The Digital Skills Academy has launched its 2014 industry partner programme, WebElevate, whereby firms who want to employ digital innovation to boost their business can work with students from the academy’s degree programme.
Since its inception two years ago, close to 100 companies, including EY (Ernst & Young), BT Ireland, Screentime ShinAwil, Soundwave Music, Telefónica Ireland, Oracle, Grab One, Gill & Macmillan and O’Brien Press have successfully partnered with the programme to develop a range of mobile apps, online games, websites and social media campaigns.
“Whether companies need support on the R&D of a new digital product, the development of a prototype, or a fully delivered mobile application or online and mobile game, the WebElevate programme provides them with a great opportunity to tap into our resources and talent pool,” said Paul Dunne, CEO of Digital Skills Academy.
“Digital Skills Academy can provide companies with the resources of multi-disciplinary teams of emerging digital professionals, providing up to 2,000 man hours to work on their digital innovation under the guidance of industry experts.
“While supporting industry, this practise-based learning approach delivers huge benefits to our participants who get to prove their ability to deliver real projects for real clients, which is invaluable in today’s jobs market,” Dunne added.
Among the products that have been delivered so far:
- A mobile app to support the learning of Irish sign language by parents of children with deafness or hearing difficulties
- An app providing an exhibition guide for visitors to the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition
- A social media and online video campaign to promote the TV series The Voice of Ireland
- Game development for Keg Kartoonz’s animated series The Pencil Pilots
- A mobile app for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year alumni
- Children’s maths game for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
- Digital marketing campaign for IDA Ireland
