Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

carrollsno1 · 21-05-2021 9:46pm

Was looking into the chemical and processing course run by UCC through springboard, has anyone any experience if it?

Also are the clases recorded and free to watch back as time allows as evenings arent a great time for me but my weekends are usually completely free.

zom · 25-05-2021 11:37am

I think about trying Springboard ITC course - any recommendation in Dublin / Dublin South area?
Not asking about specific course type but general if anyone was particularly happy / unhappy about it and can share opinion?

py · 25-05-2021 12:57pm

zom wrote: »

I think about trying Springboard ITC course - any recommendation in Dublin / Dublin South area?
Not asking about specific course type but general if anyone was particularly happy / unhappy about it and can share opinion?

Do you know what area of ITC you would like to study? There are courses which are generalist based but some get quite specific in to other areas of ITC. It would be worth researching the industry to ensure you are signing up to the right course.

zom · 25-05-2021 1:32pm

As I said I am not asking about specific course but general opinion. People complained here already about peace of one of springboard courses in Cork (?), and I thought if someone took any ITC course in Dublin can say something good (or bad)?
I know more or less what I want to do but if there is something similar recommended and worth to try I will do it.

25-05-2021 2:15pm

zom wrote: »

As I said I am not asking about specific course but general opinion. People complained here already about peace of one of springboard courses in Cork (?), and I thought if someone took any ITC course in Dublin can say something good (or bad)?
I know more or less what I want to do but if there is something similar recommended and worth to try I will do it.

By ITC do you mean CIT or ICT?

StupidLikeAFox · 25-05-2021 2:20pm

carrollsno1 wrote: »

Was looking into the chemical and processing course run by UCC through springboard, has anyone any experience if it?

Also are the clases recorded and free to watch back as time allows as evenings arent a great time for me but my weekends are usually completely free.

You should ask but in my case all classes were recorded and available for looking back at. It was very handy for assignments to be able to flick right back to the lecture.

In fact (and I only copped on to this with a couple of weeks to go) there is very little benefit watching the lectures live. There wasn't much interaction in our class - watching them later meant you could pause to take notes, Google something, replay something or just get a cup of tea/take a break if you wanted to. We had a forum and lab sessions if you wanted to ask questions so attendance wasn't a huge deal

carrollsno1 · 25-05-2021 7:21pm

StupidLikeAFox wrote: »

You should ask but in my case all classes were recorded and available for looking back at. It was very handy for assignments to be able to flick right back to the lecture.

In fact (and I only copped on to this with a couple of weeks to go) there is very little benefit watching the lectures live. There wasn't much interaction in our class - watching them later meant you could pause to take notes, Google something, replay something or just get a cup of tea/take a break if you wanted to. We had a forum and lab sessions if you wanted to ask questions so attendance wasn't a huge deal

Did you do the Chemical and Process engineering yourself?

ClaptonBay · 31-05-2021 12:22pm

Anyone know when the applications for 2021 will be open/released?

Proferoxa · 31-05-2021 12:30pm

ClaptonBay wrote: »

Anyone know when the applications for 2021 will be open/released?

I was told the beginning of June.

Amirani · 01-06-2021 9:58am

They've just made a couple of updates to their Facebook page - logo/cover photo and info section. Could be an indication the courses will be announced soon (may tie in with the Government's wider investment plan due today).

go4it · 09-06-2021 7:22pm

HCI and Springboard+ offers for 2021 has been made available on website

Nemanrio · 09-06-2021 8:02pm

Just been on springboard website, IT Sligo haven't put theirs up.

Proferoxa · 09-06-2021 10:32pm

I don't see them?

knipper · 09-06-2021 10:47pm

Nothing coming up for me either

go4it · 10-06-2021 5:34am

have a feeling that only HCI database was linked to the search page

I'd say they wait for the minister to make a public announcement ( hope he gets a chance to outline the ministry's achievements before any leaving-cert mishaps comes in the public attention... )

IwishIknew2020 · 10-06-2021 2:14pm

Whats the difference between HCI and ICT courses does anyone know?

Proferoxa · 10-06-2021 2:18pm

IwishIknew2020 wrote: »

Whats the difference between HCI and ICT courses does anyone know?

