A decade prior, terminologies such as micro credentials, stackable qualifications and portmanteau skills remained obscure to the majority of employers. Today, these concepts are gaining more recognition as businesses seek innovative strategies to find, nurture, evolve and keep ahold of their workforce in a drastically changed professional landscape.
The rapid evolution, especially in the tech domain, has propelled the adoption of these novel sorts of credentials, where knowledge acquired in the opening year of a conventional university course could become obsolete by the end point. Acknowledging the fact that not all individuals are suitable for or capable of affording full-time tertiary education is an additional driving factor. Simultaneously, it recognises the shift in employers’ attitudes – no longer strictly adhering to the once conventional career progression routes.
Apprenticeship schemes are experiencing a resurgence, with currently over 70 choices spanning across a multitude of sectors, including fintech, agriculture, logistics and horticulture. They’ve even sprung up in unexpected areas. Accenture, for instance, initiated its apprenticeship scheme in 2016 with an initial group of seven. From that point forward, over 1,200 individuals have been part of the scheme, with the company offering employment to the majority of participants afterwards.
Another prominent company, Microsoft, is taking strides to prepare employees for roles in the digital economy, having introduced a full-expense covered Cloud traineeship programme, in partnership with Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board. This initiative was kicked off at the conclusion of 2021, and welcomes anyone seeking to embark on a fresh career in cloud technology or IT, or looking to reskill to be more actively involved in the digital economy.
Notably, Microsoft has also carved out a pathway to cater to the growing demand for cybersecurity, a sector whose job vacancies outnumber the qualified individuals available. Microsoft’s free nine-week, full-time IT Support with Cybersecurity course is intended to assist those with no previous experience to secure an entry-level role. The course is remotely administered with live online teaching, aimed at individuals over 18 years of age who are not currently studying, working or undergoing training. The predicted initial salary for individuals who complete the coursework is roughly €30,000.
Working alongside Microsoft in delivering this course is Generation, an international non-profit organisation. Generation firmly believes in the transformative potential of employment and specifically assists adults without tertiary diplomas to secure jobs in the tech industry.
Ireland is currently offering a range of courses including a basic data analytics course for those who have no prior tech experience or training, as well as a three-month programme that has been organised through a partnership with Amazon Web Services and the Drogheda Chamber M1 Skillnet. The aim of this latter course is to provide a foundation for individuals to launch their career in the tech industry. Both these programmes do not require any prior educational background in technology or related qualifications.
One of the primary benefits of these courses is the opportunity they provide for easy job placement, rather than entrapping individuals with extended academic commitments. Estimates predict that by 2030, Ireland might have around 17,000 cybersecurity jobs available to qualified applicants.
James O’Connor, the Microsoft Ireland site leader and vice-president for global operations service, explains, “We’re committed to creating new routes into these high-demand sectors along with strong support to guide the participants.” One-to-one assistance is provided to participants while they are enrolled in the course and for half a year after its completion to ease their transition into employment, as many of these students may not have any prior job interview experience.
Moreover, the programme takes active steps to link hiring companies with its students. In the initial six months post their graduation, a striking seven out of ten graduates find employment. Furthermore, 84 per cent of employers have reported that these students outperform their colleagues in the workplace.
The aforementioned courses form a part of the Skill Up Ireland programme and are designed to provide individuals of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to make the most the digital economy. O’Connor adds, “This is crucial given that our research shows significant skills gaps across all age groups. In particular, there is a severe lack of cyber skills in small and medium-sized enterprises where it is vital to enhance cybersecurity capabilities. The last time I checked, nearly half of all roles remained vacant and were taking a long time to fill”.
O’Connor concludes, “We do not believe that it is the sole responsibility of the government to address this skills shortage. It is only through collaboration between educational institutions, NGOs, and corporations like Microsoft that we can effectively address this gap.”
Gabriel Chifa hit a rough patch in his career after withdrawing from a UCD arts course and taking on a barista role in a local cafe. His situation worsened with the advent of the pandemic, which rendered him jobless.
During this demotivating period, he discovered the Microsoft/Generation programme. “The programme gave me a lifeline, and throughout the course, I started regaining my lost self-esteem,” Chifa mentioned. He praised the tutors for their excellent support, underlining their role in boosting his confidence by guiding him through the entire programme.
Today, he is part of the financial services sector, serving in an IT support role. Despite the challenges, he successfully finished a cybersecurity certification and is determined to continue pursuing a career in this domain.