Transcript 4th Report of the Expert Group on Future Needs Skills

Further Education - Ireland
Ger Melia
National Manager for Industry and International
Links
Further Education Sector
Department of Education and Science
June 2007
[email protected]
WORK PLACEMENTS
INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT
NATIONAL CONTEXT
 National Skills Strategy

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DES/FE Mission
National Qualification Framework
 Further Education Programmes/Initiatives
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 Ireland’s social, cultural and
economic development.
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
INTERNATIONAL

EU
– Lisbon Agenda
– Copenhagen Declaration
– DGVET Conferences
 Munich (ECVET/EQF)

OECD
NATIONAL - Education
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Education Act 1998
Qualifications Education and training 1999
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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)
NATIONAL – Labour/S.W.

Unemployment - 4%
 72% of long term unemployed < upper secondary
 36,000 are long term unemployed
____________________________________________
 2002 - Taskforce on Lifelong Learning
 2004 - Workplace Strategy
 2006 - Towards 2016
2007 - Tomorrow’s Skills - Towards a National Skills
Strategy – 5th of 5 main reports - EGFSN
FE ISSUES
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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
Qualifications Framework
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
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Awarding Body - FETAC
Further /Adult Education Full Time Programmes
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Youthreach – 3,200 students (ages 15 -20)
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Senior Traveller Training – 1,000 (15+)
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Early school leavers
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
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 nonformal setting
Back to Education Initiative – 7,000 places
FETAC levels 3-5 (flexible modular basis)
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
WORK PLACEMENTS
– National
 Mandatory at NQF level 5 and 6 – Focused on Skills
 Optional at level 4
 < 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)
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).
Transnational Work
Placements
DES Initiative (1997-2003)
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National Management (DES initiative)
–
–
–
–
–
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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
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
Structure of PLC Programme
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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
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
ISSUES – Practical Training
1/2

Optimise Learning experience
– Relevant Specific and Generic skills
– Prepare/plan/implement/monitor/support/assess/award
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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
ISSUES – Practical Training
2/2
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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