Twitter Feed
EXTERNAL AUTHENTICATOR OPPORTUNITY
- Details
- Written by: Mary Sheehy
- Hits: 4558
Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), on behalf of the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), have established a directory of External Authenticators (EA) for Further Education and Training programmes.
The role of the External Authenticator is to provide independent confirmation of fair and consistent assessment of learners in accordance with QQI requirements and report on the consistency of assessment results with national standards.
If you are interested in this role, please visit the ETBI website to participate in the online briefing, which will provide you with more detailed information about the directory as well as the role.
Applying to QQI for the Validation of Further Education and Training Programmes
- Details
- Written by: Jenny Whelan
- Hits: 5112
Programme Validation
QQI published its Policies and Criteria for the Validation of Programmes of Education and Training document in April 2016, and then revised it in November 2017. In this document QQI provides the following definition:
"Validation is a regulatory process that in essence determines whether or not a particular QQI award can be offered in respect of a provider’s programme of education and training."
This document comprises two sections:
1. Core policies and criteria for the validation by QQI of programmes of education and training
- Part 1 (pages 5 - 28): Core policies and criteria for the validation by QQI of programmes of education and training.
This part includes information on the prerequisites for programme validation, preparing an application for validation and evaluation, as well as introducing readers to a number of new concepts
- Part 2 (pages 29 - 38): The core validation criteria (12 criteria with sub-criteria).
This part states the core criteria against which a programme of education and training will be evaluated (by the provider and QQI). It should be noted that QQI may refuse an application for validation if any one of the applicable criteria, or sub-criteria, is not demonstrated to be satisfied
2. Policies and criteria for the validation of programmes leading to Common Awards System (CAS) awards (pages 39 - 48)
The 10 validation criteria listed in this section are in addition to the 12 core validation criteria for programmes leading to QQI CAS awards. In other words, programmes of further education and training that do not lead to QQI CAS award(s) will not be evaluated against the criteria listed in this section
Programmes leading to CAS awards (under new policy)
As part of QQI's planning for the implementation of this policy, QQI engaged with the ETBI (Education and Training Boards Ireland) QA Strategy Group and the QA Forum. This resulted in the establishment of a working group, led by FESS. The following resources, developed by this working group, are published on the QQI website and are available to support providers in making programme validation applications to QQI:
- (Draft) FET Programme Descriptor Template
- (Draft) FET Programme Descriptor Template Guidelines
- (Draft) Evaluation of Programmes against QQI Validation Criteria
These resources are currently in draft form, as they are trialled by those providers making validation applications. Suggestions for modifying and improving the resources may be made to QQI and/or FESS and will be considered when the resources are reviewed. These resources can be accessed here.
Programmes leading to apprenticeships (under new policy)
There are a number of resources to support providers developing apprenticeship programmes (levels 5-9) on the QQI website. These resources can be accessed here.
Programmes leading to non-CAS awards (under new policy)
Providers with an interest in developing further education and training programmes that lead to non-CAS awards should contact QQI.
eCollege Courses
- Details
- Written by: Jenny Whelan
- Hits: 20046
What is eCollege?
eCollege is a SOLAS-funded online training facility that provides a range of high quality interactive online learning courses, available any time through broadband Internet access, for those who wish to learn at their own pace.
eCollege courses are available free of charge to FET staff members within DES/SOLAS-funded, QQI registered providers.
FET staff members can also access free assessment and certification connected to these courses.
One must be registered with eCollege in order to access online courses.
What other courses are available through eCollege?
A list of the online courses currently available is on www.ecollege.ie and can also be accessed here.
In addition, a new eCollege course, Moodle for Teachers, was launched in June 2019. Further information is available here.
How do you register for a course on eCollege?
