Driving and Supporting a Growing Talent Pipeline
The Cluster members including members of both subgroups – the Mid-West Renewable Energy Research Working Group and the Mid West Renewables Education and Training Cluster.
As a founding stakeholder the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce was established in April 2022, with the twofold objective to create a long-term vision for the region and to outline a practical action plan to realise it. The Mid-West Renewables Education and Training Cluster is a subgroup of the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce, it’s emphasis on developing the necessary talent and skills required to fully realise economic opportunities.
Stakeholders
Wind Energy enterprise is a key driving Cluster partner. Enterprise representatives welcomed on an invite basis to inform and discuss current and future talent needs.
Government bodies and sectoral groups are integral in building a wholistic wind sectoral ecosystem and are invited on a regular basis, including Enterprise Ireland, the Expert Group on Future Skill Needs and the IDA.
The HEA (under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science): The Higher Education Authority is the statutory agency responsible for the allocation of exchequer funding to the universities, institutes of technology (IoTs) and other higher education institutions (HEIs). Most of the grants which the HEA allocates are ‘recurrent’ grants, allocated against the ongoing running costs of the institutions. The HEA also allocates capital funding for buildings and equipment with agreement from the Department of Education and Skills.
The National Skills Council bringing together education and training providers with representatives from business, to effectively respond to skills needs. Advises the minister and department on priority skills needs, the direction of skills and knowledge development in line with emerging global trends, and the opportunities and challenges for learning and work. Oversees research, and approves reports and publications, by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, and the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit of SOLAS.
Regional Skills Fora (under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science): Created as part of the Government’s National Skills Strategy and provides an opportunity for employers and the education and training system to work together to meet the emerging skills needs of their regions. More structured engagement on the skills agenda and the work of the Fora will contribute to better outcomes for learners and support enterprise development.
Contact Us
Contact
Chair, Geraldine Carroll, Associate Vice President, Graduate and Professional Studies, University of Limerick
