Cloud computing course unveiled to help fill jobs in booming IT sector

The ISA Software Skillnet and VMware unveiled a Cloud Careers programme to retrain unemployed people for jobs in the IT sector at a ceremony yesterday at VMWare’s premises in Ballincollig, Co Cork.

Ireland created 4,000 IT jobs during 2011. This sector employs more than 84,000 people in Ireland.

This Skillnet initiative is one of several joint ventures upskilling people for a sector that currently has some 2,000 vacancies nationwide. Cloud computing in particular could prove an invaluable catalyst for Irish economic recovery.

VMware technical development manager, Gordon O’Reilly, said: “The international ICT research body Forrester predicts that cloud markets will continue to grow globally, and the total cloud market — including private, virtual private, and public cloud markets — will reach about $61bn [€47bn] by the end of 2012.

“Software companies in Ireland are well positioned to benefit from this growth. This programme will allow the unemployed to avail of the real opportunities available in Ireland’s vibrant cloud-computing sector.”

The programme is free to the unemployed and eligible participants can get a top-up to current unemployment benefits if approved by social welfare. During the nine-month programme participants will receive 12 weeks of training, which is delivered by VMware trainers, IT training company C2 and Cork Institute of Technology.

VMware and other companies in the region, will also provide opportunities for job seekers in the form of industry-relevant work placements.

Skillnets chief executive Alan Nuzum said: “Last September, 26 jobseekers joined this programme and 40% of the participants are already in jobs, with the remaining 60% in high-quality work placements.”