Ulster University free online courses to give workers impacted by COVID-19 opportunity to upskill and retrain in priority areas

With rising youth unemployment, increasing numbers of redundancies and an estimated 80,000 workers currently furloughed in Northern Ireland, Ulster University has launched a range of new free online courses in Computing, Engineering, Energy and Pharmaceuticals. These courses will offer pathways to careers in sectors which require highly skilled, well-paid employees to fill gaps in the job market.

Open to those whose jobs have been impacted by COVID-19, these free online courses are an opportunity to upskill or retrain in priority areas, enhancing employability and future career prospects. As the government looks towards economic recovery these courses will give workers the opportunity to invest in their own futures, widening their skillsets to meet the demands of these growing sectors. 

Courses on offer include a Postgraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence (AI) which has recently been identified as one of the fastest growing fields of computing science by the World Economic Forum.  A specialist skill which is in demand both locally and globally, AI has applications in almost every sector including health, financial technology, advanced manufacturing, media, energy, civic society and public policy.

Key skills gaps have been identified within the Renewable Energy and Green Technology sector here in Northern Ireland. Graduates of Ulster University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Energy Management & Green Technology will be able to identify financial savings in energy use, identify new solutions that reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and be able to engage with sizing, procurement and deployment of new energy systems and green technologies.

Professor Brian Murphy, Interim Dean of Academic Business Development at Ulster University said:

“At Ulster University we are renowned for our career-focused degree programmes which we create and adapt to meet sectoral demand and opportunity. We work closely with partners in industry to ensure Ulster graduates have the skills, attributes and confidence to thrive in their chosen field. These free courses in key areas such as computing, engineering, pharmaceuticals and energy will bring real opportunities to those impacted by the pandemic to upskill and retrain – either by helping candidates improve the competitiveness of their current organisation or by supporting unemployed workers into new employment.

“Informed by our academic and industry expertise, these courses will boost prospects for both individuals and sectors, enhancing the skills of the Northern Ireland workforce and helping local companies adapt and thrive post COVID-19.”