Funding provides learning opportunities for diverse communities in the Midlands
“It continues to support community education partners make sure that these learners are not left behind.” The Education Training Boards in the Midlands have released two fantastic pieces of good news. Longford and Westmeath ETB have been awarded €200,000 in REACH funding to assist marginalised learners in accessing community education programmes, and the Offaly Traveller […]
Midlands Region declared Overall Winner at .ie Digital Town Awards 2024
The ‘Midlands Digitisation’ Project take the overall win, as well as the ‘Digital Education’ Award and Athlone’s Midlands Polish Community TV wins ‘Digital Newcomer’ Award The Midlands Region has come out on top at this year’s .ie Digital Town Awards with multiple wins across various categories including being crowned ‘Overall Winner’ at an awards ceremony […]
Schools Tech Talent Showcased at LOETB S.T.E.A.M. Awards.
There were big wins for secondary schools across Laois and Offaly at the inaugural Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) S.T.E.A.M. Showcase event, held recently at Portlaoise College. The showcase and awards were the climax of a new S.T.E.A.M. (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths) Programme for LOETB schools, where, as part of a […]
Midlands hosts VEX Robotics Regional Finals
The Midlands hosted the regional finals of the 2024 VEX Robotics Competition in Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore on Tuesday 23rd January, with over 200 secondary school students from across the Midlands region taking part. The competition brings Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning to life with students taking part in a game-based engineering challenge to […]
€5m Community and Enterprise Grant Scheme launched under EU Just Transition Fund
Local Community Organisations and Small to Medium Enterprises across the Midlands region are set to benefit from a €5 million funding call under the European Union Just Transition Fund (EU JTF) announced by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. The EU JTF Community and Enterprise Grants scheme, administered by Pobal on behalf of […]
Full S.T.E.A.M ahead in Laois and Offaly
A new initiative from LOETB in partnership with Laois and Offaly County Councils will see nine post-primary schools benefit from €10,000 worth of S.T.E.A.M. (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths) equipment and support. This is part of a new programme to support the development of digital skills among students in LOETB schools over the next […]
ICT Skills Survey Finds Potential for over 800 New Midlands Tech Jobs by 2026
The Midlands is set to continue its growth as an increasingly important ICT hub, new research published today suggests. According to the Midlands ICT Cluster Skills Survey, regional companies expect to create up to 800 new ICT jobs over the next 3 years, in addition to over 3,000 already employed in the sector across the […]
Midlands celebrates 4 Ericsson Finalists in Women in STEM Awards 2023
The highly anticipated Women in STEM Awards 2023 celebrate and recognise the incredible achievements and innovations of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in Ireland, with the Midlands region celebrating as four women from the Ericsson Athlone team have been named as finalists in the upcoming awards. These awards shine a light on […]
Ballycommon Training Centre, where the heart is.
Ballycommon Training Centre is not just a training provider hub in County Offaly, it has become the beating heart of the community there. Situated just ten minutes from Tullamore, Geashill and Daingean. According to Manage,r Deirdre Arnold, Ballycommon Training Centre was established by the community for the community; “this is the absolute heart of the […]
Midlands to host Medtech and Manufacturing ‘Future of Work’ Seminar
A national seminar exploring the Future of Work in Medtech & Manufacturing takes place in Athlone on Thursday October 5th. The event is a Free Information & Networking Seminar on Funded Training and Industry Insights for Medtech and Manufacturing businesses of all sizes. The Midlands is well-recognised as a centre of excellence in Advanced Manufacturing, […]
Mobile NZEB Training Unit launched by LOETB Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre
Laois Offaly Education and Training Board LOETB continue to lead the way in Construction Training with the launch of an innovative Mobile NZEB Training Unit by the National Construction Training Centre in Mount Lucas. The new Mobile Training Unit will be used to demonstrate NZEB Construction Training and Career Opportunities nationwide, and was officially launched […]
Microsoft Dream Space success for Longford students
Congratulations to Colmcille Broadband Connection Point (BCP), St Joseph’s National School and Scoil Bhríde Glen, who won awards at the first ever national Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, representing both Co. Longford and the broader Midlands region at the STEM event. Prize winners from the inaugural Longford Microsoft Dream Space Showcase, which was held in Edgeworthstown […]
Degree Course Access for Midlands students
“A student could complete the first year of a computing course in Laois/Offaly ETB and then have a guaranteed route into SETU to pursue a degree.” (Minister Simon Harris) For the first time in Ireland, there will be guaranteed access to a degree programme that starts in further education and concludes in higher education. A […]
CAO Points ‘game-changer’
A new government initiative will allow students to start a degree programme in a college of further education (FE) and finish it in a university, without the big worry of CAO points. For the Midlands, TUS (Technological University of the Shannon) will be involved in the initial phase. This landmark policy will see students commence […]
Start a new Course in January, 2023?
Why not start the year 2023 afresh by taking up a new course with your local Further Education and Training Centre? We have compiled a list of some part-time and FREE courses taking place across the midlands, that range in skills from ‘Mindfullness’ to Bookkeeping, Art or even Construction. Most people think they can only […]
New Further Education Facility for Athlone
Further Education in the Midlands to receive another significant boost, with a multi-million euro investment for Athlone getting the go ahead, which will see a new Further Education Facility being developed on grounds of the Athlone Training Centre Campus. The project was announced by LWETB Longford Westmeath Education and Training Board (LWETB) and Minister Simon […]
Midlands at the centre of building a new Ireland.
John Kelly is the Manager of the LOETB – National Construction Training Centre, Mount Lucas, County Offaly and recently he took me on a tour of the 33-acre sight. It is the only place in Ireland doing the national scaffolding apprenticeship which was officially launched in July by Minister Simon Harris. At the time he also […]
New Variety of courses in Further Education
Thinking of starting a new course, something new, and looking for something a little different? Did you know that along with many of the courses on offer in Further Education, you can now study Science, Sound Engineering, Music Performance or even Digital Media with your local Education and Training Board? There are dozens of Community […]
