1. Exploring the current Quality Assurance operating environment

2. Fiona Maloney
Education and Training Boards Ireland

3. Today’s Content
Quality Assurance Procedures
Overcoming Challenges
5 Top Tips
- Supports and Enhancements

4. Quality Assurance Procedures
Sectoral Quality Assurance Procedures Handbook Reference Handbook outlining QAPs for new Apprenticeship Coordinating Providers developed by ETBI to support ETBs
QA Governance considerations included:
Structures & procedures
Roles & responsibilities
Governance reports
QA of employers & collaborating providers
Guidelines for programme design
Access, transfer & progression
Teaching, Learning & Assessment Strategies

5. Overcoming Challenges
Challenge: Design & development of new apprenticeship programmes
Response:
Establishment of Dedicated Programme Development Teams in ETBs with ETBI offering
1 to 1 mentoring sessions therefore building capacity across the sector
Continuity of expertise to support further programme development
Challenge: Employer Engagement
ETBs convened Employer Breakfast Briefings and Writer symposiums – Collaborative process between industry & academia; employers & tutors

7. Supports and Enhancements
Supports & Enhancements
QQI 12 Core Validation Criteria training sessions to programme development teams
Programme technology support & training: Academic Module Management
Continuous engagement and collaboration between CSG and ETB programme development team – site visits
Panel training for CSG members, programme team and employers on QQI validation events
Establishment of Specialist Panels
External Peer Reviewers
Mock Panels
External Authenticators
Monitoring & Enhancement Panel
Workplace Mentoring programme

8. Conclusion Valuable learning and insights have been acquired
Importance of programme board reflecting Employers, CSG, Coordinating and Collaborating providers
Supports provided pivotal to programme development process
International and National best practice and research informed all action
Continued progress