Further Education Ireland

1
Further Education - Ireland

• Ger Melia
• National Manager for Industry and International
  Links
• Further Education Sector
• Department of Education and Science
• June 2007
• gmelia_at_indigo.ie

2
WORK PLACEMENTS

• INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
• NATIONAL CONTEXT
• National Skills Strategy
• DES/FE Mission
• National Qualification Framework
• Further Education Programmes/Initiatives

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Further Education - Ireland

• Provide high-quality education which will
• Enable individuals to achieve their full
• potential and to participate fully as
• members of society
• Contribute to Irelands social, cultural and
• economic development.

4
FE LEARNERS

• Early school leavers
• Second-chance learners (left school without
  qualifications)
• Unemployed people and other recipients of welfare
  benefits
• Learners who require a stepping stone to industry
  or to third level

5
INTERNATIONAL

• EU
• Lisbon Agenda
• Copenhagen Declaration
• DGVET Conferences
• Munich (ECVET/EQF)
• OECD

6
NATIONAL - Education

• Education Act 1998
• Qualifications Education and training 1999
• 2001 NQAI/HETAC/FETAC established
• 2003 NQAI launched the National qualifications
  framework (10 levels)
• White Paper on Adult Education (2000)
• Vocational Education (Amendment) Act 2001
• Education for Persons with SN (2004 Act)
• Disability Act (2005)

7
NATIONAL Labour/S.W.

• Unemployment - 4
• 72 of long term unemployed lt upper secondary
• 36,000 are long term unemployed
• ____________________________________________
• 2002 - Taskforce on Lifelong Learning
• 2004 - Workplace Strategy
• 2006 - Towards 2016
• 2007 - Tomorrows Skills - Towards a National
  Skills Strategy 5th of 5 main reports - EGFSN

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FE ISSUES

• FE Status and No Capital Funding
• Complexity/Compartmentalisation
• Funding for Learners
• Create Formal Education/Industry Links
• Respond to National Skills Strategy
• Funding
• Up-skill/re-skill mature learners (LLL)
• Respond to migrants and low skilled learners

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Qualifications Framework
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FRAMEWORK - LEVELS 1-6

• Providers
• Vocational Education Committees (33) - FE
• FÁS National Training/Employment Authority
• Fáilte Ireland (Tourism Training)
• Teagasc (Agricultural Training)
• Bord Iascaigh Mhara (Fisheries Training)
• Institutes of Technology and Universities
• Awarding Body - FETAC

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Further /Adult Education Full Time Programmes

• Youthreach 3,200 students (ages 15 -20)
• Early school leavers
• Senior Traveller Training 1,000 (15)
• Second chance education mainly for Travellers
• VTOS 5,639 (21 and 6 months unemployed)
  Social a programme for social welfare recipients
• Post-Leaving Certificate Courses 30,000 (17)
• Programme for students at FETAC levels 5 and 6

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Adult and Further Education Provision Part time

• Adult Literacy (35,000) - FETAC level 1-3
• Adults with literacy and numeracy needs
• 10,000 are English language learners
• Community Education 100,000
• Adults who wish to re-enter education in a
  non-formal setting
• Back to Education Initiative 7,000 places
• FETAC levels 3-5 (flexible modular basis)

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Co-Funding

• Measures co-funded by European Structural
• Fund and DES from 2007-2013
• BTEI
• Adult Literacy
• Youthreach
• Travellers
• Notes Disability funding
• Recommendations re low skills in skills
  strategy

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WORK PLACEMENTS

• National
• Mandatory at NQF level 5 and 6 Focused on
  Skills
• Optional at level 4
• lt level 4 Focus - Personal Development/Literacy
• Usually 2 weeks p.a. (exception childcare)
• Transnational
• FETAC Level 6 - 17 weeks (DES/ESF funded)
• Leargas National Agency (LLL Programme)

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Work Placements in Ireland Level 5 and 6 (DES
Funded)

• Until 2000 Level 5 and 6 received ESF funding
  at levels 5 and 6
• Organised by local providers (VEC)
• Usually organised with local employers
• FETAC Minor award
• Linked to Full award
• DES funds programme that leads to full award
• Note Levels 5and 6 (NQF) are equivalent to 4 and
  5(EQF).

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Transnational Work Placements

• DES Initiative (1997-2003)
• National Management (DES initiative)
• National Guidelines/contracts/insurance
• National Support Office
• National In-service
• Strategic Advice/Recommendations to DES
• Strategic links to providers, industry,
  international
• Regional/Local Co-ordination/Implementation
• Funded through National Agency

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PLC

• Industry Linked Levels 5-6
• Business and secretarial skills
• Computer Studies
• Art, Craft and design
• Childcare and Community Care
• Tourism, hotel and catering
• Horticulture

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Structure of PLC Programme

• Vocational Studies 50-60
• General Studies 20-30
• Preparation for work/work experience - 20-30
• Must include - 40 hours of work dedicated to
  training in ICT
• Providers demonstrate local/national need for the
  training discipline
• 90 pf participants progress to FE/ HE/ Training
  or employment

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Profile of PLC Learner

• 30,000 PLC students
• 50 over 21 years
• 20 over 30 years
• Directly from post-primary schools or
• Mature students on second chance education

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ISSUES Practical Training 1/2

• Optimise Learning experience
• Relevant Specific and Generic skills
• Prepare/plan/implement/monitor/support/assess/awar
  d
• Structures and practices to support the
  achievement of national skills strategy and EU
  aims
• Recognition for Learning (ECVET, EQF, NQF)
• Source and Destination of Funding
• Resource Intensive Activity
• Work Experience Models

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ISSUES Practical Training 2/2

• Work Shadow/Work Simulation/Experience
• Practical Classes v Work Experience
• of Time Allocated to Work Experience
• Assuring the Quality of Placements
• Research Share Knowledge and Experience
• Mutual Trust (Find Reliable Partners)
• Memorandum of Understanding/ECVET
• Examine Stated and Actual Curricula