Programme Development, Approval, Monitoring and Review

Quality Assurance (QA)
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Overview

LMETB is committed to providing quality assured programmes for learners at its various FET centres. LMETB is responsible for ensuring that an effective and efficient quality assurance management process is in place to oversee requests from its centres for programme delivery, development and validation.

LMETB has structures in place to exercise governance and oversight in this regard. LMETB, through the FET Directors, operates an annual business planning cycle with quarterly reviews. This coincides with the Funding Allocation Request Reporting (FARR) requirements to SOLAS.

QQI certifies the largest proportion of FET programmes in LMETB. A small number of programmes are certified by City and Guilds, ITEC, ICDL, etc. LMETB also offers a number of uncertified programmes.

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Programme Approval

A robust quality management structure and process is in place to govern a programme approval process in the region, with the aim of supporting efficient programme planning and safeguarding against unnecessary duplication of provision. Centres wishing to apply to deliver new programmes must apply to the LMETB Programme Development, Review and Evaluation Committee by completing the Programme Request Proposal (PR1) form.

The criteria for approval include:

  • a sound rationale or business case for offering the programme, in line with the SOLAS National FET Strategy 2020-24, LMETB’s strategic goals, and fitting in with LMETB existing delivery in the geographic area
  • demand for the programme identified such as local skills needs, an educational need in the local community, etc
  • target learner profile identified, linking to national policy recommendations in terms of activation, active inclusion, etc
  • ability to meet the QA requirements to become a recognised QQI certification centre if not already so
  • entry requirements outlined
  • transfer and progression routes identified for the learner cohort
  • capacity to staff and resource the course
  • management/coordination arrangements outlined
  • organisation and oversight of work-based learning managed
  • ability to meet the special validation conditions of the programme
  • Course duration, start and finish dates, delivery mode and structure considered

LMETB’s Programme Development, Review and Evaluation (PDRE) sub-committee has responsibility for reviewing, evaluating and recommending all applications from LMETB centres that wish to deliver a new programme. Centres must complete the Programme Request Approval form (PR1) and provide evidence that they have achieved all the criteria outlined therein. Approval to deliver the new programme will only be granted by the QAGMC once recommendation has been received from the PDRE sub-committee.

All applications must include reference to local/national data in support of the proposal. Centres must demonstrate that they have or can access the resources, facilities and staff expertise to deliver the programme. To avoid unintentional oversupply or duplication of provision in LMETB, centres when making applications are also advised to consider whether programmes are already available to their target group within the immediate catchment area.

An appeals mechanism exists where unsuccessful applications may be appealed to the QAGMC for review.

It is the responsibility of centre management to ensure that only programmes that have prior approval for that centre are actually delivered.
All LMETB validated programmes are available on the LMETB FET Awards portal, which staff members must request access to. Requests for access to the Awards Portal may be emailed to [email protected].

A single version control system is in place to ensure that only the latest version of documentation is available.
A list of LMETB’s 194 validated programmes is available here.

 

Programme Design

Where approval is received and the related programme is not available, a Programme Development Evaluation Plan is drawn up by the Programme Development Review and Evaluation Sub-Committee, in line with the guidelines and requirements of the proposed programmes certifying body. A Programme Development Group is convened, of suitably qualified and experienced Subject Matter Experts to develop the programme. Once the new programme has been finalised, it is presented to the QAGMC for approval pre-submission to the certifying body for validation. Once validation is received, the QAGMC will communicate this decision to the local centre.

A programme developed, as described, may be validated for the sole use of a centre within LMETB or for use by a group of named centres. It is also noted that a programme may be developed jointly by a number of ETBs in which the programme’s curriculum is identified as a ‘shared curriculum’. One ETB takes the lead in having the programme validated, with the partner/s requesting ‘differential validation’ by QQI on the basis of the shared curriculum.

A recent example of this process has been the differential validation for LMETB of the Early Learning and Care programme (Advanced Certificate and Level 5 Certificate).

A variation of the above programme development process will apply for programmes certified by bodies other than QQI.

 

Programme Review

Programmes are currently reviewed at centre/college level. Such reviews provide an opportunity to review assessment methodologies, learner participation, extra-curricular inputs, and other aspects of course delivery, and where necessary amend these based on learner and staff feedback.

Such reviews ensure that programmes continue to be relevant and fit for purpose, responsive to both learner needs and LMETB’s strategic direction.

For more information

FET Quality Assurance Office

FET Centre, Chapel St, Dundalk,
Co. Louth, A91 C7D8

Contact: Angela Cahill
Tel: 087 123 5572
Email: [email protected]