More must be done to match up the skills of the workforce and the skills employers need, to realise the ICT sector’s full potential, according to Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry.
He was speaking during a visit to participants of the Data Analytics Training Academy (DATA) and the Software Testers Academy (STA) at Belfast Metropolitan College’s e3 building.
Both programmes provide graduates with the skills and experience required to take up opportunities being created by a number of employers in the key ICT growth areas of data analytics and software testing.
The minister said: “The ICT action plan challenges government to help match the skills of the workforce with the skills our employers need.
This new innovative Data Analytics Training Academy is an excellent example of how we are doing exactly that.
“This is also the third year the Software Testers Academy has been run.
Its success is demonstrated by the increased demand from employers with two groups recruited; with training for one delivered by Belfast Met and the other by South Eastern Regional College.
“If we are to realise the ICT sector’s full potential, it is clear that more needs to be done to improve the match between the skills of those people in the workforce and the skills our employers require to help our companies grow.
“These programmes prove that government and our further education colleges can respond quickly to design a bespoke programme to fill a skills gap, such as that identified by the participating employers.”
The pilot DATA and ongoing STA programmes have been designed by the Department for Employment and Learning, employers and the further education sector under the assured skills initiative.
Speaking about the impact of the programmes, Justin Edwards, director of curriculum at Belfast Met said: “The intensive academy style training programmes currently being taught at the college’s e3 building are fine examples of how collaboration between the colleges, employers and the department can make a real difference to young graduates’ employment prospects.”