Initiative links employers with staff skilled in AI and data analytics
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Nessa McEniff, Learnovate
The Learnovate Centre at Trinity College Dublin has invited employers wishing to transform their operations with cutting-edge AI and data analytics to become a host organisation in its Work Ready Graduate Programme (WRGP).
The WRGP was created to respond to the shortage of digital skills in the Irish economy by offering organisations the opportunity to host high-calibre graduates in AI and data analytics on 12-month placements.
Co-funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, the WRGP provides companies with a structured, low-risk way to build out their technological capabilities, while offering graduates the chance to earn up to €38,000, gain experience and apply their skills to a real digital transformation project in a work setting.
According to Learnovate’s 2025 Learning Signals Survey, two-thirds (66%) of Irish organisations cited AI and digital fluency as their most pressing skills gaps. Half (52%) were still only in the early stages of developing a strategy to address the issue.
Under the model, host organisations benefit from the Learnovate research team’s continuing mentoring of the graduates, who also take part in structured reviews, workshops and professional development courses in project management.
Former host companies include adaptive learning firm Adaptemy; B2B strategic workforce platform SkillsVista; curriculum management provider Akari, and Hibernia College, a higher education institution specialising in flexible, online postgraduate and professional development programmes in education and healthcare.
Host organisations have also highlighted the value of the programme’s cost-sharing model. Funding is available to host organisations for up to 70% of the programme’s value, which will allow companies to explore new technological capabilities in a managed and supported way.
Learnovate director Nessa McEniff (pictured) said: “Organisations are grappling more and more with how best to adopt AI and advanced learning technologies in ways that deliver genuine value. The Work Ready Graduate Programme provides a practical pathway to do that. Companies gain access to best-in-class graduates who can provide transformative impact on priority projects, while those graduates are supported through structured mentoring and exposure to leading-edge research and practice. It is a model that builds capability and benefits both graduates and companies.”
The programme is accepting applications with up to 12 organisations set to serve as hosts during the next intake. All host organisations must be registered with Enterprise Ireland. For more information on how to become a WRGP host organisation, contact info@learnovatecentre.org.
TechCentral Reporters