Our Industry Partners

University of Galway is the only university within the Border, Midland and Western Region and therefore plays a key role in regional development and its interface with wider national and international development. As an institution of enterprise, research and learning, we foster strategic global engagement through partnerships, research networks, and other collaborative activities.

University of Galway has a world class reputation for research excellence; the University is committed to instigating and nurturing business and research partnerships through the wide range of services and facilities. We recognise academic excellence whilst also operating in a business capacity to continuously develop the services we offer to students, staff, business and the local community.

Employer Engagement Forum

University of Galway strives to serve the local and regional needs of employers and industry partners by providing knowledge, training and research that promotes economic and social growth. Our Employer Engagement Forum is a partnership that brings together programme providers, employers and the Regional Skills Forum to collaborate on meeting the training and education needs of local industry. In a major report published in July 2018 called  ‘Future Ready: Improving Graduate Employability Skills’, IBEC said that “Employability skills cut horizontally across all industries and vertically across all jobs, and are fully developed through connections with employers.” Their key recommendations for business are: be active in the classroom; provide work placements and work-related projects; advise on curriculum design and delivery; and finally contribute the business perspective in career clinics to help prepare students for the future‌.

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The forum wants to hear from employers to collaborate on tailoring current courses to meet skills development needs or develop new courses to train and upskill the workforce. If you believe that there is a gap in the range of training that we are providing or see a sector developing that will need CPD in the future, please contact us.

Funding options

Tax relief is available on tuition fees for part time study. If you are a PAYE employee paying tax, you can claim tax relief of 20% on all part-time tuition fees after the first €1500. Further information on tax relief for tuition fees is available from the Revenue.

Skillnet Ireland is a national agency dedicated to the promotion and facilitation of workforce learning in Ireland. Next Level Skillnet is based in Shannon and offers members financial support with training costs for their employees. This can be as much as 30% of the course cost. Members are also entitled to free attendance to workshops and events. Next Level Skillnet members include SMEs and Multinational companies, from various sectors.

More information available from Sue Davis at Next Level Skillnet.

Next step...

If you are interested in working with us to improve your training opportunities within your organisation, find out what do to next!

Other Resources for Employers

The Innovation Office at University of Galway is the technology-transfer and entrepreneurial hub for the University. University of Galway’s annual research income is over €50 million. This generates many opportunities for collaboration with industry. We can provide your business with: expertise, technologies,  funding and facilities.

The Career Development Centre aims to create mutually beneficial links with companies on a national and international level. The Centre opens the communicatuion channel between the University and companies that facilitates companies to engage with students and vice versa.