HCI Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Learner Fee Subsidy
Minister Harris announces funding to subsidise micro-cred courses for almost 14,000 learners
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has announced funding of €9.7 million to subsidise fees for 13,879 learners across 654 micro-credential courses.
The Micro-Credential Course Learner Subsidy, under the HCI Pillar 3, offers a subsidy rate of 80 per cent for courses addressing skills in key priority areas, including renewable energy, sustainability, construction and planning, artificial intelligence, cyber security, ICT, and electronic engineering. Other courses will provide a 50 per cent learner subsidy rate.
“As part of the Year of Skills, we have been encouraging everyone to learn a new skill so they can evolve in line with how the world of work is changing. While traditional degree programs are essential, they may not always be the right option to equip individuals with the targeted, up-to-date skills required in the modern workplace. Micro-credentials bridge this gap, offering a flexible and accessible solution to empower individuals in excelling in their chosen fields. These subsidies are a fantastic opportunity for individuals to access micro-credential courses at reduced rates, providing flexible learning and upskilling opportunities for learners and enterprises alike. Some courses also offer 'stackability,' encouraging learners to return and build upon their skills for further qualifications. It’s also important to note that that these courses cover critical areas such as new and emerging technologies, construction and Climate/Sustainability and Energy, and align with the priorities outlined as part of Housing for All and the Government’s Climate Action Plan.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD
What are Micro-Credentials
Micro-credential courses, designed to meet the evolving needs of learners, enterprises, and society, offer small, accredited programs awarding between 1 and 30 ECTS and provide awards at Levels 6-9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The inherent flexibility of micro-credentials allows learners to access education in small, manageable units, accommodating their life and work commitments.
Micro-credential courses will be instrumental in attaining national targets in lifelong learning and reaching the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan ambition to have at least 60% of all adults participating in training every year.
"These micro-credential courses offer incentivised lifelong learning opportunities for learners, and for employers to upskill their staff in a flexible bite sized format” affirming the significance of these micro-credential courses.”
Dr. Vivienne Patterson, HEA
Courses approved are available from March 2024 to October 2025. Detailed information on the approved micro-credential courses funded under the HCI Pillar 3, Micro-Credential Course Learner Subsidy and how to apply can be found on the HEA website.
HCI Micro-Credentials at TU Dublin
Over 14,000 places across over 650 courses will be heavily subsidised by the HEA. TU Dublin is one of the participating Higher Education Institutions offering these subsidised programmes. See details of the HCI Pillar 3 TU Dublin programmes listed by category below.
1. Business, Administration and Law
- Luxury Brand Management & Service Design Development Certificate (MC 503) Level 9 / ECT 5 Credits
2. Information and Communication Technologies
- Postgraduate Certificate in Science in Applied Machine Learning (MC504) Level 9 / ECT 30 Credits
- Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Data Science and Analytics (MC505) Level 9 / ECT 30 Credits
- Postgraduate Certificate in Cyber Security (MC506) Level 9 / ECT 30 Credits
- Minor Award in Applied Data Science and Analytics (MC517) Level 9 / ECT 20 Credits
- Minor Award in Applied Data Science and Text Analytics (MC518) Level 9 / ECT 20 Credits
- Minor Award in Applied Data Science and Analytics (MC519) Level 9 / ECT 10 Credits
- Minor award in Digital Forensics (MC520) Level 9 / ECT 10 Credits
3. Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction
- Food Entrepreneurship (MC 500) Level 6 / ECT 15 Credits
- International Beers and Draught Dispense Management (MC501) Level 6 / ECT 5
- HACCP and Auditing (MC502) Level 9 / ECT 5
- High Performance Leadership - Construction (MC507) Level 9 / ECT 10
- Food Sustainability (MC508) Level 6 / ECT 5
- Building Assessment and Fire Safety (MC510) Level 9 / ECT 10
- New Food Business Creation (MC512) Level 9 / ECT 5
- Enterprise Development (MC514) Level 6 / ECT 5
- Allergen Management and Control (MC515) Level 8 / ECT 5
- Beverage Industry Regulatory Affairs (MC516) Level 9 / ECT 5
4. Services
- Cocktail Making (MC509) Level 6 / ECT 5
- Wine Studies (MC511) Level 6 / ECT 5
Eligibility Criteria for the HCI Micro-Credential Fee Subsidy
HCI Micro-credential Learner Fee Subsidies are available on identified micro-credentials only and in fixed numbers from March 2024 until October 2025. University Partners will issue the subsidy on a first come first serve basis to eligible applicants unless otherwise stated.
More information on eligibility can be downloaded here: HCI Micro-credentials Fee Subsidy Eligibility Criteria.
The Enterprise Academy at TU Dublin
The Enterprise Academy is funded by the Higher Education Authority's HCI Pillar 3, a government programme designed to meet priority skills needs, by increasing collaboration between higher education and enterprise with a focus on innovations in teaching and learning.
