Griffith College Cork’s Quality & Regulatory Practice Programme Secures Government Micro-Credential Funding for September 2026
Griffith College Cork is delighted to announce that its Certificate in Quality and Regulatory Practice in the Pharmaceutical Industry Micro-Credential has been approved for funding under the Government’s Micro-Credential Learner Fee Subsidy (LFS) initiative for 2026.
The announcement, made today by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, forms part of a major national expansion of micro-credential opportunities, with 179 micro-credentials approved for an 80% learner fee subsidy from May 2026. Assessed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), the initiative will support 3,881 subsidised learner places across 26 higher education institutions nationwide.
Griffith College Cork’s Certificate in Quality and Regulatory Practice in the Pharmaceutical Industry was approved in recognition of its strong alignment with current enterprise and industry skills needs, particularly within sectors experiencing increasing regulatory and compliance demands.
A defining feature of the Certificate in Quality and Regulatory Practice in the Pharmaceutical Industry is its delivery by Dr Waleed Faisal, lecturer at Griffith College Cork and University College Cork, and CEO of ArrayPatch Ltd.
Bringing cutting-edge industry experience into the classroom, Dr Faisal leads one of Ireland’s most exciting biotech start-ups. Under his leadership, ArrayPatch has secured multiple patents, raised significant seed funding, achieved strong commercial traction, and was named Best Start-Up Company in Ireland 2025.
Welcoming the announcement, Griffith College Cork highlighted the importance of accessible, flexible lifelong learning opportunities for individuals and employers across the region.
Head of Campus, Jim Daly, says ‘At Griffith College Cork, we see first-hand the growing demand for accessible and flexible lifelong learning opportunities that allow people to upskill, reskill and progress in their careers while balancing work and personal commitments.
It is essential that education pathways continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of industry and society and to empower individuals to reach their potential.
This assists employers across the region to build a highly skilled, adaptable workforce that can respond to future challenges and opportunities.’
The Micro-Credential Learner Fee Subsidy initiative significantly reduces the financial barriers to professional development by subsidising 80% of learner fees. The 2026 micro-credential offering places a strong emphasis on flexibility, with the majority of programmes delivered online or in blended formats, allowing learners to balance study alongside work and personal commitments.
The initiative also supports Ireland’s wider national skills agenda, including digital transformation and workforce development, while responding directly to regional and sector-specific employment needs.
Applications for the subsidised Level-9 Certificate in Quality and Regulatory Practice in the Pharmaceutical Industry can be submitted on the course page below.
Certificate in Quality and Regulatory Practice in the Pharmaceutical Industry
*This ten-week course is delivered in a blended format.