€6.25m investment drives next-generation apprenticeship learning as Vodafone and ATU roll out XR and edge-enabled training infrastructure

Pictured at the launch at Vodafone’s headquarters in Dublin today was Minister James Lawless with Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director, Vodafone Ireland, and Karol Dempsey, Project Lead ATU.

(IN BRIEF) Vodafone Ireland and Atlantic Technological University have secured €4.6 million from the CEF Digital Fund, with additional investment bringing the total initiative value to €6.25 million. The funding will support the creation of XR learning labs powered by Vodafone’s private 5G Standalone network and edge computing, designed to transform apprenticeship training for construction and engineering students. FifthIngenium will contribute to the development of immersive learning tools, with ATU Donegal serving as the initial pilot location. The project forms part of the broader €12.3 million 5G-SHARE European programme and aligns with national efforts to expand construction career pathways. The collaboration reinforces Vodafone’s digital education strategy and ongoing high-level network investment in Ireland.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERKSHIRE, 9-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Vodafone Ireland, together with Atlantic Technological University (ATU), has been awarded €4.6 million under the EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Digital Fund to advance the next generation of apprenticeship training in engineering and construction. With both ATU and Vodafone providing additional financial backing, the overall investment for the Irish education sector will reach €6.25 million — signalling a major step toward modern, technology-supported learning.

Central to the initiative is the creation of immersive Extended Reality (XR) learning labs, made possible by a private 5G Standalone network and on-site edge computing delivered by Vodafone. These laboratories will enable students to work within digitally recreated workshops and building environments, offering simulations that mirror real-world situations. Italian tech firm FifthIngenium, a specialist in XR learning solutions, will play a key role in designing these digital training experiences.

ATU Donegal will host the first rollout, where apprentices will soon have access to both virtual and augmented reality coursework. The approach blends hands-on learning with remote access capabilities, helping students in geographically spread communities or those balancing work commitments to engage with training more flexibly. Planned tools include interactive construction scenarios, 3D streaming demonstrations, and virtual build-practice modules that allow mistakes and experimentation without material cost.

The programme forms part of 5G-SHARE, a €12.3 million Europe-wide collaboration bringing universities across Ireland, Romania, and the Czech Republic together to develop new models of digital learning. Through the partnership, the institutions will trial how 5G connectivity can support future apprenticeship training and broaden pathways into engineering and construction careers.

Speaking on the development, Sheila Kavanagh, Network Director at Vodafone Ireland, noted that the achievement reflects strong inter-agency cooperation. She said that the initiative strengthens the company’s ambition to support innovation and education through robust digital infrastructure, alongside Vodafone’s ongoing €100 million network investment each year. The project is also bolstered by Vodafone’s Connected Education programme, which aims to improve access to modern learning tools and close the digital divide.

The announcement arrives shortly after the Irish Government published a national strategy to encourage greater participation in construction-related professions — including commitments to expand apprenticeship routes and strengthen training capacity. Marking the launch at Vodafone’s Dublin headquarters were Minister James Lawless, Sheila Kavanagh, and ATU Project Lead Karol Dempsey.

Media contact:
GroupMedia@vodafone.com

SOURCE: Vodafone Group