1. Co. Cork VEC
17th May 2011
(c)2011, Further Education Support Service

2. Siobhán Magee
Finola Butler
Mary Sheehy
Jenny Whelan

3. Content The FETAC Common Awards System
FETAC Certificate and Component Specifications
Programme Development
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4. 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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5. The FETAC Common Awards System
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6. The Establishment of FETAC (2001) Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999
NCVA
FÁS
Teagasc
CERT(NTCB)
BIM
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7. The National Framework of Qualifications (2003)
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8. (c)2011, Further Education Support Service

9. (c)2011, Further Education Support Service

10. 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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11. 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where standards are out of date or where there are new legislative requirements the awards are reviewed and modified, as appropriate, to make sure they are current and up to date
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12. Development of New FETAC Awards
FETAC Council
Standards Advisory Board
Determining Standards
Standards Development
Group
Standards Development
Group
Standards Development
Group
Award Specifications
Award Specifications
Award Specifications
Provider:
B5 Programme Development, Delivery and Review
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13. 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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14. Finding the new Award Specifications
Published on under the Awards Info and then the Awards Directory section
6 character code for all new Common Awards:
Level Award Type 4 Digit Code
. 3 M
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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15. Certificate Award Specification
Key elements
Title
Level
Credit
Purpose
General Statements
Access, Transfer and Progression
Certificate Requirements
Specific Validation Requirements
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16. Component Award Specification
Key elements
Title
Level
Credit
Purpose
Access, Transfer
Learning Outcomes
Assessment Techniques
Specific Validation Requirements
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17. Common Awards System Credit Values
Level
Major Award Credit Values
Default Minor Credit Values
Other Minor Credit Values 1 20 5 10 2 30 3 60
5, 20 4 90
5, 15, 20
120 15
5, 10, 30 6
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18. Timeframe Level Awards Publication Dates Deactivation Dates 3
4 Majors, 3 Special Purpose and 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 2012 & Oct 2012
5th December 2013 6
See: FETAC The Common Awards System. Making the moves … as easy as A, P, C
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19. 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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20. Programme Development
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21. Programme Development
Programmes leading to the new FETAC Common Awards must be validated by FETAC before being offered to Learners
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22. 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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23. Awards ≠ Programmes Award (Destination) Programme (Journey)
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 Role
Programme Validation - FETAC
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24. 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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25. Programmes and Programme Modules
Learner Profile Programme Profile Entry Criteria Programme Objectives Duration Structure Transfer 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
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
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26. One to One Approach to Programme Development
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27. 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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28. Programme Module Information
For each Programme Module
Title
Duration in Hours
Aims and Objectives
Status
Indicative Content and Programme Outcomes
Assessment
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29. Programme Validation Process
Programme Approval Agreement
No Programme Approval Agreement
Programme Development
Programme Development
Provider
Provider
Programme Screening
Programme Screening
Provider
FETAC
Programme Evaluation
Programme Evaluation
Provider
FETAC
Programme Approval
Programme Approval
Provider
FETAC
Recommendation to Validate
Decision to Validate
Provider
FETAC
Programme Validated
Programme Validated
FETAC
FETAC
Appeal
Appeal
Provider
Provider
FETAC
Review
Review
FETAC
FETAC
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30. Programme Development
In summary…..
Programme Delivery
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
Programme Development
Common Awards System
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31. Module Descriptor – www.fetac.ie
Old System ....
New System ....
Module Descriptor –
Local programme – developed by the Tutor
Component Specification –
Validated programme – developed by Co. Cork VEC
Local interpretation of Co. Cork VEC programme – by the Tutor
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32. 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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33. 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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34. 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
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