FET staff members wishing to access eCollege courses must register with eCollege, via FESS, by emailing the following information to ecollege@fess.ie:
- Name
- Centre Name
- Centre Address
- Email address
- Full names of eCollege course(s) you wish to join
Once the above information is sent to ecollege@fess.ie, FESS will forward it to eCollege. Login details to the requested course will then issue from eCollege in due course. Please note that this may take up to 10 working days to happen.
Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing - PILOT Online Course
- Details
- Hits: 6508
Solas eCollege in partnership with the Digital Marketing Institute is delighted to be able to offer a Certified Digital Marketing Professional Qualification to FET staff e.g. Management, Administration, Teachers, Tutors, Trainers etc.
The Certified Digital Marketing Professional course is a cornerstone certification that provides an introduction to key digital marketing skills that can be applied within any role.
This is an online course which will cover areas such as Search Engine Optimisation, Search Marketing: Pay Per Click, Digital Display Advertising (DDA), Email Marketing, Social Media Marketing, Mobile Marketing, Analytics and Strategy & Planning.
The course is tailored for beginners and access is completely online and available 24/7.
There is a single, three-hour exam to sit at the end of the course which will need to be taken at a Pearson VUE testing centre. The course and exam should be completed within 26 weeks (approximately 3 hours per week).
There are no course fees for FET staff (standard course value is €2000). There is access to certified eTutors for support during regular business hours.
How to Apply:
FET staff who would like to become a certified Digital Marketing Professional should read the brochure with link to a promotional video and complete the application form.
Successful applicants will be invited to a half day induction workshop on 27th September 2017 where they will meet their eTutor and fellow online FET colleagues.
Target Audience:
This course is tailored for beginners and is open to all FET staff e.g. Management, Administration, Teachers, Tutors, Trainers etc. It is recommend to have basic computing skills.
Places are limited to 30 during the pilot phase.
Facilitators:
Solas eCollege in partnership with the Digital Marketing Institute.
Important Dates:
Closing date for receipt of applications - Monday 11th September 2017.
Induction for successful applicants - Wednesday 27th September 2017.
Online course commences - Late September 2017.
Venue:
Induction – Location TBC.
Course – Online.
Exam – A Pearson VUE Testing Centre.
Foundation Certificate in Project Management Skills
- Details
- Hits: 3881
Please note: This course is now full
SOLAS eCollege in partnership with PeopleCert and CENIT Group is offering the PRINCE2 Foundations Qualification to FET staff.
The PRINCE2 Foundations course is a cornerstone certification that provides an introduction to key project management skills that can be applied within any role. There are a variety of project management methodologies but PRINCE2 is a leader in the field and a very popular method used worldwide.
The Foundation Certification aims to confirm that you know and understand the PRINCE2 method well enough to be able to work effectively with, or as a member of, a project management team working within any environment.
Access to the course is completely online and is available 24/7.
Target group:
The course is tailored for beginners and is open to FET staff e.g. Management, Administration, Teachers, Tutors, Trainers etc.
Applicants should have some basic understanding of Project Management but there is no formal prerequisite for the Foundation qualification.
Tutor Support:
There is access to certified eTutors for support during regular business hours.
Assessment:
There is a single, one-hour exam that is taken at the end of the course at a Pearson VUE Testing Centre or at home using online proctoring.
Duration of course:
The course and exam should be completed within 16 weeks (approximately 2 hours per week).
Fees:
There are no course fees for FET staff (standard course value is €657).
Number of places available:
Places are limited to 20 during the first phase.
Important Dates:
Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 10th December 2018 or earlier if the number of places on offer is exceeded.
Successful applicants will be notified and will commence their course from December 2018.
How to Apply:
FET staff who would like to apply for a place on the PRINCE2 Certificate course should apply through FESS.
Please email ALL of the following details to eCollege@fess.ie:
1. Name
2. Role / Job Title
3. Centre Name
4. Centre Address
5. Email address
6. Statement of intent (max 100 words) i.e.:Why are you applying for a place on this course?, What do you plan to do professionally with the qualification?