"The Springboard+ upskilling initiative in higher education offers free and subsidised courses at certificate, degree and masters level leading to qualifications in areas where there are employment opportunities in the economy.

Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 1 will extend the approach currently in place for ICT under Springboard+. It will offer incentivised places for graduates to reskill in areas of skills shortage and emerging technologies e.g. ICT, High End Manufacturing, Data Analytics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, via graduate conversion courses. The HCI Pillar 1 funding will provide funding for full-time graduate conversion courses. Courses at level 8 Higher Diploma and level 9 Postgraduate Diploma on the National Qualifications Framework will be funded under this Pillar."

Source: https://springboardcourses.ie/

zom · 14-06-2021 1:00pm

go4it wrote: »

HCI and Springboard+ offers for 2021 has been made available on website

So far I can only see Limerick Institute of Technology and Dundalk Institute of Technology added?

Proferoxa · 14-06-2021 1:25pm

The course lists are up! Doesn't look like they're open for applications yet though.

Berty · 14-06-2021 1:44pm

Proferoxa wrote: »

The course lists are up! Doesn't look like they're open for applications yet though.

I'm not sure it is accurate though as the courses I'm looking at in 2 Colleges alone are last years courses. Check the closing dates. When I looked at springboard a few days ago those courses weren't there. The ones I am looking at now are closing dates of last Summer.

Pete123456 · 14-06-2021 1:51pm

Seems course lists are out today and applications open from Wednesday!

Proferoxa · 14-06-2021 1:56pm

Berty wrote: »

I'm not sure it is accurate though as the courses I'm looking at in 2 Colleges alone are last years courses. Check the closing dates. When I looked at springboard a few days ago those courses weren't there. The ones I am looking at now are closing dates of last Summer.

The Excel spreadsheets with the 2021 courses can be found here: https://springboardcourses.ie/search

Officer Giggles · 14-06-2021 2:53pm

I'm hoping the PDF they have up isn't the complete list, a course I wanted to do, that has been on the list for the past number of years, doesn't appear to be there this time

Pete123456 · 14-06-2021 3:01pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

I'm hoping the PDF they have up isn't the complete list, a course I wanted to do, that has been on the list for the past number of years, doesn't appear to be there this time

I noticed a course I’ve done in the past and some others I had looked at are missing also, I expect they’re just “refreshing” the list and not just including the same old courses…

Officer Giggles · 14-06-2021 3:31pm

I see UL applied for funding for 37 courses but only 15 of them made the cut.

Proferoxa · 14-06-2021 4:13pm

Officer Giggles wrote: »

I see UL applied for funding for 37 courses but only 15 of them made the cut.

Overall there seem to be substantially fewer courses than last year.

inyoup · 14-06-2021 5:26pm

I just finished my springboard course, got the results today but obviously won't get diploma until graduation. Can I sign up to another, higher level through springboard already ?

touts · 14-06-2021 5:35pm

Definately seems to be less. And what is there is a bit more...... niche than past years. I suspect they are cutting Springboard back because they will be trying to deal with more 1st year undergraduates this year again due to the "ah sure god help them and the covid when they were trying to study for the leaving cert" policy of the government.

Don't think I'll be applying for anything this year. Not much I am interested in and I'll save it until next year when hopefully they may have more options.

go4it · 14-06-2021 6:55pm

inyoup wrote: »

I just finished my springboard course, got the results today but obviously won't get diploma until graduation. Can I sign up to another, higher level through springboard already ?

your school needs to mark the springboard course as completed ( since you got the results ) in order to apply to another course.
have a look into your Springboard account/dashboard and see what's the status on the course you received the results

tv3tg4 · 14-06-2021 7:39pm

Choice is not great.

Subject areas have narrowed.

I might do a post Grad Cert springboard course or look into doing an online part time course

coffeelover · 14-06-2021 7:47pm

Hey, I was looking at doing a course that I thought was funded by Springboard last year but it was actually funded by the Government July Stimulus Provision. Just wondering whether that stimulus will come up again this year or was it a once off?

AngryLips · 15-06-2021 8:33am

tv3tg4 wrote: »

Choice is not great.

Subject areas have narrowed.

Isn't this year the first year of the new EU budget? Did they lose the EU funding for it this year?

