The Insurtech Network Centre (INC) and the Faculty of Lifelong Learning at Institute of Technology Carlow have warmly welcomed the announcement by Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD that it is to receive more than €1.7million funding for the creation of the Centre for Insurance, Risk and Data Analytics Studies (CIRDAS) under the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Pillar 3 call (Agility & Innovation).

The creation of the Centre for Insurance, Risk and Data Analytics Studies (CIRDAS) will transform the delivery of responsive transversal content for the Insurance sector and assist in developing higher value added employment in the sector as set out in the objectives of the Ireland for Finance Report 2025 and assist a critical sector of the economy in meeting current and future challenges.

CIRDAS will develop and deliver courses under the three broad discipline pillars specifically Data Science, Business and Design Thinking (from Masterclass to Level 9 Special Award). The application was developed by Insurtech Network Centre, the Faculty of Lifelong Learning both at Institute of Technology Carlow and our collaborative partner Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT).

Announced as part of Budget 2019, the primary objective of the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) is to underpin the provision of additional capacity across the higher education sector to meet priority skill needs for enterprise. The projects approved under HCI Pillar 3 were selected by a panel of experts with national and international expertise following a competitive tendering process.

Insurance Ireland and its’ members assisted in the application along with collaborative partner LYIT.