There are thousands of unfilled positions in the ICT sector in Ireland. The industry needs talented and skilled graduates to fill these positions. Dublin Business School (DBS), in conjunction with Microsoft Ireland, its partner network and other industry partners under the Government Springboard initiative, is providing participants the opportunity to reskill or cross skill for free under an approved and accredited Level 8 graduate conversion award for a Higher Diploma in Science in Computing. The initiative was launched on 9 June, when the then Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, announced 6,100 free higher education places to provide re-training opportunities for the unemployed as part of a further roll out of the Springboard initiative. All courses are supported by the Higher Education Authority and Department of Education and Skills, which means the tuition fees normally associated with such programmes are waived.

"The Higher Diploma in Science in Computing is an excellent, industry-supported course that helped me to develop a wide range of desirable IT skills. While the course workload is highly intensive, the opportunities and skills gained on completion offer the maximum possibility of employment. Staff and lecturers offer great support and have an excellent knowledge of the subject areas. It was a great experience" - ICT graduate Kieran O’Connell

To anybody holding a Level 8 degree and who is interested in a career in software development, IT infrastructure and networking or web and cloud technologies, this is the ideal programme. With 44,500 new jobs forecasted in the ICT sector by 2018, the industry has become a real success story in Ireland. Graduates of this programme will be qualified for graduate-entry-level positions in a wide range of IT areas, including software development, systems analysis and design, database administration, computer architecture, networking and web and cloud technologies. With over 80% of DBS' 2013 ICT graduates to date securing full-time employment*, this is an opportunity you will not want to miss. Become part of the ICT success story with DBS today - applications for September 2014 are now being considered. DBS will be holding a Springboard Open Evening on 7 August at 5pm in its Aungier Street building. All are welcome. For further information, contact DBS Admissions on (01) 417 7500 or email: ictskills@dbs.ie. See www.dbs.ie/ict-skills-programme for more details. * Subject to successful academic performance