New Connections - Department of Taoiseach

UpdateThe Higher Education Authority, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Scienceand working with a small Inter-Departmental Group, placed a call for proposals inJanuary 2003 to investigate the potential for e-learning to contribute to the furtherdevelopment of higher and further education and training in Ireland. The intention is toseek proposals which would, through the implementation of an e-learning service,improve quality, increase access and demonstrate efficiencies in cost per learner in thearea of higher education and/or training.(6.2.3) ICT in Adult Literacy• Develop distance learning ICT literacy programmes for use in the home, theworkplace, public libraries and in education and training centres.• Explore the use of TV in delivering to support the literacy programmesESUpdateThe National Adult Literacy Agency has been funded to develop a websitehttp://www.literacytools.ie/ which provides for interactive worksheets in literacy,numeracy and personal development, allied with a resource directory for tutors, andguidelines on the criteria to be used for assessment of ICT-based tools.Of the 731 venues where adult literacy tuition takes place, 328 are equipped to includeICT as part of the programme and Equalskills is currently being piloted in a number ofthese.Discussions have been held with Learn Direct (Northern Ireland and UK) on the pilotingof e-learning literacy programmes in the VEC adult literacy schemes.(6.2.4) Skills Needs In IT and Science• Ensure the supply of skilled graduates in emerging market needs areasESUpdateA new Information Technology Skills Fund was established in May 2002 to supportthird level IT skills provision. A sum of €12m was approved for the fund for 2002including a contribution of €2m from the National Training Fund. The HEA invitedproposals from third level institutions to meet equipment and other recommendationsoutlined by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. The equipment fund wasallocated on a per capita basis to the Institutions. Proposals for other measures arecurrently being examined by an expert evaluation team set up for that purpose. It isexpected that this work will be completed by the end of November 2002.52