1. AONTAS COMMUNITY EDUCATION NETWORK MEETING QA DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ETBS
WEDNESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY
QA DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ETBS
MARIE GOULD
PROGRAMME MANAGER, QUALITY ASSURANCE, APPRENTICESHIP & TRAINEESHIP
EDUCATION AND TRAINING BOARDS IRELAND (ETBI)

2. OVERVIEW ETBS AND ETBI – QA RESPONSIBILTIES FET QA DECISION MAKING
ETB SECTORAL QA FRAMEWORK
SECTORAL PROJECTS AND DEVELOMENTS - UPDATE
SELF-EVALUATION, QUALITY IMPROVEMNET PLANNING AND REENGAGEMENT
SOME WORKPLAN PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD…

3. 16 Education and Training Boards
Independent Statutory Entities
Provider Owned Quality Assurance
Each ETB is responsible for agreeing their own quality assurance procedures
Individual statutory relationship with QQI

4. ETBI National representative body for the 16 ETBs
Representing and negotiating for ETBs at national level
Promoting development and implementation of appropriate education and training policies, procedures and guidance for member ETBs
Supporting ETBs
Facilitating networking, collaboration and sharing best practice

5. FET QA DECISION MAKING FET DIRECTORS FORUM Meet Monthly
Decisions for adopting/adapting/endorsing
SharePoint
FET DIRECTORS’ QA STRATEGY GROUP
Agree Sectoral Work Plan and Projects
Proposals for decision/endorsement by FET Directors’ Forum
QA Forum
Representatives from 16 ETBs
Meet monthly
Operational issues and Network to share practice
Inform the sectoral Work Plan
SharePoint – repository for sharing information
Technical Groups/Pop-Up Groups
Focus on thematic area/topic i.e.
Assessment
QA PD Framework Development in collaboration with SOLAS

6. ETB SECTORAL QA FRAMEWORK
Elements of ETB Sector QA Framework in development
Fundamental principle of Subsidiarity –
- Autonomy and Independence of each ETB
Sectoral Agreement on common Principles and Definitions
to be adopted by each ETB in core areas
Elements of the Sectoral QA Framework to be defined and agreed
This includes relations with other providers and stakeholders
Further sectoral discussions scheduled
Decision making governance process to be formalised and agreed

7. SECTORAL PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENTS UPDATE
Quality Assuring Learner Assessment
Technical working group
External expertise to support
Extensive consultation
Reference Handbook being finalised (Mar ‘18)
QA Governance
External Governance expertise contracted
Detailed evaluation and baseline analysis conducted for each of the 16 ETBs
Governance models explored and consultation conducted
QA Governance Reference Handbook - being finalised
(consultation in the sector – finalised in Apr ‘18)
Executive Self-Evaluation Process and Quality Improvement Plans
Focussed group established, common terms of reference and template devised
Initial pilot with 5 ETBs
Peer/shared learning process put in place to support the others - Workshops and SharePoint used to support process
External proof readers/evaluators made available

8. SECTORAL PROJECTS AND DEVELOPMENTS UPDATES
New National External Authentication Panel
Focussed group established
Extensive consultation process
New documentation and training programme being
devised
Proposals re payment rates to DES
Plans for establishment of new sectoral panel for External Authentication by 2019
Implementation of new QQI Validation Policy and Criteria
Sectoral project group established
Collaborative engagement with QQI
Sectoral pilot projects being scoped and
commenced
Pilot new criteria and Governance models for the sector
Priority project for 2018

9. SELF-EVALUATION, QUALITY IMPROVEMNET PLANNING AND REENGAGEMENT
Executive Self-Evaluation Report (ESER) and
Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) completed for all ETBs
& submitted to QQI
Working within a common Terms of Reference and Template
Plan for improvements consistent with each of the areas in QQI Core QA Guidelines
Recommendation that ETB ESER and QIP would be published
Important part of Reengagement with QQI
Quality Dialogue meetings conducted by QQI with all ETBs
Transitional QAPs or plans/statements on timeline for development of new will be published (by April/May 2018)
New QAPs will be published as available in line with sectoral projects and developments

10. SOME PRIORITIES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD…
Support each ETB in implementing new QA Governance model and procedures
Implementation of new approaches to programme design, development and approval in the sector
Agree sectoral QA framework definitions and principles for adopting, including QA arrangements/relationships with other providers and stakeholders
Terms of reference and methodology for statutory review process
Develop suite of QA reference material to support ETBs in development of new QA procedures and common improvements identified arising from the ESER and QIP process.

11. THANK YOU!