CEDEFOP Study Visit, March 2011, Exeter Aisling Penrose Forfás/Expert Group on Future Skills Needs Vocational Education and Training and Future Skills Needs in Ireland

The EGFSN also reports to the Minister for Education and Skills The Policy System

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs Governmental Advisory Group established in 1997 Membership – Business, Employee & Employer reps, Higher & Further Education, Enterprise Dev. Agencies, Government Depts. (Finance, Education & Skills, Enterprise, Trade & Innovation) Reports to Minister for Education & Skills and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Innovation Highlights where future skills needs are expected to arise & what sectors & occupations are likely to provide employment opportunities Advises on competencies required by enterprises of their employees 3

Initial Education & Training Upper Secondary Leaving Certificate, Leaving Certificate Vocational, Leaving Certificate Applied Lower Secondary Junior Cycle Primary Education Pre-Primary Education Third Level Education Institutes of Technology, & Universities Post Secondary/Non- Tertiary PLCs, Fáilte Ireland, Teagasc, Bord Iascaraigh Mhara YouthReachApprenticeships Initial Education and Training

Continuing Education & Training Skillnets Training Networks Programmes Enterprise Ireland Management Development, Productivity, Export Orientation FÁS One Step Up Training for Unemployed VTOS, FÁS Community Employment, Return to Work Institutes of Technology, Universities Part-Time Courses Back to Education Initiative Literacy Programmes VECs, NALA Private Companies Continuing Education and Training

Vision for Ireland The National Skills Strategy – Launched in 2007 The National Skills Strategy sets out a vision of Ireland in a well-educated & highly skilled population which contributes to a competitive, innovation-driven, knowledge-based, participative & inclusive economy. By 2020: 48% of the labour force should have qualifications equivalent to 3 rd level or above 45% should have qualifications at upper secondary the remaining 7% should have qualifications at lower secondary or below

Key Skills Issues & Labour Market Challenges Unemployment rate: 13.9% (Q3 2010) Structural unemployment (Construction, Manufacturing) Long-term unemployment Youth unemployment Low-skilled Improve quality of learning Improve national mathematical proficiency Alignment of programmes with skills needs through enhanced collaboration between education/training providers and enterprise Structured internship/work placement opportunities

Thank you! Expert Group on Future Skills Needs Forfás

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