The HEA is responsible for funding, coordinating, overseeing and developing apprenticeship provision within Ireland’s higher education system. Working in partnership with SOLAS, the HEA supports the delivery of both craft and consortia-led apprenticeships.

The role of the HEA in apprenticeship provision includes:

• HEA – as a member of the National Apprenticeship Alliance – reviews and approves apprenticeship proposals. It has a particular interest in HE proposals from both public and private providers.
• Agreeing funding with HE providers based on a unit cost model approach which includes delivery and consortia management.
• The development of capital submissions required for expansion of apprenticeship provision.
• Scheduling of phases 4 and 6 craft apprenticeships blocks across Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology.
• Processing / allocating the payments to the HE Apprenticeship programmes providers.
• Monitoring the consortia management expenditure associated with the programmes’ delivery. Monitoring is carried out bi-annually via the reports submitted to the HEA by the programme providers.
• The roll out and support of the Access to Apprenticeship initiative (ATA).