Human Capital Initiative Pillar 3 Networking Event 2024
Caption: Convene: Eleanor Kelly, UCD Innovation Academy; Dr. Claire Mc Bride, Convene Project Lead and Head of the Enterprise Academy at TU Dublin, Prof. Suzi Jarvis, Founding Director of the Innovation Academy at UCD; Dr. Ciara Walsh, Senior Engagement Manager, TU Dublin Enterprise Academy; and Ailbhe Roche, Enterprise Academy Manager
Innovation in Action
Innovation in Action was the key theme of a special networking event of HCI Pillar 3 projects from across Ireland, organised by the Higher Education Authority on November 20th 2024. The event brought together the 24 HCI Pillar 3 Projects for a day of presentations showcasing key outputs, innovations and strategies for mainstreaming best practices within their institution and their sector.
Head of the Enterprise Academy and Convene Project Lead Dr. Claire Mc Bride highlighted the Convene project achievements and strategies for embedding best practice university enterprise engagement systems and process within Technological University Dublin and University College Dublin.
She outlined the key objectives of the Convene project to:
- support Enterprise collaboration and co-creation
- explore new ways to meet priority and emerging skills needs , and
- transform the enterprise engagement ecosystem through a future-focused approach to collaborative talent development.
Speaking the event, Dr. Vivienne Patterson, Head of Skills and Engagement at Higher Education Authority, highlighted the impact of HCI Pillar 3 and the significant achievement by all projects with focus now on mainstreaming innovations and congratulated people who are driving this innovation and who are building these future skills.
Convene Project Outputs and Innovations
Convene, one of 24 HCI Pillar 3 projects brought about to transform university and enterprise engagement in support of an innovative and agile Irish society and economy, powered by the workforce of the future. Dedicated teams at Ireland’s two largest universities (TU Dublin Enterprise Academy and UCD Innovation Academy) are exploring new ways that universities and enterprise can work together to meet priority and emerging skills needs while creating new and effective access and progression pathways to higher education for workforce upskilling.
Our work incorporates emerging technological, educational and entrepreneurial innovations into our programmes for learners at all stages of the talent development pipeline, from undergraduates to workforce learners.
This has resulted in new accredited programmes in priority skills areas including AI, sustainability and technology; academic and partnerships providing Irish enterprise with innovative, agile learning solutions; and award-winning innovations in teaching and delivery.
The Enterprise Academy Innovations
The Enterprise Academy has significantly increased the capacity of TU Dublin to partner with enterprise and develop programmes that anticipate and deliver sector-focused emerging skills, creating lifelong learning and upskilling opportunities that ensure a robust talent pipeline for its enterprise partners. Brokering relationships with enterprise across TU Dublin’s five faculties and 24 schools, the Enterprise Academy’s portfolio of innovations include:
- Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Analytics, Technology and Innovation with Technology Ireland Digital Skillnet & SportsTech Ireland
- Multi-annual Certificate in Food Entrepreneurship with SuperValu and the Local Enterprise Office
- 3D Modelling & Design + Applied Interactive Game Technologies with Intel
- Multi-annual Certificate in Strategic Talent Development Planning with Skillnet Ireland and IDA Ireland
- BA in Screen Industry Practice, Certificate in Portfolio Preparation for the Screen Industry and Passport to Production with Screen Ireland
- Multi-annual Certificate in Leadership for Version 1
- Certificate in Applied Procurement Management for BT Sourced
- Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Device Regulation with SGS
- Certificate in Product Management for Workday
- 16 Fellowships that developed repeatable, scalable sector solutions e.g., Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and Masters in Brewing and Distilling and Inclusive 3rd level Education for people with an intellectual disability and MedTech programmes.
About HCI Pillar 3
In 2020, the National Training Fund made an investment of €208 million over five years in the Human Capital Initiative’s Pillar 3 Innovation and Agility programme. It did so with support of future skills focused project teams that sought deep collaboration between enterprise and the higher education sector in important economic areas such as cybersecurity, construction, and medtech.
HCI Pillar 3 projects align innovation and agility with national strategic objectives, key system objectives for the higher education system, and future skills needs for society and the economy. HCI innovation is based on the principle that close academic and enterprise staff collaboration produces skills synergies and innovations that facilitates education in ways that are responsive to the needs of the economy, learners and society.
You can read the HCI Pillar 3 Innovation in Action brochure for more information.
HCI Pillar 3- Innovation in Action Brochure
