Enabling Themes

Updates from April 2023 Steering Group meeting

CAPITAL

This strategy has set out a strong sense of the potential of FET if it continues along a pathway of integration, reducing programme silos and structures, and developing much clearer learning pathways into, within and from FET. However, there is strong consensus that capital infrastructure is both a barrier and an enabler to fully realising this ambition. As noted earlier, FET capital stock is of variable quality and is characterised by small scale dispersed facilities, despite some effort to consolidate provision in particular locations within integrated FET centres. The first important step will be to fully understand the nature, purpose, quality and investment requirements across all capital infrastructure. SOLAS will, therefore, commence a full review with ETBs to construct a detailed database of FET buildings, their purpose, size and condition, provision type, numbers of learners and staff, and ownership details.

Capital projects are progressing with design teams appointed for the majority of the first 13 announced SIUF projects. Briefings with each Design Team/ETB have commenced.

  • Approval by DFHERIS is awaited in respect of a further 6 SIUF projects approved by the SOLAS board.

  • SOLAS have defined Key Performance Indicators for the CotF major projects, which will be adapted for use within other funding streams, to measure the impact of capital infrastructure investment on achievement of the objectives of the FET strategy.

  • Several CotF projects are already intended to accommodate transition projects under the National Tertiary Office; more will be encouraged during PBC and design progress. Site acquisitions for LMETB and KCETB are advancing.

  • Guidance and templates are in development to support each ETB to devise short, medium, and long-term estate strategies to meet the FET Learning Transformation Strategy and Climate Action plan requirements.

  • Changes are being sought to the available capital funding streams to support and encourage Green Infrastructure projects including NZEB Centres of Excellence and Centres of Specialist Skills Development.

  • The terms of the SEAI Climate Pathfinder programme are being adapted to encompass supports for Estates Strategy Development, building performance data collection and delivery of a rapid and widespread decarbonisation programme across FET, replacing the potentially limiting impact of a small number of projects and leveraging learnings from other public sector organisations. The programme is now renamed as the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme for Further Education and Training (EEDPP – FE). Alternative mechanisms to release additional funding into the sector are being investigated for both FE and HE, in parallel.

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Digital Transformation of FET Good progress has been made in recent years to build capability in technology enhanced learning (TEL) across FET, focusing on using technology in pedagogical approaches to teaching and learning, and using tech-led approaches to the provision of education and training. This work is important, but if FET is to maintain its relevance, it must adopt a more holistic approach to how it will embrace and deploy technology over the next five years. Every other system is planning for digital transformation, and FET must be no exception.

  • Alternative Safepass is fully live with learners progressing through the system successfully from booking, through to course preparation and onto completion. There were over 500 registrations in the first two days. The new system removes the need to take a full day off work and significantly reduces waiting times for current card holders. The assessment itself, held in a test centre, only takes 45 minutes and is around half the cost of the traditional full day course.

  • Chatbot partner procured and project to upgrade FETCH chatbot in train.

  • Development work to accommodate Green Skills and process automation has been completed on PLSS\eCollege.

LEARNER AND PERFORMANCE

Learner and Performance Centred An essential focus of this strategy is to ensure that we develop a system that is learner-centred and performance-centred. The FET learner base is incredibly diverse, and FET must encourage and reflect this diversity in the way in which it supports learners and offers them clear pathways and outcomes over the next five years. The work on strategic performance agreements and learner voice has provided a strong platform to further enhance a learner-centred and performance approach.

  •  FET Funding Model – High Level implementation plan developed. Key work streams for data, costs, funding systems, programmes and financial systems have been agreed. Terms of Reference for Groups in place. ESBS have agreed to provide consultancy services to the project. New Funding Model schedule included in FAR4 returns for 2023, to reflect proposed funding model.

  • Data dashboards have been developed by the Data Analytics team and allow SOLAS and ETBs to view monthly data in relation to Strategic Performance Agreement outcomes. The platform will provide access to national level FET statistics both on activity and learner enrolments for all SOLAS funded providers from 2018-2022 annually by ETB, course level, ISCED etc. Month to month progress for the current year (2023) will be added to the platform, as well as eCollege and apprenticeship registration.

