WIT offers over 250 FREE college places for Jobseekers under Springboard 2015

Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) announced today that it is offering over 250 FREE places in a range of courses in Arts & Heritage; Business & Finance; Computing & Systems analysis and Engineering & Architecture under Springboard 2015 with overall funding available of €1.37 million.

Springboard 2015 was launched this week by the Minister for Education and Skills Jan O’Sullivan TD who emphasised the economic and social benefits of the programme, saying “Springboard is playing a crucial role in rapidly responding to emerging skills needs in high-growth areas and in supporting people back into employment.”

Springboard provides free, part-time places in higher education for people who are unemployed or previously self-employed in order to help them get back to work and Springboard students may be able to keep income supports while completing their course.

Springboard has proved to be a great success with new data from the Department of Social Protection shows that 74% of all Springboard participants between 2011 and 2014 are no longer on the Live Register.

Ken McCarthy from Waterford is one of those who seized the opportunity afforded by Springboard. “I never imagined that I would go back to college but when the family business closed in 2011 that was exactly what happened. I studied the Higher Diploma in Business in Management through Springboard in 2012 and I enjoyed the experience so much that I now help other people like me avail of the opportunity that Springboard offers.”

Ken is now the main contact point for WIT applicants to Springboard. “For the past two years I have helped hundreds of people enrol on a diverse range of Springboard courses in WIT. In that time I have seen many of them return to employment or start their own businesses and others progress further with their education. My own Springboard experience means that I know first-hand the highs and lows that they have experienced and hopefully serve as an example of how Springboard can work.”

WIT Springboard courses will start in September and WIT will hold an Open Evenings on August 19th and 20th where you can find out more. Please see more information on WIT Springboard 2015 courses and apply online for a Springboard place atwww.wit.ie/springboard.