareers talk to each ofthe 723 post-primaryschools in the countryby 2016

- Delivery of mediacampaign with high-profile ambassador(clippings, videoviews, website traffic)

- Creation andaccessibility of STEMcareer pathwaysinformation mappedout and easilyaccessed online

- Creation andpublication of regularcareer posts onSmartFutures.iehighlighting femalerole models in ICTfields

- The development ofa coordinated TY workplacement initiativewithin SFI-fundedResearch Centres

- Includes thesponsorship of theApps4Gaps dataanalytics competitionand the Eircom JuniorSpider Awards etc.

Q2, Q3 2014

Ongoing

Q3, Q4 2014 - 2016

To support and endorseany media campaign byparticipating in photo-calls, providing quotes forpress releases

To provide appropriateinformation on ICT careerpathways and skills(Engineers Ireland STEPSprogramme)

To provide access tofemale employeesworking in ICT areas forinterviews and profiling





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9. Develop a frameworkto facilitate theexpansion of “adopt aschool” typeprogrammes

Framework documentfor use by industry andschools to be drawn upwhich will facilitatethe adoption process

10. Enhance highereducation awareness-raising measures

HEA to provide support to institutions in delivering SummerComputing Camps toencourage second-levelstudents to consider ICT careers

Higher educationinstitutions to continueto support Coder Dojo in provision of space,administrative supportsand mentoring

Enhanced focus onattracting femaleparticipants,particularly in calls fortargeted provision

Industry and DES

HEIs/HEA

Schools receivesupport from industryacross range of areas

Support 14 annualsummer camps at 14higher educationinstitutions, offeringICT-related courses,30-50 participants percamp’

All relevant highereducation instititutionslinked to or supportingCoder Dojo initiativesin their regions orclusters as appropriate

Marketing andpromotion toencourage increase infemale participation inSpringboard, ICT Skillsand targetedmainstream provision.Links with partnerssuch as SiliconRepublic.

Annually to 2018

All by 2018

Annually to 2018

Provide IT equipment

Provide tech support

Provide softwaredevelopment classes

Providesoftware/hardwaretroubleshooting classes

Provide guest speakers toclasses

Provide work placementopportunities fortransition year students

Industry sponsorship orin-kind supports;

ICS Tech Week

Industry assistance tohigher educationinstitutions in promotingand championingopportunities for womenin computing, e.g. viaMultinational TechnologyForum; ICT Ireland; IDA; EI;Engineers Ireland womenin Technology and otherindustry networks

To be agreed bydelivery team





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11. Implement JuniorCycle Reformprogramme

Finalise and roll outcourses in DigitalMedia Literacy andProgramming &Coding

Embed key skill ofdigital technology intoall subjects and shortcourses as they arerevised

Ensure statements oflearning are fullyembedded e.g. “usestechnology and digitalmedia tools to learn,communicate, workand thinkcollaboratively andcreatively in aresponsible and ethicalmanner”

Ensure all teachersreceive ContinuousProfessionalDevelopment inrelation to new juniorCycle andspecifications

Standardised testingfor second years inmaths and science

DESDES/NCCA

DES/NCCA

DES/NCCA

DES

Availability in schools

Uptake by students

Revision of syllabuses.

CPD rolled out to all(c.26,000 Whole timeequivalent) post-primary teachers overthe lifetime ofimplementation.

Finalise courses inSpring 2014Available to schoolsfrom September 2014

Revised Englishspecification availableto schools September2014.

Revised Sciencespecifications availableto schools in 2015.

Remaining subjects tobe implemented on aphased basis up to2020

Spring 2017 (maths)and Spring 2018(science)

Development of shortcourses for new JuniorCycle





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12. ImplementProject Maths

Ensure all teachersreceive ContinuousProfessionalDevelopment inrelation to Project Maths

13. ImplementLiteracy andNumeracy Strategy

14. Build on thepositive impacts ofthe bonus pointsinitiative for HigherLevel Maths

Review of bonus pointsto be carried out bythe IUA

DES

DES

HEIs

Improved take-up ofHigher Level Maths

Better Maths skills for2nd level students

Continue CPD roll outto all (c.5,800) post-primary mathsteachers.

Post-graduate coursefor “out of field”maths teachers

Increase proportion of15-year olds at Level 4or above in PISA by 5percentage points;

Halve percentage ofstudents at 15 yearsold scoring at or belowL1;

Increase proportiontaking higher levelmathematics in Leavingcertificate to30%;

Increase proportiontaking higher levelMaths in JC to 60%

Increase in the takeup of Higher Levelmaths to 30% duringthe lifetime of theNational Literacy andNumeracy Strategy

Review will considerthe impact and futureof the bonus pointsinitiative.