  •  FET Funding Model – High Level implementation plan developed. Key work streams for data, costs, funding systems, programmes and financial systems have been agreed. Terms of Reference for Groups in place. ESBS have agreed to provide consultancy services to the project. New Funding Model schedule included in FAR4 returns for 2023, to reflect proposed funding model.

  • Data dashboards have been developed by the Data Analytics team and allow SOLAS and ETBs to view monthly data in relation to Strategic Performance Agreement outcomes. The platform will provide access to national level FET statistics both on activity and learner enrolments for all SOLAS funded providers from 2018-2022 annually by ETB, course level, ISCED etc. Month to month progress for the current year (2023) will be added to the platform, as well as eCollege and apprenticeship registration.

  •  FET Funding Model – High Level implementation plan developed. Key work streams for data, costs, funding systems, programmes and financial systems have been agreed. Terms of Reference for Groups in place. ESBS have agreed to provide consultancy services to the project. New Funding Model schedule included in FAR4 returns for 2023, to reflect proposed funding model.

  • Data dashboards have been developed by the Data Analytics team and allow SOLAS and ETBs to view monthly data in relation to Strategic Performance Agreement outcomes. The platform will provide access to national level FET statistics both on activity and learner enrolments for all SOLAS funded providers from 2018-2022 annually by ETB, course level, ISCED etc. Month to month progress for the current year (2023) will be added to the platform, as well as eCollege and apprenticeship registration.

  • FET Funding Model – High Level implementation plan developed. Key work streams for data, costs, funding systems, programmes and financial systems have been agreed. Terms of Reference for Groups in place. ESBS have agreed to provide consultancy services to the project. New Funding Model schedule included in FAR4 returns for 2023, to reflect proposed funding model.

  • Data dashboards have been developed by the Data Analytics team and allow SOLAS and ETBs to view monthly data in relation to Strategic Performance Agreement outcomes. The platform will provide access to national level FET statistics both on activity and learner enrolments for all SOLAS funded providers from 2018-2022 annually by ETB, course level, ISCED etc. Month to month progress for the current year (2023) will be added to the platform, as well as eCollege and apprenticeship registration.

  •  FET Funding Model – High Level implementation plan developed. Key work streams for data, costs, funding systems, programmes and financial systems have been agreed. Terms of Reference for Groups in place. ESBS have agreed to provide consultancy services to the project. New Funding Model schedule included in FAR4 returns for 2023, to reflect proposed funding model.

  • Data dashboards have been developed by the Data Analytics team and allow SOLAS and ETBs to view monthly data in relation to Strategic Performance Agreement outcomes. The platform will provide access to national level FET statistics both on activity and learner enrolments for all SOLAS funded providers from 2018-2022 annually by ETB, course level, ISCED etc. Month to month progress for the current year (2023) will be added to the platform, as well as eCollege and apprenticeship registration.

STAFFING CAPABILITIES AND STRUCTURES

Staffing, Capabilities and Structures The passion and expertise of FET practitioners, and their commitment to putting learners at the heart of everything they do, is one of the great strengths of the system. While some progress has been made on the organisational design of FET within ETBs (most notably with the appointments of Directors of FET which have given it a real drive and strategic focus), there remain numerous legacy design matters that need to be resolved. As we enter a new phase of development for FET, these matters need to be addressed along with a clear sense of how ETB staffing and structures need to evolve to deliver on the Future FET goals set out in this strategy and realise the full potential of the system.

  • As part of the Recommendations of the EU Expert Group on Graduate Tracking, the VET taskforce led by SOLAS agreed to hold a series of peer learning events to build capacity within the EU countries. The Commission has asked SOLAS to host and co- organise the second PLE during 2023 in June.

  • Aontas Learner Forums continue to be supported via representation on the Advisory Group for the Learner Forums.

  • Work continuing on the development of a future staffing framework for FET and defining the parameters for a single practitioner model.

  •  Staffing and FET College of the Future discussed in depth at the NAPD FETCI conference in March, with input from SOLAS, DHFERIS and TUI.

  •  Following an independent quality review of each of the 16 ETBs, QQI launched its sectoral report on Quality Assurance of Further Education and Training in the ETB sector in March. The report has a number of key recommendations including, the need to strengthen the approach to quality assurance, the process used to review and update programmes and the use of quantitative data to support quality assurance.