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Co. Cork VEC

17th May 2011

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Siobhán Magee

Jenny Whelan

Finola Butler

Mary Sheehy

www.fess.ie

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Content

• The FETAC Common Awards System

• FETAC Certificate and Component Specifications

• Programme Development

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The Certification Process

Standards- National- Developed by FETAC

Programmes- Local- Developed by the Provider

Assessment- Techniques set by FETAC- Devised and carried out by Provider

Award- Achieved by Learner- Made by FETAC

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The FETAC Common Awards System

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NCVA

FÁS

Teagasc

CERT(NTCB)

BIM

The Establishment of FETAC (2001)Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999

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The National Framework of Qualifications (2003)

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9(c)2011, Further Education Support Service

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What is the Common Awards System?

• All FETAC awards will have common:– Statements of STANDARDS – Structure– Characteristics– Features

• title• level• volume• profile• assessment and grading

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Migrating to the Common Awards System (CAS)

– Conversion • where only one Major Award currently exists, which is still relevant, this is

converted into the Common Awards System– Harmonisation

• where more than one Major Award exists, which are still relevant, in the same vocational area, the awards will be combined into one Major Award

– Review • where standards are out of date or where there are new legislative

requirements the awards are reviewed and modified, as appropriate, to make sure they are current and up to date

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Standards Advisory Board

Standards Development Group

Standards Development Group

Standards Development Group

Provider: B5 Programme Development, Delivery and Review

Determining Standards

Development of New FETAC Awards

Award Specifications Award

Specifications

Award Specifications

FETAC Council

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FETAC Consultation/Feedback Process for Common Awards

• FETAC Web-based Consultation and Feedback

• FETAC Quarterly Awards Plan update

• Publication of Award Specifications• Certificate Specification• Component Specification• Specific Purpose Specification• Supplemental Specification

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Finding the new Award Specifications

• Published on www.fetac.ie, under the Awards Info and then the Awards Directory section

• 6 character code for all new Common Awards:Level Award Type 4 Digit Code

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3 M 0 8 7 4

• 3M0874 Level 3 Major Award (M)• 4N1055 Level 4 Minor Award (N)• 5S1234 Level 5 Special Purpose Award (S)• 6U3423 Level 6 Supplemental Award (U)

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Certificate Award Specification

Key elements• Title• Level• Credit• Purpose• General Statements• Access, Transfer and Progression• Certificate Requirements• Specific Validation Requirements

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Component Award Specification

Key elements• Title• Level• Credit• Purpose• Access, Transfer• Learning Outcomes• Assessment Techniques• Specific Validation Requirements

Common Awards System Credit Values

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Level Major Award Credit Values

Default Minor Credit Values

Other Minor Credit Values

1 20 5 10

2 30 5 10

3 60 10 5, 20

4 90 10 5, 15, 20

5 120 15 5, 10, 30

6 120 15 5, 10, 30

Timeframe

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Level Awards Publication Dates Deactivation Dates

3 4 Majors, 3 Special Purpose and 120+ Minors

October 2010 5th December 2011

4 9+ Majors and associated Minors

Feb 2011 & Oct 2011 5th December 2012

5 100+ Majors and associated Minors

Feb 2011 & Oct 2011

Feb 2012 & Oct 2012

5th December 2012

5th December 20136 100+ Majors and

associated MinorsFeb 2011 & Oct 2011

Feb 2012 & Oct 2012

5th December 2012

5th December 2013

See: FETAC The Common Awards System. Making the moves … as easy as A, P, C

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FETAC (NCVA) Certification – Level 3

FETAC (NCVA) Level 3 Module Descriptors• 5th June 2011 – FETAC Dual Assessment System

(External Examiners)

• 5th October 2011 – Provider’s Quality Assuring Assessment Process (Internal Verification, External Authentication, Results Approval, Provider Appeals)

• 5th December 2011 – Provider’s Quality Assuring Assessment Process (Internal Verification, External Authentication, Results Approval, Provider Appeals)

Level 3 Module Descriptors Deactivated on 5th December 2011

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Programme Development

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Programme Development

Programmes leading to the new FETAC Common

Awards must be validated by FETAC before being offered to Learners

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Documentation for Developing Programmes

• FETAC Guidelines for Preparing Programme Descriptors

• FETAC Award Specifications: Certificate, Component, Specific Purpose, Supplemental

• VEC Programme Descriptor Template (application form)

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Awards ≠ Programmes• Award (Destination)

