Pictured at the launch of the Level 9 Advanced Quantity Surveyor Apprenticeship program at TUS Moylish were from left: Dr Diarmuid Ó Briain, Head of Apprenticeships Co-Ordinator; Dr Sean Lyons, Dean of Faculty Engineering and Infomatics; Shirley Coulter, CEO SCSI; President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane; Dr Maria Kyne, Dean of Engineering and Built Environment and Kevin James, Past President SCSI. Photo: Eamon Ward

TUS outlines new strategic plan to shape the future of apprenticeships

Published: Tue 31 Oct 2023, 2:24 PM

Last updated: Tue 31 Oct 2023, 2:35 PM

The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) has outlined its strategy to shape the future of apprenticeship education in the Midlands and Midwest regions.

The TUS Apprenticeship Strategic Implementation Plan was launched on Thursday last, October 26, with the newly launched Level 9 Advanced Quantity Surveyor (AQS) Apprenticeship also taking centre stage – the first AQS apprenticeship in Ireland.

Launching both the strategic plan and the pioneering Level 9 Advanced Quantity Surveyor Apprenticeship, President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane reiterated TUS’s commitment to working with industry in the regions to develop high quality craft and consortia-led apprenticeships to level 9 and level 10.

"The TUS Apprenticeship Strategic Implementation Plan provides a holistic roadmap for the development of the apprenticeship model in TUS up to 2030, in a manner closely aligned with the National Strategy and the TUS Strategic Plan," said Prof Cunnane.

"It outlines our ambitions to be a leading provider of high-quality, industry-led, national apprenticeship programmes in partnership with businesses and industry in the regions, programmes that are flexible and adaptable to the needs to industry, the regional economy and the apprentices.

"We remain committed to our strong legacy of craft apprentices and look forward to providing more opportunities for those learning new skills and up skilling in this area in the future.

"We are also proud of our ever-expanding work in the area of consortia led apprenticeships, and today announce our Level 9 AQS Apprenticeship programme developed in partnership with SCSI, the first of its kind in Ireland," he said.

The new AQS Apprenticeship programme will equip students with the knowledge and skills to acquire a highly practical level 9 qualification in quantity surveying.

This programme will permit those who possess a mix of academic qualifications, relevant professional institute membership and experiential learning gained from working within the built environment, to become Advanced Quantity Surveyors.

Kevin James, past president of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI), said, "This Level 9 MSc Advanced Quantity Surveyor apprenticeship will provide a great opportunity to not only contribute to addressing skills shortages in the industry but also to attracting a more diverse, talented range of graduates into the industry.

"The blend of on the job and off the job learning is an ideal approach for busy professionals today who wish to progress with studies while working and gaining valuable industry experience."

TUS said it was already catering for the significant increased demand for apprenticeships nationally.

Earlier this year, it opened a new state-of-the-art apprenticeship facility on the Athlone Campus, which will create active learning space for up to 1,000 apprentices a year, almost doubling the campus’s existing capacity.

With the opening of the new Engineering Campus at Coonagh, Limerick, next semester, TUS will be able to increase its apprenticeship intake to 1,900 in Limerick.

For more on last Thursday's launch, see this video created by TUS: