Knowledge Economy

Goal - To ensure that County Waterford can compete in the Knowledge Economy, education, skills and training will be a key priority.  Training and education will be fluid and meet the needs of business and society.

Education and skills are key components of the knowledge economy.  By providing the correct skills, businesses and society can function efficiently, innovate, and ultimately develop and produce high value-added products and sustain quality jobs. 

Over recent years, the level of education attainment in County Waterford has improved significantly.  Between 1996 and 2006 the numbers obtaining third or fourth level qualifications living in County Waterford almost doubled¹².  County Waterford is within easy access of the student population of Waterford Institute of Technology, University College, Cork and Cork Institute of Technology.  Combined these institutions have a total student population of 43,000.

Recently WIT expanded its outreach programme and provided courses in Dungarvan¹³ and An Rinn¹⁴.  In addition, training is provided by FÁS and the VEC to up-skill the labour force.  A range of agencies and organisations¹⁵ have provided shorter, informal training courses that squarely met the requirements of employers and employees.

The key actions to develop County Waterford’s Knowledge Economy are presented in Table 4.1. 

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12  CSO Census of Population 1999 and 2006.  In that 10 year period the number achieving third or fourth level qualifications increased by 98% to 11,083. 

13 Executive MBA and Higher Diploma in Project Management.

14  Higher Diploma in Television Production in association with Nemeton.

15 Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Waterford County Enterprise Board, Waterford LEADER Partnership, Udarás naGaeltachta. 

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