– Determined and made by FETAC

– A statement of standards, i.e. what needs to be achieved by the Learner

• Programme (Journey)– The learning package designed,

developed and delivered by the Provider

– Describes how the award standard will be reached

– Provides an insight into the learning experiences that will enable the profiled Learner to reach the standards of knowledge, skill and competence of an award

B5 Programme Development, Delivery and Review – Provider RoleProgramme Validation - FETAC

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B5 Programme Development, Delivery and Review

• B5.1 Need Identification• B5.2 Programme Design• B5.3 Programme Approval pre submission for validation• B5.4 Programme Planning• B5.5 Programme Delivery• B5.6 Learner Records• B5.7 Provision and Maintenance of Learning Facilities/Resources• B5.8 Health and Safety• B5.9 Programme Review

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Programmes and Programme Modules

Major Award

Minor/ Component 1

Minor/ Component 2

Minor/ Component 3

Minor/ Component 4

Minor/ Component 5

Minor/ Component 6

Minor/ Component 7

Minor/ Component 8 Program

me:Learner Profile

Programme Profile

Entry CriteriaProgramme ObjectivesDurationStructureTransfer

Progression

Prog Mod 1

Prog Mod 2

Prog Mod 3

Prog Mod 4

Prog Mod 5

Prog Mod 6

Prog Mod 7

Prog Mod 8

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One to One Approach to Programme Development

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Programme Information

• FETAC Award to which the programme will lead• Programme Title, Profile, Objectives, Duration• Learner Profile• Entry Criteria• Programme Review Schedule• Learner Supports• Transfer and Progression Opportunities• Delivery Mode• Delivery Methodologies• Programme Structure and Assessment Plan• Assessment Schedule• Specific Validation Requirements

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• For each Programme Module– Title– Duration in Hours– Aims and Objectives– Status– Indicative Content and Programme

Outcomes– Assessment

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Programme Module Information

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Programme Validation ProcessProgramme Development

Programme Screening

Programme Approval

Programme Validated

No Programme Approval Agreement Programme Approval Agreement

FETAC

FETAC

FETAC FETAC

Provider

Provider

Provider

Provider

Programme Evaluation

Decision to Validate

Appeal

Review

FETAC

FETAC

FETAC

Programme Development

Programme Screening

Programme Approval

Programme Validated

Programme Evaluation

Recommendation to Validate

Appeal

Review

Provider

Provider

Provider

Provider

FETAC

FETAC

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In summary…..

Standards- National- Developed by FETAC

Programmes- Local- Developed by the Provider

Assessment- Techniques set by FETAC- Devised and carried out by Provider

Award- Achieved by Learner- Made by FETAC

Common Awards System

Programme Development

Programme Delivery

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Old System ....• Module Descriptor –

www.fetac.ie

• Local programme – developed by the Tutor

New System ....• Component Specification –

www.fetac.ie

• Validated programme – developed by Co. Cork VEC

• Local interpretation of Co. Cork VEC programme – by the Tutor

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From Here …..• FETAC approved FESS programme for sharing

• VEC to: – identify gaps in certification opportunities in the FESS programmes– source additional programme modules from other VECs– develop additional programme modules– evaluate and approve additional programme modules through the PAA– apply to FETAC for validation of the programme (s)– deliver programme to Learners– Offer certification in the new FETAC Common Awards

• VEC to stop offering certification based on existing FETAC (NCVA) module descriptors by 5th December 2011

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Mixing the ‘Old’ with the ‘New’

FETAC Managing Change to the Common Awards System, An Information note for Providers, April 2011

• Table outlining the FETAC Common Award that is replacing the FETAC Legacy Award• Identifies the FETAC Legacy Awards that are deemed no longer relevant and have

been not been replaced in the FETAC Common Awards System• A Learner may combine FETAC Legacy Award(s) with FETAC Common Award(s) up to

December 2014• From January 2015 only FETAC Common Award Components may be used to

achieve a FETAC Major or Special Purpose Award• A Learner may only use a FETAC Legacy Award when the Learner is applying for a

new Major or Special Purpose Award – up to December 2014• Major, Special Purpose and Supplemental Awards will be graded as Pass, Merit,

Distinction at Levels 4, 5 and 6 in the Common Awards System

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Keeping Informed of Developments

• FETAC website for:– Awards for consultation– FETAC quarterly Awards Plan– The publication of FETAC Award Specifications– What’s New

• FESS website for: – announcements and updates– Support resources and documentation

• Co. Cork VEC for information on future development work at Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6