TUS Athlone welcomes first "earn as you learn" laboratory apprentices
The Technological University of the Shannon in Athlone has welcomed its first "earn as you learn" laboratory apprentices to the new Mary Ward Centre for Sciences.
Delivered in partnership with Ibec, the Laboratory Apprenticeship programme combines paid, hands-on experience with academic study, giving school leavers, career changers and mature students an alternative route into Ireland's growing life sciences sector.
The laboratory apprenticeships lead to a Level 6 Higher Certificate in Science as a Laboratory Technician and a Level 7 Ordinary Bachelor of Science Degree as a Laboratory Analyst.
TUS has become the fourth higher education partner to deliver the national initiative which was launched in 2018 to meet growing workforce demand in Ireland’s life sciences sector.
The programme has seen 174 apprentices graduate as fully qualified Laboratory Technicians and Analysts and currently supports 142 students across TUS, Technological University Dublin, the South East Technological University and the Munster Technological University.
"It's fantastic to see this opportunity come to Athlone, connecting education with industry and opening up new career pathways here in the Midlands," a statement by TUS Athlone read.
Speaking at the launch, Audrey Devlin, Programme Executive said: “We are delighted to expand our very successful laboratory programme to the Midlands by welcoming TUS as a programme partner, joining our three existing academic partners.
"At a time of considerable technological change in high-value life sciences sectors, having the opportunity to combine academic study with on-the-job training has become even more important.
"By pairing higher education qualifications with structured, hands-on workplace training, companies can future-proof their operations and build a work-ready talent pipeline to remain competitive on a global scale. The laboratory apprenticeship enables businesses to develop specialised talent tailored to operational needs while providing candidates with a direct, paid entry point into dynamic scientific careers. The expansion of our educational partnerships is a reflection of the value placed on this approach to learning and workforce development.”