Article Published on RTÉ News by Business Journalist Adam Maguire

Learnovate Centre LogoThe centre is based in Trinity College Dublin and works with organisations to adapt their work and learning practices through new technology and techniques.

It has previously supported the educational technology sector, but is now looking to focus its research on online and adaptive learning as well as soft skills development.

This includes an investigation into the factors that impact people's ability to learn.

Learnovate said the latest funding will help it to meet its goal of doubling its membership as part of its Phase 3 plans. It currently has 66 members, including Zoom, Mastercard and Gates Ventures.

It also plans to raise its value to €22m over the next five years, while it says its research suggests its work could be worth €50m to the Irish economy by 2025.

The Learnovate Centre is delighted to announce that it has secured €3m of Phase 3 funding as the technology centre focuses on the Future of Work and Learning to develop the next generation of workers.

Learnovate are global experts in learning technology helping organisations navigate the complexity of the evolving future of work and learning. Based at Trinity College Dublin, the industry-led technology centre is funded by Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.

The Centre has led ten years of research in learning technologies. The announcement of Phase 3 of the Centre means its work can continue into the future.

The Centre plans to double its membership in Phase 3, growth that is expected to see its value increase to €22m over the next five years. Research has found that Learnovate will be worth €50m to the Irish economy by 2025 and €100m by 2035.

While Phase 2 focused on supporting innovation in the Edtech sector, Phase 3 will extend the Centre’s previous research in online learning, adaptive learning and soft skills development, to include investigations into how people interact and experience learning, and the factors that impact their ability to adapt and learn.

This represents something of a pivot for Learnovate and is designed to address the emerging gaps in skills development, with Phase 3 highlighting how organisations need to evolve to respond to the future of work.

Special guests at today’s announcement at Trinity College Dublin included Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail Damien English T.D., TCD Provost Dr. Linda Doyle, Enterprise Ireland Head of Collaborative Research Neil Kerrigan and IDA Ireland Executive Director Mary Buckley.

The event included a panel discu77ssion on 'The Future of Work and Learning’ featuring Brendan Noud, CEO of corporate learning experts LearnUpon; Mary Lyons, Director of Enterprise, Employees and Skills at state agency Solas and Dr. Ann Devitt, Associate Professor at TCD’s School of Education and Learnovate Academic Director. The panel discussion was chaired by Peter Gillis, Innovation Services Lead at Learnovate.

Learnovate helps organisations transform learning experiences in the workplace, schools, universities, and at home. It currently has 66 member organisations from around the world, including Zoom, Mastercard and Gates Ventures. Some of its Irish members include LearnUpon, Folens, Akari Software and SoapBox Labs.

The Centre is supported by a team of experts from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines including technology, innovation, learning science, psychology, congnitive science and user experience.

These experts are all dedicated to investigating how to engage and motivate learners, and how to create innovative learning experiences tailored for individual needs. Ongoing learning is crucial for the development of an organisation as it leads to behavioural change that can impact its success.

"Our research has never been more prescient. Indeed, according to the World Economic Forum, half of all employees will need reskilling by 2025. We are primed to address some of the emerging gaps in skills development." said Learnovate centre director Nessa McEniff.

Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are among The Learnovate Centre’s backers.

"Innovation will be at the heart of our future economic growth, and ensuring that our workforce, and our future workforce, can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing environment is essential," said Neil Kerrigan, Enterprise Ireland’s head of collaborative research.

"Over the past decade The Learnovate Centre has made a huge contribution to skills development. That work will become even more important over the coming years and I am delighted that The Learnovate Centre will be leading research in this vital area."