First mainstream allstrands LC is 2014 andJC 2015

2nd cohort of teacherscurrently studying

Over lifetime ofstrategy, out to 2020

Support for roll out ofProject Maths

Over the lifetime of theNational Literacy andNumeracy Strategy to2020





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15. Revise SeniorCycle Sciences

Finalise thespecifications forsenior cycle sciences

16. Revise appliedmathematicsspecification

Develop backgroundpaper on appliedmathematics

17. Revise primarymathematicssyllabus

Publication ofbackground researchpapers

18. Launch andImplement the newDigital Strategy forSchools

Publish and implementthe new digitalstrategy which will setout a policy directionfor the use digitaltechnologies inteaching, learning andassessment for thenext 5 years.

NCCA/DES

NCCA

NCCA

DES

Revision of syllabuses

Increased ICTcapacity and usage inschools

Increase in numbersof students applyingfor ICT programmes inhigher educationinstitutions

2014

2014

2014

2014 Engage with DigitalStrategy Developmentthrough publicconsultation process andICT Ireland’s participationon the ICT in SchoolsSteering Group





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19. Include ICT inContinuousProfessionalDevelopment forTeachers

Inclusion of ICT in allcontinuing professionaldevelopment forteachers for example anew course has beendeveloped - ActiveLearning in Literacyand Numeracy usingTablet Devices.

20. Promote Irelandinternationally as adestination for highlevel ICT skills

Devise and implementa programme around asingle website portal,with agency andindustry involvement,to attract internationaltechnical talent,balancing the needs ofboth indigenous andFDI companies.

Organise careers fairsabroad, involvingcompanies with openvacancies, to attractexpatriate andinternational technicaltalent.

Promote internationalawareness of the ICTAction Plan andIreland’s commitmentsin this area

DES & PDST

EnterpriseIreland/IDA/Department ofSocial Protection/Department ofForeign Affairs andTrade/IrishSoftwareAssociation/ICT Ireland/ICT industry

New online and faceto face courses rolledout to teachers

Portal to beconsistently in top 3in searches for ‘globaltechnical talent’

Active promotion byEI and IDA officesoverseas and byembassies.

Q1-Q4 2014

Detailed proposal to be completed by Q3 2014

Participation in workinggroup

Active participation inportal and Careersmissions;

ICS to supportimmigrating ICTprofessionals.





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Strategic Priority Three:Ensure Ireland maintains a strong ICT talent pool and promote Ireland as a centrefor high-level ICT Skills




21. Increaseefficiency of theEmployment permitssystem to facilitateaccess to high levelICT skills fromoverseas

Employers will befacilitated through theissuance of up to 2000employment permitsper annum in the ICToccupations identifiedby the EGFSN reportas in critical shortsupply. This will bereviewed on a six-monthly basis tomonitor progress inaddressing the skillsshortage.

Enactment ofEmployment Permits(Amendment) Bill

Introduction of eForm

DJEI

DJEI

DJEI

Employers are able tosecure the critical ICTskills they need

Creation of newcategories ofEmployment Permitincluding Critical SkillsEmployment Permit;measures to facilitateaccess to Irish labourmarket by skilled ICTprofessionals inshortage areas andtheir families

20% reduction inrejection ofapplications withcorrespondingimprovement inprocessing time,leading to fasterprocessing times,including for ICTprofessionals

Q2 2014

Q1 2014

Q1 2014

Stakeholder feedback




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Strategic Priority Three:Ensure Ireland maintains a strong ICT talent pool and promote Ireland as a centrefor high-level ICT Skills

Introduction of TrustedPartner registrationscheme

Design and disseminateawareness-raising e-brochure that highlightsthe attractiveness andadvantages of Ireland’sEmployment Permitssystem

Participate in WebSummit 2014

ePayments

22. Run an annualadvanced ICT talentmanagement andretention seminar toshare best practiceamong companies inupskilling and HRtalentmanagement.

Organise and run anannual advanced ICTtalent managementand retention seminar.

DJEI withassistance of IDA,EI, Department ofForeign Affairs andTrade

DJEI

DJEI

DJEI

ICT Ireland andEngineers Ireland.

A fast track forselected pre-registered employersto facilitate hiring ofnon-EEA professionalswith key skills. Firstpriority target groupin 2014 is IDA/EIclients

Greater awareness ofIreland’s EP systemresulting in greateruptake by non-EEAexperienced ICTprofessionalspossessing the skillsthat are in shortsupply

Increased uptake bynon-EEA experiencedprofessionalspossessing skills inshort supply

Improvement inprocessing times;user-friendly for non-EEA based clientele

An advanced ICTtalent managementand retention seminarrun

Q2 2014

Q3 2014

Q2 2014

Annually 2014 – 2018


ICT Ireland and EngineersIreland





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ICTSKILLSAction Plan

2014 - 2018

Government, Education and Industry working together tomake Ireland a global leader in ICT talent


skills - higher education authorityict skills action plan 2014 - 2018 government, education and...

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