FETAC Review

Under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is required to exercise a series of external quality assurance or quality-related functions. These statutory functions pertain primarily to the two awards Councils – the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) – and the Dublin Institute of Technology. This document sets outs the policy approach and/or procedures followed by the Authority in fulfilling these functions.

External Quality Assurance Procedures (94 KB) for the review.

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is commencing a review of the Further Education and Training Awards Council. The review will evaluate the effectiveness of

the performance by the Further Education and Training Awards Council, since its establishment, of its principal statutory functions, taking into account the objectives established by the Council for performing these, and
the processes of the executive of the Council for performing such functions.

The review will also benchmark the extent to which the Council in the performance of its relevant functions complies with the Common Quality Assurance Framework for European vocational education and training.

The review will comprise

Self-evaluation by the Council
Evaluation by a panel of experts (34 KB)
Consideration of the report of the panel by the Council and the development of a plan by the Council to implement the recommendations in the report

The Authority has established terms of reference (107 KB) for the review and these are available here.

Conclusion of Review Process

In concluding the review process in February 2008, the Authority considered it helpful to note the purpose of the review established in the terms of reference – that it was to be developmental in intent, and aimed to assist the Council in achieving its own quality enhancement goals and to further develop its own internal quality culture. The Authority considers that it is clear from self-evaluation report, the review panel’s report and FETAC’s response that the review process has succeeded in meeting its primary purpose.

The Authority concurred with the findings and supporting rationale in the report of the review team and supports the plans set out in the response of the Council.

In fulfilment of its statutory review function, the Authority is satisfied that

the Further Education and Training Awards Council has performed all its principal statutory functions satisfactorily in a complex environment taking into account the objectives established by the Council for performing these functions;

the Council’s internal processes reflect best practice, are considered and are appropriate;
in the performance of its relevant functions, the Council complies with the Common Quality Assurance Framework for European vocational education and training.

The Authority notes the need to attach priority to:

Ensuring that FETAC has the capacity to deliver on its important and wide-ranging work – thus the need for the internal review of organisational and staffing arrangements was very important.
The testing of a range of standard setting approaches (including setting new standards, and bringing together existing standards, where there is more than one or where there is only one) and then the speedy implementation of the agreed approach(es).
The establishment of an industry forum.

Review Panel Report

FETAC’s response to Review Panel Report