This document provides a feasibility study for a proposed initiative to provide ICT skills training to transition year students in Ireland. It outlines market research that was conducted, including surveys of student and school interest. It finds strong interest among students in apps development and gaming. Schools have limited ICT training options currently. Competitors are identified, but the proposed initiative aims to be the first to offer online ICT skills courses. Financial projections estimate the initiative could break even within 3 years with support from industry sponsors and a low-cost operating model relying on contract trainers. Key stakeholders like ICT companies are seen as important potential sponsors given industry needs for more skilled workers.
Providing ICT Skills to Young People Through App Development Courses
1. Providing ICT Skills to Young People
A Feasibility Study
MICHELLE ALMEIDA
DAVID NUNAN
VINCENT KEOGH
SARAH MCNICHOLAS
2. Agenda
The Idea
Innovation and Creativity
Knowledge of the target segment
Market Research
Market analysis
Competitive analysis
Product and Technical analysis
Sales and Marketing
Unique selling point
Sales and Marketing strategy
Financials
Cash Flow
Funding
3. The Idea
Objective
Evolution of the business idea
Phase 1 – Proof of concept
Knowledge of the target market
Growth
APP usage/download
Interest in Science/IT courses
Transition year students in 2010 28,635
Increase in number of schools from 2010 (550) to 576 schools in
2011
4. MARKET RESEARCH
Following presentation on 15th
July 2011 –
Target market focus:
Transition Year Students
Funding from Parents, Schools and / or Sponsor
Research Design:
To Survey student interest in our proposal
To Survey school interest and willingness to pay
To Investigate corporate support / sponsorship
Competitors
Our competitive edge
Product and technical analysis
8. MARKET RESEARCH
School Transition Year Survey Highlights
Current status quo:
TY - ECDL and CAD only
Limited funding from
school budgets
Schools with ICT
teachers showed
interest
Parents paying for
many external ICT
courses
Rockwell College, Cashel, County Tipperary
9. MARKET RESEARCH
Competitors – (Closest competition top of list)
Not-for-Profit Commercial
Formula 1 for Schools
- Suitable for TY
- ICT for Young People purpose
- International project with Kudos
Computer Dojo
- Learning environment for young
programmers .
- Big corporate sponsors
Computer Clubhouse
- Underserved community after
school project.
- ICT skills via Project Based
Learning
- International MIT initiative
Wizzkids.ie
- Parents pay (€160.00)
- All year round
- Learn gaming, CAD, Media
- Booked out
Fizgig.org
- Parents pay (€180.00)
- Summer only
- Learn ‘Scratch’ and animation
- Booked out
10. MARKET RESEARCH
Our Competitive Edge
Social Enterprise
Strong Tech-Teach Systems team
Backing of Synergy Centre and IT Tallaght
Prospect of corporate sponsorship from ICT Industry
good, e.g. Computer Dojo and Xing
Phase 2 – Placing our content Online makes us
pioneers in this area.
11. MARKET RESEARCH
Product Technology Analysis
Students get intro to
ICT as career choice
through basic ‘App’
course
Trainer support pack
Student support pack
Pre-course / post-course
check list for learning
Most development tools
free to use
Use school PC’s
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
What
are
‘Apps’
Tools
To
make
‘App’
Step
by
step
guide
Make
and
‘App’
Make
an
‘App’
15. Financials – Low cost model
Low cost model
Production stage funding from key Sponsor
Initial salaries self-funded and based on ‘Back2Work’
Enterprise Allowance
Delivery stage to source in Trainers as sales ramp up
To keep salary costs low, associate trainers to be used
(i.e. contract trainers on an as required basis as demand
for courses increases. )
Free training available for staff to upskill e.g.
Springboard courses (Apps course)
18. How IT courses currently fundedIntel
IBM
Google
Free OnlineFree Online
Top 2 or3Top 2 or3
SponsorsSponsors
Collaboration
National &
Sponsor
1 big sponsor
Commercial
Ulster bank
BT
Microsoft
F1 – example
BMW, ICT’s
EI
Xing
Computer DoJo
CEB, Blacknight &
Google
Irish SW association
LERO
WhizzKids
FizGig
19. Revenue model - Partners
Ireland one of the highest
concentrations of ICT in OECD
countries
Global Top 10 ICT’s in Dublin
and Ireland
156 ICT companies
Exports €50b in SW
ICT in Schools
Equipment grants €92m
€22.3m to 678 schools
€24m to 3,300 primary
schools