National Panel Briefings for External Authenticators February 2019

The FESS team (www.fess.ie) Name Location Role Miriam O’ Donoghue CDETB Manager of FESS Finola Butler Support Officer for Dublin, Louth and Meath Catherine Crowley CETB Support Officer for Cork, Clare, Kerry and Limerick Siobhan Magee CMETB Support Officer for Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Sligo, Westmeath Mary Sheehy KWETB Support Officer for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow Jenny Whelan TETB Support Officer for Galway, Laois, Offaly, Roscommon, Tipperary ©2019, Further Education Support Service

FESS Input “The role of the external authenticator is to provide independent confirmation of fair and consistent assessment of learners in line with QQI requirements and to ensure consistency of assessment results with national standards” Quality Assuring Assessment, Guidelines for Providers, Revised 2013 (Version 2 - revised 2018*), p.26 Overview information – National Framework of Qualifications, QQI awards and FET programmes The external authentication process within a quality assuring assessment process The role of the external authenticator External authenticator training – what might it involve? ©2019, Further Education Support Service

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) The single, nationally and internationally accepted entity, through which all learning achievements may be measured and related to each other in a coherent way and which defines the relationship between all education and training awards ©2019, Further Education Support Service

NFQ Grid Of Level Indicators Knowledge Breadth Knowledge Kind Know-How & Skill Range Know-How & Skill Selectivity Competence Context Competence Role Competence Learning to Learn Competence Insight ©2019, Further Education Support Service

NFQ award classes Major award Minor award Special Purpose award Principal class of award Significant volume of learning Combination of minor awards (components) Minor award Derived from, and links to, at least one compound award Smaller than its parent award(s) May be referred to as a component Special Purpose award Learning that is relatively narrow or purpose-specific Comprises one or more minor awards (components) Supplemental award Recognises learning that involves updating/up-skilling and/or continuing education and training with specific regard to occupations ©2019, Further Education Support Service

QQI awards and ETB programmes ©2019, Further Education Support Service

QQI and the QQI Award For Further Education and Training (FET) awards: QQI determines the standards of knowledge, skill and competence for an award The standards may be expressed as learning outcomes in: award specifications (Common Awards System) professional award type descriptors (Apprenticeships) Standards will be in line with the National Framework of Qualifications grid of level indicator statements The QQI Award is the quality-assured qualification awarded for further education and training in Ireland ©2019, Further Education Support Service

QQI awards currently made in ETB Sector in FET Major award: Certificate (levels 1-5) Advanced Certificate (level 6) Apprenticeship Award (level 5 up) Minor award: Component Certificate (levels 1-6) Special Purpose award: Specific Purpose Certificate (levels 3-6) Supplemental award: Supplemental Certificate (level 6) ©2019, Further Education Support Service

Relationship Between Awards and Programmes Award (Destination) Determined and made by QQI A statement of standards, i.e. what needs to be acquired, and where appropriate demonstrated, by a learner in order to achieve QQI certification Programme (Journey) Developed by the provider (ETB) The process by which a learner acquires the required standard of the award Comprises the learning package offered by the provider (ETB) which enables the learner to reach the standards of knowledge, skill and competence of the award ©2019, Further Education Support Service

ETB Validated Programmes Further education programmes Originally developed by VECs/ETBs Maintained by ETB validated to offer the programme Training programmes Developed by FÁS Apprenticeship programmes New activity for the ETB sector (post-2016 apprenticeships) Developed by ETB(s) Maintained by a Co-ordinating Provider ©2019, Further Education Support Service

The External Authentication Process within a Quality Assuring Assessment Process

Key Stages in the Quality Assuring Assessment Process Results Approval Process (RAP) Requesting Certification Authentication Process Internal verification (IV) External authentication (EA) Appeals Process ©2019, Further Education Support Service

Key Stages in the Quality Assuring Assessment Process Internal Verification: Application of assessment procedures verified Assessment results monitored on a sample basis Internal verification report produced External Authentication: Assessment of learners consistent with national standards confirmed Assessment of learners in line with QQI requirements confirmed External authentication report produced Learners assessed by the assessor, in line with quality assurance policy and procedures Portfolio of assessment work produced by the learner Portfolio marked and graded by the assessor Assessment result recorded Documentation provided to the authentication process Results approval panel established by the provider IV and EA reports considered Results reviewed, approved and signed off Issuing of results to learners agreed Submission of results to QQI agreed Results approval panel report produced Quality assured assessment results submitted to QQI by provider/centre within the provider Certification requested by the provider from QQI Assessment Results Approval Process (RAP) Requesting Certification Learners facilitated by the provider to appeal a result and/or the assessment process Authentication Process Internal verification (IV) External authentication (EA) Appeals Process ©2019, Further Education Support Service

The External Authentication Process Provides independent confirmation of: Fair and consistent assessment of learners in line with QQI requirements Consistency of assessment results with national standards Undertaken through the assignment by the provider of an external authenticator who: Has technical/subject matter expertise in award area/field of learning Has experience of programme delivery or assessment or work in the industry/field Is trained and available to the provider Is independent of the assigned centre Has good communication skills (report writing, interaction with learners, assessors, management, QA team, etc.) Has necessary IT skills (for example, e-mail, word processing (report writing), skype) ©2019, Further Education Support Service

The Role of the External Authenticator To provide independent confirmation of fair and consistent assessment of learners in line with QQI requirements and consistency of assessment results with national standards by: Reviewing and authenticating the Internal Verification Report(s) Applying the provider’s sampling strategy to identify learner portfolios to be moderated Moderating the learner evidence Being available to meet with appropriate staff and learners Producing an external authentication report Participating in/available to the Results Approval Process, if requested Operating within relevant code(s) of practice ©2019, Further Education Support Service

Training for External Authenticators Draft Agenda for External Authenticator Training Unpacking the role of the ETBs in the external authentication process Ensuring an understanding of the standard (levels 1-6) Learning about QQI awards Exploring ETB programmes (FE programmes, training programmes and apprenticeship programmes) Considering the expected workload and time commitment Teasing out the external authentication process, including moderation Making the judgement – sampling learner portfolios Report writing Case studies – scenarios and “What-Ifs” Questions and answer session Proposed from early April/May One to two days initial training Training to cover authenticating in FE programmes, training programmes and post-2016 apprenticeship programmes Subsequent follow up CPD sessions Draft agenda agreed ©2019, Further Education Support Service

In Summary… ETBs are quality assured providers There is great diversity in context and settings so many opportunities Professionalism, integrity and objectivity are cornerstones of the role of external authenticator External authenticators will have to use their professional judgement, a common sense approach, problem solving and communication skills in their role Training provided to external authenticators will prepare them for the role and provide necessary information and support ©2019, Further Education Support Service

Useful Hyperlinks Interactive NFQ: http://www.nfq-qqi.com/ Grid of Level Indicators: https://www.qqi.ie/Downloads/NFQLevelindicators.pdf#search=grid%20of%20level%20indicators%2A ©2019, Further Education Support Service