Storm Technology and itag Skillnet

itag Skillnet: Postgraduate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence for Professionals

Storm Technology is a leading technology consultancy and Microsoft solutions partner. They support Irish organisations throughout their digital transformation journey, delivering exceptional customer experiences with a strong commitment to service quality and solution excellence at the heart of everything they do.  

itag Skillnet is an enterprise-led, regional and sectoral Skillnet Business Network that funds and provides bespoke training for technology companies along the ‘AtlanTec gateway’. For over twenty years, the Network has supported the growth of the technology sector across Ireland’s West and Northwest regions, engaging with companies ranging from micro start-ups to local multinationals. 

The Challenge

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) began to influence the enterprise landscape, Dee Timoney, itag Skillnet Network Manager, said business leaders approached the Network seeking guidance on how to “build an AI strategy for their organisation”. 

Storm Technology, a long‑standing collaborator of itag Skillnet, wanted to better understand AI’s role across its business, and how the new technology could contribute to building on the company's success and competitiveness. Karl Flannery, CEO, Storm Technology, said: “We looked at how we would introduce AI into every function within the business. We looked at HR, our customer service department, finance, and in the operations side of the business.”

For a business, upskilling and training is critical. We're a knowledge-based economy now. Most companies that we're involved with now, it's all around knowledge and skills. So keeping that up to date and bringing in new ideas, and new skills, and new technologies into an organisation is fundamental.

Karl Flannery, CEO, Storm Technology

Solution

To respond to industry needs, itag Skillnet and the University of Galway designed a new kind of programme specifically with non‑technical leaders and decision‑makers in mind. 

This collaboration was rooted in extensive consultation with local employers, academic experts, and regional stakeholders. Together, they shaped the Postgraduate Certificate in AI for Professionals which focuses on a curriculum that explains how AI works, what its limitations are, and how organisations can use it ethically and strategically. The programme’s design reflects not just academic insight, but the real‑world challenges of companies across the region. 

Dr Enda Howley, Head of School of Computer Science, University of Galway, who led the academic development team, emphasised the significance of this joint approach. “From the range of local stakeholders that are involved in the itag Skillnet, it was very clear that AI was having an immense effect on their business challenges, and they could see this almost like the next industrial revolution,” he said. 

Outcome

The jointly developed programme has strengthened the AI capability of participants, giving organisations the skills and confidence to adopt AI strategically.  

Storm Technology has used the learning to evaluate where AI can add value across every major business function, while gaining a deeper understanding of the technology’s limitations. Over their 15‑year training partnership with itag Skillnet, the company has relied on its industry-led programmes to keep staff skills current. CEO Karl Flannery added: “Bringing in new ideas and new skills and technologies into an organisation is fundamental.” 

The Postgraduate Certificate in AI for Professionals continues to attract strong demand, reflecting its relevance and the effectiveness of the itag Skillnet and University of Galway collaboration. With AI evolving at extraordinary speed, the course content is regularly updated to reflect emerging developments and industry needs.  

For companies not yet engaged with a Skillnet Business Network, Dee Timoney’s advice is clear: “My advice to any organisation that is currently not associated with a Skillnet Business Network is to research, see what one best suits your needs, and just join them.”