What jobs will be available in about 10 years? What type of attributes and skills will employers be seeking in 2020? These are the types of questions facing today’s guidance counsellors as they prepare pupils to make some of the most critical decisions in their young lives. IBEC and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) have organised a conference that will provide counsellors with the latest thinking on developing skills for the 21st century workplace. Business practitioners will also outline current and future business trends, skills needs, key employment areas and career prospects across a number of industrial and service sectors.
Mr Dara Calleary, Minister of State with special responsibility for Labour Affairs, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, who will open the conference. Minister Calleary’s department is responsible for ensuring that we have the capacity to anticipate and match labour market and skills needs when the economy begins to recover.
Professor Tom Collins, Vice President for External Affairs and Dean of Teaching and Learning at the National University of Ireland Maynooth. Professor Collins, who is also chairman of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, will explore ways to encourage students to be innovative, have initiative, autonomy and leadership, and develop their entrepreneurial talents.
Marion Coy, President of the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) oversees a community of over 9,000 students and almost 1,000 full-time and part-time staff in five campuses. As a member of the Government’s Steering Group charged with developing a new national strategy for higher education and a regular contributor at international conferences, Marion Coy will be able to provide an insight into how the education system can stimulate an appetite to learn.
Una Halligan, is the Government & Public Affairs Director for Hewlett Packard, Ireland, with responsibility for Government Affairs, Community Relations and PR for the Manufacturing Site. Una was appointed to the board of the EGFSN (Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. Una will provide insight into the broader future skills needs across an number of enterprises.