Building skills for the futureDublin, Republic of Ireland Bridging construction labour gaps while promoting inclusion
As a UNESCO learning city since 2019, Dublin, the capital of the Republic of Ireland, puts lifelong learning at the top of its agenda.
Investing in human capital is crucial to Dublin’s successful development, and lifelong learning is key to this endeavour.
Dublin has pursued the principle of ‘learning for work, life, and fun’ through wide-ranging initiatives coordinated by six local colleges and institutes together with further partners.
With a focus on inclusion and quality, Dublin aims to ensure that everyone has a chance to learn throughout life.
Investing in human capital is crucial to Dublin’s successful development, and lifelong learning is key to this endeavour.
Dublin has pursued the principle of ‘learning for work, life, and fun’ through wide-ranging initiatives coordinated by six local colleges and institutes together with further partners.
With a focus on inclusion and quality, Dublin aims to ensure that everyone has a chance to learn throughout life.
Dublin City Construction Skills Programme
The Dublin City Construction Skills Programme in Dublin Port is one of the learning city’s inclusive learning programmes.
It was developed due to an evolving labour shortage in Dublin’s construction industry, particularly in the Docklands area.
Run by St Andrew’s Resource Centre, the programme focuses on helping the long-term unemployed upskill quickly and find gainful employment in the construction industry.
It was developed due to an evolving labour shortage in Dublin’s construction industry, particularly in the Docklands area.
Run by St Andrew’s Resource Centre, the programme focuses on helping the long-term unemployed upskill quickly and find gainful employment in the construction industry.
Jim HargisEmployment Services Manager at St Andrews Resource Centre
Inclusive access
Access to the training course is designed to be straightforward, with minimal requirements to ensure it is as accessible as possible to potential learners.
Participants must be over 18 years old, unemployed, and eligible to work in Ireland.
Participants must be over 18 years old, unemployed, and eligible to work in Ireland.
DamienProgramme graduate and current tutor
A broad range of qualifications
The intensive course is delivered over a 3-week period and equips participants with a broad range of qualifications and experience to work on construction sites.
Learning content includes all basic operative training, with topics such as blockwork, plumbing, carpentry, safety, working at heights, abrasive wheels, power tools, health and much more. All candidates are issued with a full set of workwear.
Learning content includes all basic operative training, with topics such as blockwork, plumbing, carpentry, safety, working at heights, abrasive wheels, power tools, health and much more. All candidates are issued with a full set of workwear.
Gaining employmentDamienProgramme graduate and current tutor
Bridging the labour shortage gap
The goal of the programme is to start 60% of trainees in employment in the construction sector with the majority of trainees starting work within 4 weeks of completing the course.
Convincing large companies to hire graduates initially required some effort, but they now consistently return, having experienced the high calibre of workers the programme produces.
Convincing large companies to hire graduates initially required some effort, but they now consistently return, having experienced the high calibre of workers the programme produces.
Employment Services Manager at St Andrews Resource CentreJim Hargis
Transforming lives
The programme graduates are clear testimonies to how innovative training initiatives can transform individuals' lives.
Damien is one of those testimonies. He successfully concluded the programme. After having worked on construction sites thereafter, he has now returned to the training site at Dublin Port – this time as a trainer.
Damien is one of those testimonies. He successfully concluded the programme. After having worked on construction sites thereafter, he has now returned to the training site at Dublin Port – this time as a trainer.
Passing on his skillsDamienProgramme graduate and current tutor
A life changing experience
Programmes like the Dublin City Construction Skills Programme in the UNESCO Learning City of Dublin are life-changing experiences - not only for Damien but also for over 1,000 other participants.
Simultaneously, the programme strengthens the community and drives economic development by supporting the construction sector, which has long been in need of qualified staff.
The programme aligns with the vision of the Learning City by making learning accessible to all, thereby empowering individuals and profoundly transforming societies.
Programme partners:
Simultaneously, the programme strengthens the community and drives economic development by supporting the construction sector, which has long been in need of qualified staff.
The programme aligns with the vision of the Learning City by making learning accessible to all, thereby empowering individuals and profoundly transforming societies.
Programme partners:
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © Alexey Fedorenko / shutterstock.com ; Dublin City; Sach336699 / shutterstock.com; MNBB Studio / shutterstock.com; Attasit saentep / shutterstock.com; frank333 / shutterstock.com; Kikujiarm / shutterstock.com
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
Credits: © Alexey Fedorenko / shutterstock.com ; Dublin City; Sach336699 / shutterstock.com; MNBB Studio / shutterstock.com; Attasit saentep / shutterstock.com; frank333 / shutterstock.com; Kikujiarm / shutterstock.com
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Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Dublin City Construction Skills Programme
Jim Hargis
Inclusive access
Damien
A broad range of qualifications
Damien
Bridging the labour shortage gap
Jim Hargis
Transforming lives
Damien
A life changing experience
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities