Innovative Though Collaboration

The Training Services Department within KWETB has been very successful in securing funding from the SOLAS Innovation Through Collaboration Fund.

This is a funding initiative by SOLAS, the state agency responsible for Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland.

These projects drive innovation and improvements in industry, align with national priorities on upskilling, reskilling, lifelong learning and workforce development.

Innovation projects provide training that tackles emerging skills demands in sectors like green energy, technology, or healthcare.

KWETB’s Head of Innovation and Training Eileen Cullen with Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless and Victor Biffi Rosano, Business Director at Kildare Village.

This first-of-its-kind certification marks a major milestone for the Irish retail sector, offering formal recognition of in-house training and on-the-job learning for retail employees. With over 500 staff set to receive digital skills badges in 2025, this programme sets a new standard for workforce development in Ireland.

We were delighted to be joined by Minister James Lawless, Mark Wall TD, Senator Fiona O’Loughlin, Mary Lyons (Director of Enterprise, Employees and Skills, SOLAS) and Siobhan Keogh (Regional Skills Forum Manager) in celebrating this fantastic achievement and with the sun shining, it truly was a great day for County Kildare and for an education and training collaboration.

As Eileen Cullen, KWETB’s Head of Innovation and Training, said,“We are proud and excited to have collaborated with Kildare Village on this innovative programme. It showcases how strong partnerships between education and industry — supported by key stakeholders like Kildare County Council — can deliver real value to learners, employers, and communities alike. This collaboration is about thinking differently to recognise on-the-job learning and skills development, and, more importantly, making those skills visible and valued.”

This initiative is a powerful example of how KWETB is leading the way in developing innovative, real-world training solutions that respond to both industry needs and lifelong learning goals. It’s not just a programme, it’s a blueprint for how we can continue to invest in people, progress, and the future of work.

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Collaborating Partners:

The aim of the Elevate CX Innovation Through Collaboration project is to develop new qualifications focusing on enhancing the understanding and skills in customer experience within the context of the experienced economy. The project engages with business sectors that prioritises customer experience as a core component of their strategy, whether in product or service-orientated fields.

After much research and engagement with industry, the following 4 micro-qualifications were proposed and currently work in progress:

Customer Experience and Business Strategy
Design Thinking For Business Innovation
Embedding Organisational Resilience
Building Resilience For Customer Relations

Elevate CX Focus Group

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Collaborating Partners:

M4 CPD Project

The aim of this M4CPD project is to inform and assist the Irish economy's advanced manufacturing sectors in gearing up its workforce for tomorrow's workplace by offering new and innovative training options while also formulating approaches, which recognise skills gained in the workplace.

Advanced Manufacturing Skills Needs Analysis 2020:

Upon completion the following modules were offered to industry:

Application

and Amplifier Circuits

Mechanical Systems

Test Technician

Control Systems

Collaborating Partners:

M4 CPD Project

The aim of this Global Hospitality Certification project is to allow those working in hospitality to gain professional recognition for their skills and experience against an international benchmark, in the form of a digital badge.

Global Hospitality Certification:

Created by City & Guilds and Worldchefs, it is the first and only global certification for the hospitality industry. Using digital badges, the framework is designed to enable progression into and within the sector. It recognises the skills and experience of people working in hospitality and helps employers attract and retain staff. Certification is available at key career stages across four main areas within hospitality. Below are the Hospitality Certifications available with Your Future.