Draft Terms of Reference
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Institutional Review of Setanta College – November 2012 Terms of Reference HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING AWARDS COUNCIL, IRELAND Comhairle na nDámhachtainí Ardoideachais agus Oiliúna, Éire Institutional Review of Providers of Higher Education and Training TERMS OF REFERENCE Setanta College SET www.hetac.ie Page 1 of 10 Institutional Review of Setanta College – November 2012 Terms of Reference Higher Education and Training Awards Council TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW OF Setanta College in November 2012 STATUS: SET Section 1. Purpose The purpose of this document is to specify the Terms of Reference for the Institutional Review of Setanta College in November 2012. The HETAC Institutional Review policy applies to all Colleges providing HETAC accredited programmes, or programmes accredited under Delegated Authority. These Terms of Reference are set within the overarching policy for Institutional Review as approved in December 2007 and should be read in conjunction with same. These Terms of Reference do not replace or supersede the agreed policy for Institutional Review. The Terms of Reference once set may not be amended and any significant revision required to the Terms of Reference will result in a new Terms of Reference to be set by HETAC following consultation with the College. These Terms of Reference should be read in conjunction with the supplementary guidelines for Institutional Review. The objectives of the Institutional Review process are 1. To enhance public confidence in the quality of education and training provided by the College and the standards of the awards made; 2. To contribute to coherent strategic planning and governance in the College; 3. To assess the effectiveness of the Quality Assurance arrangements operated by the College; 4. To confirm the extent that the College has implemented the National Framework of Qualifications and procedures for Access, Transfer and Progression; 5. To evaluate the operation and management of Delegated Authority where it has been granted; 6. To provide recommendations for the enhancement of the education and training provided by the College. It is possible that, within the objectives outlined above, Colleges may have specific sub-objectives to which they will attach particular importance and wish to emphasise in their TOR. To maximise the benefits of the review process, Colleges may also consider including additional objectives relevant to its context. The approach taken by HETAC to Institutional Review will: • Acknowledge that Colleges have ownership of and responsibility for their activity; • Be conducted in a spirit of partnership with Colleges, with a view to improvement and enhancement, whilst acknowledging statutory requirements for accountability; • Be conducted in a manner which adds value to the College, minimises overhead and assists in building Institutional capacity; • Be flexible, adaptable and scalable in order to meet the needs of diverse Colleges; • Be conducted in an open, consistent and transparent manner; • Be evidence-based in accordance with established criteria; • Promote learning and development for all involved; • Reward innovation and experimentation when it seeks to enhance our understanding of good practice; • Promote collaboration and sharing of good practice between Colleges; • Take cognisance of international best practice and contribute to European and international developments in this area. Page 2 of 10 Institutional Review of Setanta College – November 2012 Terms of Reference Section 2. College Profile Setanta College Ltd is a private ‘for-profit’ college which provides a range of programmes in Strength and Conditioning Sports Coaching Education at Levels 6 to 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). All programmes have a practical emphasis. As a private college it is reliant on programme fees to finance its day-to-day requirements. Currently, Setanta College does not receive any state funding. The College is operating from two locations. The Management/Accounts office is located at Ballycahan, Kilcock, Co. Kildare. The College opened an Academic Office in Thurles, Co. Tipperary during May 2011. The Thurles office was opened to facilitate the launch of the new Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Sports Strength and Conditioning (full-time), a programme run by Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) in partnership with Setanta College. This new BSc was launched by LIT with 30 students in September 2011 at the LIT Thurles Campus. This is an LIT degree awarded by LIT; Setanta College provides lecturers to deliver the Setanta-owned content at the LIT Thurles Campus. According to the College, it is the only current provider of Sports Strength and Conditioning educational programmes to degree level in Ireland as the programme was the only Sports Strength and Conditioning programme available on the 2011 CAO application form1. Prior to its inception in 2007, the programmes now available through Setanta College were not available to sports coaches in Ireland. To date, over 250 students have completed or are in the process of completing their studies with Setanta College. The College has a close working relationship (education partners) with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the International Rugby Board (IRB), the Irish Rugby Union Players Association (IRUPA) and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA). The College also has a close working relationship with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), through their County Boards. Programmes offered at Setanta College Students can choose from an introductory online 4 week programme through a range of programmes up to degree level. The College caters for coaches who may be out of the coaching education system or are new to it. The College also caters for the on-going education of coaches up to and including degree level in strength and conditioning. HETAC Programmes • HETAC Level 6 Special Purpose Award in Resistance Training and Weight Training for Sports- SL702 (30 credits) (3 Modules, each 12 weeks in length) • HETAC Level 6 Special Purpose Award in Physical Fitness and Conditioning - SL704 (60 credits) (6 Modules, each 12 weeks in length) • HETAC Level 6 Higher Certificate in Arts in Strength and Conditioning – SL020 (120 credits) (12 Modules, each 12 weeks in length) • HETAC Level 7 Bachelor of Arts in Strength and Conditioning – SL20 (180 credits) (18 Modules, each 12 weeks in length) 1 The higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland delegated to the Central Applications Office (CAO) the task of processing centrally applications to their first year undergraduate courses. Students complete an application form detailing their choices of programmes. Page 3 of 10 Institutional Review of Setanta College – November 2012 Terms of Reference Non-HETAC Programmes include: • Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) Certified Conditioning Coaching Programme (26 weeks continuous learning). Following the completion of this programme IRFU affiliated coaches may select from the suite of Level 6 programmes offered by Setanta College (mainly SL702 or SL704). Progression to the Level 6 Higher Certificate and subsequent Level 7 Bachelor of Arts programme is also available. • Discussions are on-going with Enterprise Ireland2 on the international roll-out of the current suite of Sports Strength and Conditioning programmes. • International Rugby Board (IRB) Level 1 Strength and Conditioning (4 weeks). • Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) Teaching Games in the Primary School, Setanta Certificate (20 hours). Setanta College describes Strength and Conditioning (S&C) as conditioning the individual, athlete or player to be in a position to participate regularly and efficiently at the level required by the demands of his or her sport or activity. According to the College, there is no recognised qualification for training teams and athletes in any given sport in the increasingly popular area of fitness, strength and conditioning. Setanta College recognises this deficiency. While the College provides a suite of Level 6 and Level 7 programmes to fill this deficiency, introductory courses, not yet validated by HETAC, are being developed for coaches from a variety of sports as a first entry point to continued professional development within Sports S&C. The business model behind this programme is to introduce Sports S&C at a basic level and demonstrate the need and potential for further study. The College can then provide an educational road map specific to the practising coach or would-be coach (see Appendix 1 for the progression routes/road map). Setanta College aims to develop this business model further with different sporting bodies through collaboration with Coaching Ireland3. Coaching Ireland has a national role in the development of technical coaching competencies on an all-island basis, highlighting the importance of coaching the sports skills of any given sport. Preliminary meetings regarding the provision of Sports S&C courses have taken place (January 2012) with Coaching Ireland and also directly with sporting organisations. According to the College, it has established a reputation as a leading provider of S&C education in Ireland in the last 4 years. Strength and Conditioning coaching is Setanta College’s main business, however the College also designs programmes for non-sporting groups as requested. These programmes may vary slightly from the Sports S&C theme, for example, the programme in “Teaching games in the Primary School” for the INTO (Irish National Teachers' Organisation)