Further Education - IrelandFurther Education - Ireland

Ger MeliaNational Manager for Industry and International

Links

Further Education SectorDepartment of Education and Science

June 2007gmelia@indigo.ie

WORK PLACEMENTSWORK PLACEMENTS

INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT

NATIONAL CONTEXT National Skills Strategy DES/FE Mission

National Qualification Framework Further Education Programmes/Initiatives

Further Education - IrelandFurther Education - Ireland

Provide high-quality education which will:

Enable individuals to achieve their fullpotential and to participate fully asmembers of society

Contribute to Ireland’s social, cultural andeconomic development.

FE LEARNERSFE 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

INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL

EU– Lisbon Agenda– Copenhagen Declaration– DGVET Conferences

Munich (ECVET/EQF)

OECD

NATIONAL - EducationNATIONAL - 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)

NATIONAL – Labour/S.W. 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 ISSUESFE 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

Qualifications Framework Qualifications Framework

FRAMEWORK - LEVELS 1-6FRAMEWORK - 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

Further /Adult Education Full Time Programmes 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

Adult and Further Education Adult and Further Education Provision – Part timeProvision – Part time

Adult Literacy – (35,000) - FETAC level 1-3

Adults with literacy and numeracy needs 10,000 are English language learners

Community Education – 100,000Adults who wish to re-enter education in a non-

formal setting

Back to Education Initiative – 7,000 placesFETAC levels 3-5 (flexible modular basis)

Co-FundingCo-Funding

Measures co-funded by European Structural

Fund and DES from 2007-2013:– BTEI– Adult Literacy– Youthreach– TravellersNotes: Disability funding

Recommendations re low skills in skills strategy

WORK PLACEMENTSWORK 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 Work Placements in Ireland Level 5 and 6* (DES Funded)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 awardNote: Levels 5and 6 (NQF) are equivalent to 4 and 5(EQF).

Transnational Work Transnational Work Placements 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

PLCPLC

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 ProgrammeStructure 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

Profile of PLC LearnerProfile 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 ISSUES – Practical Training 1/21/2

Optimise Learning experience – Relevant Specific and Generic skills– Prepare/plan/implement/monitor/support/assess/award

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 ISSUES – Practical Training 2/22/2

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