Many new retraining strategies have been developed to deal with the increase of people becoming unemployed

FÁS Training Initiatives Strategy

The FÁS Training Initiatives Strategy has been developed in response to the challenges of the rapid increase of people who have become unemployed and who require training in order to improve their prospects of re-entering the labour market.

The strategy expands the range of options available to the jobseeker to upskill and to gain accreditation for re-entry into the labour market.

It enhances the traditional mix of course offerings - which lead to major awards - by offering an additional 51,000 training places across three core training initiatives: the Short Courses Initiative, the Night Courses Initiative and the Online Courses Initiative.

The Short Course initiative

The Short Course initiative will provide appropriate training for persons with high levels of employability who have been recently made redundant to upskill and refocus them for re-entry into the labour market.

Jobseekers will have been employed in a specific occupational role which is in less demand in the current labour market downturn.

The jobseeker can add to their existing skills level by completing additional technical and/or interpersonal skills modules and achieve certification - typically minor awards which over time can build towards a major award.

The Night Course initiative

Under the Night Course initiative, unemployed persons who have completed a Career Guidance interview with their local FÁS Employment Services office, may be eligible to access the FÁS Night Training programme - which operates at all of the FÁS Training Centre locations - under a new fee waiver policy.

Online Training Courses

In response to the changing needs of the Labour Market, FÁS is also offering an expanded range of online training courses with enhanced learner supports. This initiative builds on the existing e-Learning platform and will target those individuals who are motivated to selfmanage their learning.

It will provide a range of management, ICT and technical training courses for unemployed and recently redundant persons, who can successfully participate in training delivered in a self-directed eLearning environment.

Learners will be assisted to access appropriate and industry recognised certification in test centres close to their location. All of the online courses on offer will be up to date with content appropriate to the associated certification available.

Mary O’Donnell