Daniel112 · 15-06-2021 9:54am

Looks like search doesn't work for some of the colleges. CIT which is now known as Munster Technological University (excel is accurate) is still listed as CIT on the search page which returns no results :rolleyes:

Nemanrio · 15-06-2021 11:28am

Any idea what documents will be needed to register?

Blizzard · 15-06-2021 11:39am

It looks like the courses are listed now. When you click on Search Courses on the site, it shows "Download SB 2021 Course List" option.

ClaptonBay · 15-06-2021 12:36pm

Has anyone completed any of the data analytics courses - would be interested to get opinions on which college you went to and course contents?

Proferoxa · 15-06-2021 12:48pm

It varies, but generally they ask for any/all of the following: your CV, transcript of results from any previous third-level qualification you may have, an academic or professional reference or two, proof of identification, and a letter of motivation. Also, proof of receipt of a social welfare payment if you're unemployed.

Proferoxa · 15-06-2021 12:49pm

Nemanrio wrote: »

Any idea what documents will be needed to register?

It varies, but generally they ask for some/all of the following: your CV, transcript of results from any previous third-level qualification you may have, an academic or professional reference or two, proof of identification, and a letter of motivation. Also, proof of receipt of a social welfare payment if you're unemployed.

zom · 15-06-2021 1:23pm

Blizzard wrote: »

It looks like the courses are listed now. When you click on Search Courses on the site, it shows "Download SB 2021 Course List" option.

Lots of what on the list is not shown on springboard website?

dinneenp · 15-06-2021 2:18pm

zom wrote: »

Lots of what on the list is not shown on springboard website?

I noticed that too. 'Certificate in Health Project Management' is on the xls but doesn't return from a search

Proferoxa · 15-06-2021 2:26pm

dinneenp wrote: »

I noticed that too. 'Certificate in Health Project Management' is on the xls but doesn't return from a search

This year's courses won't be available using the search function until tomorrow when applications open. For some reason they still have last year's courses on there.

IwishIknew2020 · 15-06-2021 8:04pm

tv3tg4 wrote: »

Choice is not great.

Subject areas have narrowed.

I might do a post Grad Cert springboard course or look into doing an online part time course

You are so right, much wider choice available last year.
Its disappointing. I was also hoping to do similar to yourself.

mp3ireland2 · 15-06-2021 9:03pm

IwishIknew2020 wrote: »

You are so right, much wider choice available last year.
Its disappointing. I was also hoping to do similar to yourself.

Not all the courses are up yet, Sligo IT aren't there for example.

I did a post graduate certificate in Biopharmaceutical Processing with Sligo IT/NIBRT this year, a lot more work than I thought but got results today, 80% so happy with that!
Can do another year via springboard and get a list graduate diploma but time to enjoy life for a while!

Officer Giggles · 15-06-2021 9:10pm

The course I was hoping to do didn't get funding this year, i know in previous years extra funding has been made available and new courses have been released with January start dates, hard to know whether to risk holding out or look to do a different course

onlinenerd · 16-06-2021 1:19am

I did a level 8 last year on my own and graduated last summer. Does the past year count as a year when applying for a level 9 through springboard?

Officer Giggles · 16-06-2021 8:37am

onlinenerd wrote: »

I did a level 8 last year on my own and graduated last summer. Does the past year count as a year when applying for a level 9 through springboard?

Was your level 8 a part time course?

I see Springboard are specific in stating you need a break of a year having completed a level 8 FULL TIME course

Nemanrio · 16-06-2021 11:36am

Still no sign of applications being open to IT Sligo courses.

Officer Giggles · 16-06-2021 12:58pm

2021/22 courses are gone live for applications now

dinneenp · 16-06-2021 2:17pm

Nemanrio wrote: »

Still no sign of applications being open to IT Sligo courses.

same here, checked in the afternoon and they're up. One PM course I'm interested in but see it's not open to people in employment....

Proferoxa · 16-06-2021 2:26pm

dinneenp wrote: »

same here, checked in the afternoon and they're up. One PM course I'm interested in but see it's not open to people in employment....

Did you check the course details or are you just going by what it says under the course title? A lot of courses say they're not open to people in employment but when you read the application procedure it turns out they actually are.

Springboard courses. Free college courses sponsored by the Irish Government

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