Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697803698045.pdf (Ireland)
Future Expansion of Craft Apprenticeships and New Generation Apprenticeships I wish to thank the committee for providing me with this opportunity to speak about the future expansion of craft apprenticeships and new generation apprenticeships.

Munster Technological University (MTU) is the largest provider of craft apprenticeship programmes in the country.

A total of 1872 craft apprentices will complete their off-the-job phases in MTU this academic year.
Craft apprentices in Electrical, Refrigeration, Plumbing, Carpentry & Joinery, Plastering , Pipe Fitting, Metal Fabrication, Fitting, Motor, Construction Plant Fitting and Agricultural Mechanics complete phases 4 and 6 in block release mode in MTU.

In addition, MTU delivers post-2016 apprenticeship programmes which offer university degree qualifications.
Currently over 200 students are registered across six programmes such as the BEng in Manufacturing Engineering and the BSc in Engineering Services Management.

MTU has a long history of delivering programmes using online learning.

The use of a rich and user friendly online learning portal has led to an increased uptake in the number of students in our post-2016 apprenticeship programmes.
The flexibly and availability of this service provides blended learning opportunities which enables us to extend the reach of new apprenticeship programmes.

Apprenticeships are central to the mission, strategic remit and activities of the Technological University/Institute of Technology (TU/IoT) sector.

As a TU it's very important for us to continue our strong partnership and leadership in apprenticeship delivery.
The Technological University Act 2018 also highlights this need and sets out our role in this area.

The level of engagement of the Higher Education community in apprentice provision is significant, so is the level of annual and capital investment.

• Higher Education providers across the TU/IoT sector provide 60% of all craft apprenticeship off-the-job training, which currently equates to over 8000 training places.
• Furthermore, 65% of all new Consortia-led apprenticeships are provided in the Higher Education sector.

• The annual investment in craft and Consortia-led apprenticeships in Higher Education is currently in excess of €55m.

• €35.5m has been invested in capital programmes to deal with expansion requirements in the Higher Education sector over the past 5 years.

Apprenticeships are offered at all levels of the National Qualification Framework (NFQ) from level 6 to 10.
It’s a mode of learning built around an employment opportunity with the learning provided by both Higher Education and Further Education depending on the level of the award.

I fully support the new Action Plan for Apprenticeship.

I also welcome the establishment of the National Apprenticeship Office which is a joint venture between the HEA and SOLAS and reflects the collective participation of the Higher Education and Further Education sector in the provision of apprenticeships.
Higher Education can play a key role in the transition of current SOLAS coordinated craft apprenticeship to a Consortia-led model.

The existing collaborative partnership between Further and Higher Education sectors should continue and be enhanced through the new opportunities we now have in the transition process.

The Further and Higher Education sector has great knowledge of the existing centralised craft apprenticeship system and also the existing Consortia-led programmes.
The sector is looking forward to the development of a single apprenticeship model and can play an important part in this evolution.

The TU sector though delegated authority is well placed to offer leadership as a result of its experience in programme development, assessment, validation, quality control and the international recognition of university awards.
The main challenges facing MTU in addressing the skills shortage when it comes to apprenticeships is the lack of facilities; classrooms, labs and offices.

We receive capital funding for equipment when new curricula are introduced but no funding is provided for new buildings or the upgrade of existing buildings and services to install this new equipment.

Targeted funding to upgrade buildings to support existing and new apprenticeships is essential for the delivery of the apprenticeship targets.
Also, opportunities exist to develop new shared facilities with the Further Education sector.

Finally, to mention World Skills Ireland which will be held in the RDS in September 2022.

This event promotes skills and apprenticeship at a national level.

In October 2022, the World Skills Competitions will be held in Shanghai and World Skills Ireland will send a team to compete at the highest international level.