JOHN CONNAUGHTON: Aquabusiness blended learning offers seafood sector access and

Aquabusiness blended learning offers seafood sector access and opportunity for upskilling despite COVID

John Connaughton, Training Services Manager, BIM

The Higher Diploma in Aquabusiness offers experienced workers in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Seafood Processing the opportunity to avail of online relevant training. The key skills of marketing, financial management, law and the regulatory environment, and innovation are vital to maintaining a vibrant sector in these challenging times. A decision was taken in June 2019 to modularise the NFQ Level 8 Higher Diploma to facilitate those keen to benefit from accredited education and training that were already committed to full-time employment. From the first intake of eight students in 2018, there are now eighteen learners on the Programme through blended learning, which industry representative organisations fully support.

modular courSeS

With the advent of COVID and the first lockdown in March 2020, a decision was taken to offer the course in modular form and entirely online for the academic year 2021. As we note from recent OECD research, less than 3% of Global Education spend goes on technology. However, this is forecast to increase to over 80% by 2025. Furthermore, the new reality of online engagement for all businesses means there will be more discretion in what we learn in the future. Undoubtedly, a flexible form of education is needed to ensure the continued success and adaptability of lifelong learning to meet the diverse needs of fishers, fish farm workers and seafood processors looking to enhance their skills to meet the new challenges of the digital world.

career path

The Higher Diploma in Business in Aquabusiness aims to expand Ireland’s global seafood sector. According to BIM’s recently published 2020 Business of Seafood report, the seafood industry in Ireland currently employs more than 16,000 people, including downstream employment. Skills development and a career path for those working in the sector are central to the industry’s strategic development. The course is designed to cater for those looking to enter management, financial, Research and Development or regulatory roles in fisheries and has strong links with industry. Following an institutional review by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) of the Institute of Technology Carlow (ITC) by an international panel published on 30th June 2020, some of the findings noted: l The review team commends IT Carlow for its strong commitment to and provision of support infrastructure for a broad range of collaborative and access partners. The review team further commends IT

Carlow for the embedded nature of quality oversight and monitoring of its collaborative and access partnerships. l The review team commends IT Carlow, for its strong commitment to student support and engagement and notes ample evidence that IT Carlow is a student-centred institution.

l The review team commends IT Carlow for its response to external and internal feedback in programme design and redevelopment. Michael Ó Conaire, who was recently appointed as Bainisteoir of Comharchumann Sliogéisc Chonamara Teoranta at Carna, Co. Galway and is availing of the Aquabusiness course online, says: “This course is ideal for me in that I can work away from home and learn all the pertinent skills of marketing, law and finance that I can apply in my new post here in Carna”.

Michael is currently developing his shellfish business on the West Coast and believes that having the course available as single Certificates at Level 8 leading to a full Higher Diploma in Aquabusiness Award is just what the industry needs and means that access to the course is freely available without loss of valuable time and earnings. Commenting on the continued success of the Programme, Dr Janette Davies said: “Through our collaboration with Bord Iascaigh Mhara on the Aquabusiness Steering Group, the programme has evolved through blended learning and offers progression opportunities for workers in Fisheries, Aquaculture and Seafood Processing and is highly valued by major employers in the sector.”

L-R: John Connaughton, Training Services Manager, BIM; Dr Janette Davies, Deputy Head ITC Wexford Campus; and Dr Sigurdur Bogason discussing Aquabusiness programme at Wexford Pier.